What if we said there was a drink that you would love even more than coffee, one that has incredible health benefits too?
People love coffee, it’s understandable: we simply need that caffeine kick in the morning to start the day. We are not against coffee at all, but we have compiled a list of 5 reasons on why we made the switch from coffee to matcha. :)
Less caffeine, more energy
Caffeine clears that early morning brain fog and helps tackle the day ahead. It is simply needed for survival.
While caffeine is known for its energizing effects, the problem is that it can also cause a caffeine crash, characterized by increased fatigue and sleepiness.
What’s more, high doses of caffeine can cause some unpleasant side effects like stomach discomfort, heart palpitations or shaky hands too…
With matcha, however, there is no caffeine overdose. Thanks to the presence of catechins and l-theanine, caffeine is released gradually into the bloodstream, thus providing you with long-lasting energy for the entire day.
Moreover, one cup of matcha tea (prepared with 1 gram of matcha powder) contains only 35 milligrams of caffeine, while your average cup of coffee has 95 milligrams.
Related article: Finding it hard to concentrate? Matcha is the solution!
Reduces stress
Now about that l-theanine… This special type of amino acid stimulates the brain’s alpha waves, which causes you to feel focused, conscious and alert. The presence of alpha waves promotes better concentration, you will experience mental clarity, alertness and sense the feeling of calmness spreading over you. So dreamy, right?
Matcha has incredible health benefits
Matcha is full of essential nutrients that are needed for our bodies to function properly.
1 cup of matcha tea is equal to the health benefits of 10 cups of regular green tea!
Matcha is the single best natural source of antioxidants! Antioxidants are vitally important compounds that fight free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive atoms in our bodies that may contribute to cancer and they may be responsible for accelerating the aging process and skin damage as well. They can also weaken your immune system and cause damage to DNA and other parts of human cells.
The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) value indicates the antioxidant capacity in foods.
Studies have found that 100 grams of coffee has the ORAC value of 2780, while the same amount of matcha has the ORAC value of 137.400!
Matcha also has high amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, selenium and it is also exceptionally rich in chlorophyll, which is excellent at detoxifying the body.
Related article: 7 scientifically proven facts that matcha makes you healthier
Speeds up your metabolism
Due to the presence of catechins, matcha boosts resting metabolic rate (metabolism) by 30-40%, thus triggering fat burning and natural weight loss.
Related article: Here's what happens to your body when you start drinking matcha tea
It’s simply delicious!
Coffee is delicious - especially if it is prepared in a way that you really enjoy. Let’s be real here, not everybody likes their coffee black as it is rather bitter.
If you compare a ceremonial grade matcha tea with unflavored, high quality coffee, matcha has a sweeter, a more airy and luscious taste than coffee does. Of course, matcha can also be easily adjusted to your liking. You can enjoy it as pure matcha tea, either hot or cold, prepare a latte with coconut, almond or rice milk, sweeten it with honey, or make it into a lemonade! Check out our awesome recipes for inspiration!
