Spring is here and we are over the moon about that. Hallelujah.
Let’s not beat around the bush, 2020 has been T.O.U.G.H and every one of us can probably admit to feeling a little depleted and fatigued these last 10 months.
The great news is that things are getting better and good times are coming. There is light at the end of the tunnel and it’s now time to recharge and get back on track. This spring is the perfect time for you to reclaim your ZING!
Can You Feel It?
What actually is ZING? It’s a word that embodies pure energy. It’s liveliness, drive, vibrancy and vigour. It’s get-up-and-go on rocket fuel. It’s zest for life with an injection of high-powered pizzazz. It’s wellness pumped up with extra OOMPH.
Zing may have been lacking in our lives these last few months, but there is a simple and easy way to get it back.
Get Your Matcha Zing This Spring!
Whilst many know about the benefits of Japanese matcha green tea, not all are aware of how magical and invigorating its powers are when it comes to boosting vitality, improving health and revitalizing energy levels.
Jam-packed full of antioxidants, vitamins and healing ingredients, matcha is the perfect remedy to beat the 2020 blues and give your body and health the rejuvenation it deserves.
With an abundance of scientific evidence supporting its nutritional strength, Matcha packs a potent punch. See below for 7 health benefits of matcha tea that will make you go gaga for its green goodness and help get you in tiptop condition for 2021.
1. A Powerhouse of Antioxidants
The buzzword ‘superfood’ has been flying around for a few years now and classifies foods that are considered to be exceptionally good for our health and well-being. These foods are typically rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fatty acids.
Matcha green tea is a supreme superfood due to its antioxidant richness. Just one sip consumed contains an army of antioxidants, with a potency multiple times greater than that contained in any other superfood.
These powerful antioxidants are enriched with elements that reduce inflammation and incredibly, can even reduce the risk of cancer.
But there’s more…
There is one super strength antioxidant that is most prevalent in matcha tea. Catechin epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG has been hailed as the hero of antioxidant goodness. It supports the body’s defence against free radicals, assisting with cell protection and repair. This unique ingredient has been heavily studied with overwhelming research evidencing its effectiveness in fighting off viruses and boosting immunity.
2. Brain Power Booster
An abundance of studies into the health benefits of matcha have produced scientific data demonstrating that matcha greatly assists with cognitive function and long-term brain health.
One of the compounds within matcha (L-Theanine) has been shown to boost brain function, assisting with memory recall, problem solving and critical thinking.
Matcha has also been shown to reduce the occurrence and severity of common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Incredibly, matcha has also been hailed as a preventative medicine, slowing down the rate of degenerative disabling diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.
3. Liver Lover
Shock Horror – the average Australian has consumed an increased amount of take away food and alcohol in 2020. It’s hardly a surprise considering the disruption the pandemic has brought into our lives but our poor livers now need some love!
Matcha may be the perfect remedy.
The unique compounds within matcha actually have a soothing and protective effect on the liver. Research has shown that matcha can reduce the risk of liver disease and assist the liver in healing from damage. In particular, studies have evidenced that matcha green tea and its polyphenolic catechins have therapeutical potential to protect against fatty liver disease and progressive liver disorders linked to obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance.
4. Metabolic Booster + Fat Burner
If there were 4 words that bring music to a dieter’s ears they are – Metabolic Booster and Fat Burner.
The fifth word should be matcha. The reason being is that there is overwhelming evidence that matcha powder speeds up metabolism and increases the rate that stored fat is burnt into energy.
EGCG contained within matcha increases the body’s thermogenesis capability by approx. 40% and enhances our natural ability to burn fat by almost 20%. Studies have also shown how matcha can balance blood glucose levels and provides sustained energy throughout the day, meaning that dieters can avoid the dips in energy and sugar levels so often associated with dieting – triggers that often lead to hunger cravings, irritability, lethargy and snacking.
5. Virus Busting Superhero
Let’s not beat around the bush, with COVID-19 causing so much disruption all over the world, its no surprise that boosting our immunity is a hot topic right now.
There are lots of things we can do to stay safe such as socially distancing and practising good hygiene, but there are additional steps that can be taken to boost your immune system and help protect you against potential viruses you may be exposed to.
Matcha contains EGCG in addition to a variety of vitamins, which are all scientifically proven to support the body’s resistance to viral infections, bacterial infections and pathogens. They are also all known to significantly boost immunity.
EGCG in particular is recognised for its ability to fend off viral infections such as influenza. A specific study in March 2020 indicated that EGCG could be a potential inhibitor of COVID-19, however further research and evidence is needed for this to be conclusive.
Matcha has strong antiviral properties due to its EGCG content and this may be of interest to those looking to protect their immune system further during these unprecedented times.
6. Matcha Soothes Your Heart
Matcha may not be able to mend a broken heart, but it can help protect your heart from the future risk of heart attack and stroke.
Catechins contained in matcha green tea disrupt how our bodies digest substances that are damaging for our heart such as lipids, cholesterol and fat. Matcha compounds reduce blood pressure and reduce the occurrence of blood clot formation and inflammation, which is so often associated with heart attacks and strokes.
Studies have consistently shown that matcha has the ability to prevent significant heart conditions such as cardiomyopathy, heart failure, hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy, which impact millions of people around the world.
7. Youthful Clear Skin
One of the greatest kept secrets in skincare is that matcha is amazing for your skin. There have been a multitude of scientific studies where dermatologists have used matcha powder to treat patients suffering from a variety of skin conditions. The results have been overwhelmingly positive.
In the studies, skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, blocked pores and sun damage responded well to matcha treatments that were administered either orally as a tea, or topically within a cream.
With so many skin treatments now chemical filled or tested on animals, matcha is coming to the forefront as a pure and organic alternative in the beauty arena, offering a skincare solution that ranges from healing acne to restoring a youthful complexion, in a natural and cruelty free way.
A Little Cup Of Healing Goodness
It’s incredible to think that just one cup of matcha green tea can provide all this goodness! You can have an all over body health boost without going to the gym, having a flu injection or even having a skin treatment. All you simply need to do is sip on a cup full of matcha tea every day – that’s it!
Matcha is an effortlessly simple addition to add to your diet and there are so many delicious recipes that you can use if you want to add some extra ‘Mmmm’ to your matcha goodness – check out our website and Instagram to find out more!
Written by – Mel Novak