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Antioxidant Boost
here’s something magical about matcha green tea. Zen Buddhist monks first popularized a powdered version of this ancient drink over 900 years ago. In fact, the word
Antioxidants are naturally-occurring chemical compounds found in foods. They can fight free radicals, fending off chronic disease and providing anti-aging benefits. You may have heard that many berries, such as blueberries and goji berries, are incredibly rich in antioxidants. However, they pale in comparison to the antioxidant levels matcha green tea offers. The latest research shows that matcha contains over twenty times more antioxidants than blueberries, making it a powerhouse in the fight for maximal health.
“matcha” comes from Japanese; “ma” translates to “rubbed” or “ground,” while “cha” means “tea.” The key difference between matcha and regular green tea is not just how it’s processed (which is into a powder, versus a cut-leaf form), but also how it’s grown.
Calm Clarity
Weight Loss Aid
Tea leaves cultivated specifically for matcha are shade-grown for three weeks, unlike standard green tea leaves. This boosts chlorophyll production into overdrive, providing major additional nutritive health benefits and creating a final product far higher in the rare amino acid “theanine.” This amino acid promotes a state of relaxation and well-being by affecting the brain’s function; it produces alpha brain waves, giving an individual a feeling of relaxed alertness. Another amazing property of theanine is its ability to inhibit the regular side effects of the caffeine present in green tea. The end result is a feeling of clarity and focus in the consumer’s state of mind, without the jitteriness that caffeinated beverages usually create. And, while all tea has some level of theanine, matcha green tea has up to five times more than its average black or green tea counterpart.
As if all these wonderful qualities weren’t enough, matcha tea is also a proven weight loss aid. A recent study found that drinking matcha green tea could increase the rate at which the body burns calories from the average 8% to 10% to an astounding 35% to 43% of your daily energy expenditure. This means that you can burn up to four times the calories in an average day by speeding up your metabolism with this tasty drink. Supplementing your diet with matcha tea is a safe option if you’re looking for this type of boost, since the tea does all this without raising your heartrate or increasing your blood pressure. Matcha tea both increases your metabolism and helps to burn fat stores, so it’s a great, antioxidant-rich addition to your daily routine. Yes, matcha tea may just be your new partner-in- crime when it comes to health and wellness. Did I mention it doesn’t even taste bad? Yep! That too!
Story Sheidow is a Chartered Herbalist, a Certified Natural Product Advisor, and the owner of Townes Herbals Apothecary. Her many years of experience working in greenhouses, landscaping professionally, and working within the health food industry, as well as gardening at her home in Cardigan, have kept her constantly inspired by the power of nature, and always looking to further her knowledge and share it with others.
SUMMER 2019 www.pei-living.ca
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