What is the difference between matcha and green tea? How much matcha can I take in a day? Matcha is not only good for burning fat, you must know these 6 unexpected benefits

What are the differences between the production process and ingredients of matcha and green tea? How much matcha can I take in a day? What are the benefits of matcha for the body? You must know the positive and negative effects of consuming matcha and the daily caffeine intake:

In our daily lives, matcha-flavored drinks, desserts, biscuits or snacks are becoming more and more common. According to a report by international research organization Mordor Intelligence, the global matcha market will achieve an annual growth rate of 9.44% from 2022 to 2027. In the past 25 years, matcha sales in the United States have increased fivefold, exceeding US$10 billion (approximately NT$306.3 billion). The huge business opportunities further prove that matcha is becoming a favorite among people.

Like green tea, matcha comes from the tea tree, but its production method is different, which gives matcha unique nutrients and health benefits. The Council of Agriculture of the Executive Yuan pointed out that the tea trees used to make matcha are shaded for 30 days to avoid direct sunlight, which increases the chlorophyll and theanine content, allowing darker leaves to grow, making the color of matcha greener than other teas and the taste sweeter and fresher. After the tea leaves are killed and dried into the raw material "rolled tea", they are finally ground in a stone mortar at a low temperature to form a fine powder with a particle size of about 3 microns, which is the "matcha" we commonly see.

The Japan Tea Industry Central Association, which was established in 1884 and has a history of over 100 years, defines matcha as "tea that is made from tea leaves grown under shade cultivation, dried directly without rolling, and then ground into fine powder in a tea mortar."

Matcha, which has a higher chlorophyll and theanine content than green tea, has what benefits for the body? What details should you pay attention to when taking matcha so as not to consume too much caffeine and cause burden to your body? "Manager's 8-Point Life" helps you sort out the 6 benefits of matcha at once:

Higher content of chlorophyll and theanine! What benefits may matcha have on the body?

1. Contains natural antioxidants that can help repair cells and prevent chronic diseases

Matcha is rich in catechins, which act as natural antioxidants that not only help maintain healthy arteries and protect cells and tissues from damage, but also promote cell repair and prevent chronic disease.

2. May help maintain liver function and reduce the risk of liver disease

The liver is vital to human health and plays a central role in removing toxins, metabolizing drugs and processing nutrients. Studies have shown that matcha helps prevent kidney and liver damage; multiple studies have also found that matcha can prevent liver damage and reduce the risk of liver disease. However, more research is needed to confirm this health benefit.

3. Can strengthen brain function, improve attention, reaction and memory

Matcha contains a higher concentration of caffeine than green tea, and studies have found that it helps enhance brain function, including improving attention, reaction time and memory; consuming two grams of matcha powder every day for two months has also been found to help improve brain function in the elderly. Theanine, which matcha contains, has also been shown to increase the brain's alpha waves, which may help fight anxiety, relax the mind, and reduce stress levels.

4. May help prevent cancer, but further research is needed to confirm

In test-tube and animal studies related to cancer prevention, it was also pointed out that matcha contains a catechin called EGCG, which can help fight cancer. This catechin has helpful effects on skin cancer, lung cancer, and liver cancer. However, current research remains in the test tube and animal studies, and further research is needed to see whether the effects can be translated into humans.

Matcha contains a higher concentration of caffeine than green tea, which studies have found to help enhance brain function, including improving focus, reaction time, and memory.

5. Promote heart health, reduce cholesterol and the risk of stroke

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for an estimated one-third of all deaths in people over 35 years of age. Studies have shown that people who drink green tea have a lower risk of heart disease than those who do not drink green tea. This is because green tea is rich in antioxidants, and the content of antioxidants in matcha is higher than that in green tea. Therefore, drinking matcha can also help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

6. Can help promote metabolism, burn fat more efficiently and increase energy consumption

You are likely to see the ingredient "green tea extract" on commercially available weight loss foods. Many studies have shown that green tea may help speed up metabolism, increase energy expenditure and promote fat burning, and taking green tea during moderate exercise can even increase fat burning by 17%. Matcha and green tea are made from the same plant, so they are believed to have the same effects.

No matter how much you like matcha, you should consume it in moderation! How much caffeine should you consume per day?

Although matcha has been made into various foods and appears in our lives, and consuming matcha has the benefits mentioned above, it should be noted that matcha contains caffeine after all, and the amount that can be consumed per day is limited.

Since matcha powder is made from whole leaves, matcha contains more caffeine than green tea. If we calculate based on 1 teaspoon (about 2 grams) of powder mixed with 60 ml of hot water, each 60 ml of matcha drink contains 38 to 88 mg of caffeine.

The amount of caffeine in matcha can fluctuate depending on the amount of powder, the type and freshness of the leaves used to make the powder, the water temperature, and the brewing time. The Ministry of Health and Welfare pointed out that according to the assessment of the European Food Science Expert Committee, the recommended daily caffeine intake is below 300 mg, which will not affect health.

Patients with cardiovascular disease, arrhythmia, gastrointestinal disease, long-term insomnia, pregnant women and children should avoid or reduce the consumption of caffeinated beverages. For people with osteoporosis who still want to consume caffeine, it is recommended to supplement more calcium to avoid further calcium loss.

Source: Healthline¹, Healthline², Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan Tea Industry Association, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Mordor Intelligence

This article is reproduced from / Manager's Eight Points Life

Original title: What’s the difference between Matcha and green tea? What are the benefits to the body? Ministry of Health and Welfare: 6 types of people should be "careful when eating"

Further reading

Drinking coffee with green tea can improve concentration by 4%! 5 tips to help you wake up quickly and improve your work performance

Why are some teas so expensive? CEO of Jing Shengyu: Understand the value and secrets of Taiwanese tea from two key points