I have a confession to make. I love a good cup of coffee! And not the responsible “no cream, no sugar and just a hint of almond milk” type of coffee. I’ll take it sweet and creamy, thanks. While there are some excellent benefits of the occasional cup of (hopefully organic) brewed coffee, most people consume far too much. Tim Horton’s is even putting out commercials that suggest our love of (Tim’s) coffee is part of our Canadian identity!
As a nutritionist, I am aware of the negative impact of drinking too much coffee and am always looking for delicious and healthy alternatives to help myself and others find more dietary balance. This is where matcha fits in.
Matcha boasts a huge amount of benefits including an ability to reduce stress, boost immunity, lower cholesterol, enhance metabolism, and fight cancer. What is most interesting about this delicious drink is its antioxidant content! One cup of matcha has 10 times the antioxidants found in a cup of regular green tea!
Matcha contains a potent antioxidant called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which acts as a powerful anti-carcinogen. One cup of matcha tea has more than 130 times the EGCG contained in a usual cup of green tea! Amazing!
Another aspect of matcha that I LOVE is that, while it does contain some caffeine (less or the same as a cup of coffee depending how much powder you use per hot drink), it isn’t absorbed into the bloodstream as quickly as that of the caffeine in coffee. While coffee can lead to extreme energy highs and lows, matcha’s release is slow and steady (between three and six hours). This makes it an excellent substitution for those looking to find a healthier alternative to coffee.
I find matcha warm, soothing, gently elevating and an excellent conversation starter. People always want to know “what is that green stuff you are drinking?”
While matcha has excellent health promoting properties it is important to remember that it does contain caffeine and should therefore be consumed in moderation. Additionally, drink two glasses of water for every one cup of either coffee or tea to maintain proper hydration levels.
Preparation tip: Do not add your matcha powder to boiling water because it will make your tea taste “grassy.” Allow boiled water to sit for 5 minutes before adding the tea. For my favourite way to prepare matcha tea go to Matcha Tea – Green Goodness
