If you’ve heard of matcha tea then you probably know it as a Japanese health elixir with a wide range of health benefits. Packed with high levels of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and other detoxifying substances, drinking matcha green tea can boost metabolism and wellness when drunk daily. Most people have heard about the health benefits of green tea, but Japanese matcha tea is a superior kind – ground into a powder rather than being brewed, one cup is equivalent to ten cups of normal green tea.
Consuming the powder of the tea also means you are consuming the chlorophyll – this helps remove toxins from the body. Matcha tea is also substantial in antioxidants, which strengthen the immune system and can fight deadly diseases such as cancer. Many of these facts are well known – but did you know about the additional mental benefits of drinking matcha tea?
A calm, alert mental state
Thanks to amino acids present in the tea plant, matcha has the power to create alpha waves in the brain. These waves produce a state of mind which is only achievable otherwise by meditation – a calm alertness. You can see why Japanese monks love matcha tea before meditation sessions!
Improved mental clarity
The calm and alert mental state leads to improved mental clarity, which can help the mind achieve many things. Drinking matcha tea can improve concentration and memory, and also have a positive effect on stress and anxiety by lowering stress levels.
Sustained energy
Thanks to the Theine in the tea plant – a type of caffeine – matcha has the power to give the drinker a mental and physical energy boost. However, rather than the effects of coffee (which can have a negative effect on energy after a caffeine spike) matcha can sustain energy for a long period of time. This is because any undesirable effects from the caffeine are countered out by the calming influence of the other ingredients. This is how matcha can boost and prolong energy by up to four hours.
Mindfulness
Another advantage of drinking matcha is the mindfulness state which is experienced by the drinker. Feeling calm and serene, yet alert and aware, the mind is in perfect balance. This allows people to enter a state of mindfulness and truly appreciate living in the present. In the here and now, you can have an uplifting experience of being present within yourself and in your surroundings.
There are so many reasons to drink matcha tea, so if you haven’t tried it yet – what are you waiting for?!
