Would you like to get a morning or mid afternoon energy boost without the jitters and potentially negative side effects from coffee? Matcha, a traditional Japanese tea is something to consider. Filled with higher levels of antioxidants than regular green tea, matcha delivers a real lift while also providing a host of other beneficial nutrients—including protection against certain cancers. It has become my favorite morning and afternoon drink and I love knowing that every sip is good for me!
Grown in shaded areas, matcha is bright green and contains high levels of chlorophyll, a detoxifying agent of heavy metals and toxic chemicals. According to Better Nutrition, the list of other health properties is impressive and includes:
- Protects the balance of gut bacteria
- Fortifies the immune system
- Improves mental function
- Helps lower blood pressure
- Protects against liver damage
- Promotes heart healty by mildly lowering cholesterol levels
EGCG AND TUMOR REGRESSION
Perhaps the most remarkable health benefits to matcha have to do with cancer.
A 2003 study published by the University of Colorado’s Journal of Chromatography reported that matcha contained EGCG, the key antioxidant in green tea, at levels 137 times higher than regular green tea!
Dr. Veronique Desauliners, founder and author of Breast Cancer Conqueror (www.breastconqueror.com ) shares many studies that demonstrate the power of EGCG in the regression of tumors. Here is her summary. (The links to the original studies are listed numerically at the bottom of this article.)
- Suppresses inflamation and aggressive mediators in breast tissue
- Causes breast cancer cells to die
- Suppresses the new blood flow that feeds the breast cancer tumor
- Reverses epigenetic changes and prevents DNA damage observed in breast cancer
- Suppressses stem cell production in human breast cancer
This is GOOD NEWS!!
HEALTHY, DELICIOUS AND VERSATILE
Matcha can be enjoyed in many different ways. Prepare your matcha tea with about 2 ounces of almost boiling water. Let it rest for a few minutes and then whisk it to a frothy consistency. Like green tea, it has a slightly bitter taste, so I mix in a few drops of stevia or raw organic honey.
For a capuccino style matcha, I add in a little warm almond milk or cream (only raw, grass fed) and then whisk until frothy. Matcha is also deliciously refreshing over ice. You can also be creative and add it to your smoothies, puddings or ice cream as it blends well with other ingredients.
Matcha does have caffeine and the amounts of can vary from 25mg to 70mgs per cup. However, unlike coffee, its effects are offset by theanine, a calming amino acid that can help reduce the effects of stress.
Here is a favorite Healed, Healthy and Whole recipe:
- ½ cup almond milk or cream (raw, grass fed) or coconut milk
- ½ cup filtered water
- 1 tsp. matcha
- ¼ tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 2 tsp. raw honey or stevia to taste
THINGS TO CONSIDER
When shopping, please remember to always read your labels carefully! Make sure that whatever brand of matcha you buy is organic and you are not getting a nasty dose of pesticides instead of health benefits!
THE BUZZ WITHOUT THE BUMMER
Next time you need a buzz without the bummer of side effects, consider this mega powerhouse called matcha. You might also share the good news with anyone you know who is battling breast cancer. It can become one more non toxic, immune-boosting tool on their road to recovery.
If you found this article helpful, please sign up for my weekly blog and share it with others. For more insights about beating cancer, please check out our book “Healed, healthy and Whole, How We Beat Cancer with Integrative Therapies and Essential Healing Strategies.” Here’s to living Healed, Healthy and Whole!
REFERENCES
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23880231
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:pubmed:23731217
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23638734
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23593078
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22459208
Very interesting. I get Matcha tea from Coscto but it’s not organic. Will look for organic next time.
Yes, Jeannie, only use the organic to get the maximum health benefits! Thanks for your comment!