Matcha vs. Green Tea, What's the Difference? Which is healthier?

Medical Video: Coffee vs Matcha Green Tea | Matcha Benefits
Matcha vs. green tea, what's the difference?
Difference in matcha content vs. green tea
What are the benefits of drinking matcha?
1. The body gets antioxidant intake
2. Reducing the risk of heart disease
3. Weight loss
4. Provides a relaxing effect
Are there any side effects from consuming matcha?

Medical Video: Coffee vs Matcha Green Tea | Matcha Benefits

You must have heard that aka green tea green tea has many health benefits, such as good for improving heart health and helping to lose weight. Not surprisingly, people began to turn to green tea. However, after green tea has been discussed, matcha has begun to attract attention lately. Unlike green tea which is usually available in the form of brewed leaves, matcha is usually present in powder form. The question is, is matcha the same as green tea? The following is a full explanation of matcha vs. green tea.

Matcha vs. green tea, what's the difference?

Both of these drinks actually come from the same plant, namely Camellia sinensis, who comes from China. Even though the plants are the same, what makes them different is how to process and plant them. Making matcha is deliberately prepared differently. Tea plants are closed around 20-30 days before being harvested, to avoid direct sunlight. As a result, tea leaves become darker in color, and this can increase the production of amino acids due to the large amount of chlorophyll found in dark leaves.

After going through the harvesting process, fine stems and veins are separated from the leaves. Both are crushed with stone until smooth, and become bright green powder. Because of this process, the substance in matcha is higher than ordinary green tea. Unlike ordinary green tea, tea leaves on matcha are dried for a short time, to maintain the green color. Because the tea leaves are pounded, and not only are the leaves brewed, if you drink matcha, this means you drink the entire ingredients in tea leaves.

Difference in matcha content vs. green tea

Ordinary green tea only has about 63 mg of antioxidants compared to matcha which has around 134 mg of catechins - a type of antioxidant that is strong and contains many health benefits. This means that one cup of matcha contains the same antioxidant as 3 cups of green tea.

Antioxidants in matcha are even higher compared to all types of fruits and vegetables. However, the content in green tea is equally good, only the benefits produced by matcha are greater than regular green tea. Regular green tea also contains polyphenols which can prevent inflammation and swelling, even though the content is higher in matcha.

However, keep in mind that besides high antioxidants, matcha also contains higher caffeine. One cup of matcha consisting of half a tablespoon of matcha powder contains about 35 mg of caffeine.

What are the benefits of drinking matcha?

Matcha and green tea have the same health benefits, only the effectiveness is different. Here are some of the benefits of drinking matcha:

1. The body gets antioxidant intake

Antioxidants function to prevent free radicals that form in the body. Free radicals can cause tissue and cell damage. As explained above, antioxidants in matcha are known as catechins, derivatives of catechins are epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). According to several studies, these substances can prevent inflammation in the body, form healthy arteries, and help repair cells.

2. Reducing the risk of heart disease

Heart disease can cause death. Drinking green or matcha tea can reduce this risk, because green and matcha tea can change cholesterol levels, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar. Researchers showed a decrease in the risk of heart disease by 31% in connoisseurs of green tea, maybe it would be more effective in matcha lovers.

3. Weight loss

One of the reasons someone drinks green tea is a claim that "it can lose weight", Matcha also has that claim. In fact, you can find green tea extract in some weight-loss supplement ingredients. The research cited by Authority Nutrition shows that green tea can increase calorie burning by increasing metabolism, but not all studies agree with this opinion.

4. Provides a relaxing effect

Green tea contains an amino acid called L-theanine. Matcha contains L-theanine which is higher than any green tea. The benefit of L-theanine is to increase alpha waves in the brain. These waves can help you get calm, and fight stress symptoms. This substance is also able to change the effects of caffeine in the body, making us alert, does not cause drowsiness that usually appears after drinking coffee. Matcha caffeine is thought to have a longer lasting effect than coffee, but the effect is mild, does not cause heart palpitations. In addition, several studies also show that green tea powder can improve brain function and prevent cognitive decline due to age.

Are there any side effects from consuming matcha?

Eating matcha powder means you digest the whole leaf, no matter what is inside. During its development, matcha leaves could have been contaminated by heavy metals, pesticides and fluorine. In addition, more nutritional content is not always good for the body. The body's tolerance for a substance varies, this high level of substance can cause nausea, symptoms of liver poisoning, or kidney. So, it is not recommended to drink matcha more than 2 cups / cup a day.