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Matcha

Matcha - the green king among teas

Green, aromatic, and health-promoting – what matcha tea promises. Besides water, tea is the most popular beverage in the world. Matcha is a green tea in powdered form, known for its particularly aromatic enjoyment. But it is not only used as a drink; it is also an ingredient in smoothies, baked goods, and ice cream. No wonder, as the powdered tea from Japan is attributed with a number of positive properties that have also been proven in studies. In particular, the large number of cell-protecting antioxidants is said to be beneficial for health. The tea is said to have an effect on the cardiovascular system and on cholesterol levels.The quality of the plants, as well as the method of production, is crucial for a positive impact on health. https://myvial.de/shop/bio-matcha-pulver-100g/

What is Matcha Tea?

The plant Camellia sinensis is used to produce tea. It does not matter whether black, green, or white tea is to be produced. The color is achieved only through further processing. Matcha gets its green appearance from a steaming treatment after harvesting. If Matcha tea is to be made from the plants later, they are covered with bamboo mats and tarps about 4 weeks before harvesting. In the dark environment, the leaves develop their popular aroma and produce more chlorophyll. Therefore, Matcha does not refer to a specific plant species but means "ground tea." In Japan, the consumption of Matcha is celebrated in tea ceremonies.In this country, the popular drink of the Japanese has gained significance only through the rise of superfoods.

Matcha Ingredients

Matcha contains particularly many valuable ingredients that are said to have a positive effect on the body. These include:
  • Caffeine
  • Magnesium
  • Iron
  • Potassium
  • Zinc
  • Nickel
  • Phosphorus
  • Fluoride
  • Calcium
  • L-Theanine
  • Chlorophyll
  • Tannins
  • Catechins (4 different subgroups)
  • Theophylline
  • Vitamins A, B1, B2
The catechins contained are of particular importance. They account for over 80% of the detectable flavonoids. In comparison, black tea contains only 20-30%.But the interplay of caffeine and L-theanine (amino acid) is also said to have an impact on health and significantly influence cognitive abilities1. Due to the high number of antioxidants, matcha tea is described as very valuable for the anti-aging effect. Research has indeed shown that corresponding creams and tea extracts, when applied externally, can have a positive influence 2. Green tea could also be used for hair loss, as experiments have shown that EGCG (a subgroup of catechins) is capable of stimulating hair follicle growth3. Last but not least, studies have demonstrated that the plant compounds contained can reduce fungi and bacteria in the body, thus acting as a kind of natural antibiotic4.

Green Tea - Effects and Studies

More than 2000 studies and experimental investigations focus on green tea. Many studies date back to the 1970s and were primarily conducted in Japan. However, Americans and Europeans have also dedicated research to this medicinal plant. Green tea is therefore considered to be particularly well-researched. Since the production of Matcha is similar to that of green tea, the existing study results can also be applied to Matcha. According to researchers, the catechins contained, especially the EGCG, are particularly interesting regarding their health-promoting effects. Dementia, cancer, and heart diseases are the main focus of scientific investigations. 

Green Tea Affects Cholesterol Levels

Initial indications that green tea could influence cholesterol levels were already provided by animal studies 5,6.In a study examining the effects of EGCG on breast cancer in humans, a slight decrease in cholesterol levels was also observed. Women who had very high cholesterol levels (200mg/dl) before the study were able to benefit from a significant reduction in total cholesterol levels7. Additionally, the direct consumption of a matcha tea beverage showed effects. In 5 women who consumed 1.5 g of matcha over a period of 2 weeks, a reduction in cholesterol levels by an average of 10mg/dl was noted 8

Matcha and Diabetes 

Using a randomized double-blind study, researchers investigated whether tea catechins could have a potential effect on hormone circulation and the development of breast cancer.Although no change in estrogen and testosterone levels was detected after 2 months of taking 800 mg of EGCG, blood sugar and insulin levels significantly decreased 9.

Green Tea and Atherosclerosis/Heart Attacks

There seems to be a connection between tea consumption and the development of severe atherosclerosis. The Rotterdam study involved 3,454 participants. It was found that they had a significantly lower risk (-69%) of suffering from vascular degeneration if they drank more than 4 cups of tea daily. Interestingly, the effect was more pronounced in women than in men. The risk of developing mild atherosclerosis was similarly high among tea drinkers as in the rest of the population 10.

Green Tea and Mortality Risk

The so-called Ohsaki study provided evidence that tea drinkers suffer from fewer cardiovascular diseases. Data from 40,000 Japanese individuals were collected and analyzed over 11 years. The results showed that people who drink at least 5 cups of green tea daily had a 12% lower overall mortality risk. The effect was significantly stronger in women, with a reduction of 23%. When only the risk for cardiovascular diseases was considered, there was a reduced risk of 22% in men and 31% in women.11

Green Tea and Oral Health

In an experiment, a mouth rinse made from green tea was compared to the antiseptic chlorhexidine regarding their effects. Over the course of a month, participants in 2 separate groups used the mouth rinses. The result: Both groups showed a reduction in gum inflammation and plaque formation.The bleeding of the gums also decreased. In this regard, the application of green tea had a significantly stronger effect 19.

Matcha Tea for Weight Loss

Matcha is often advertised for its fat-burning properties. While the tea catechins have been shown to affect insulin levels, which can contribute to a feeling of fullness, it has not yet been proven that Matcha can effectively burn fat. This is also evidenced by a meta-analysis that examined 14 studies on the topic of weight loss and tea 20.

Interactions of Matcha

Scientific studies show that green tea can affect the effectiveness of blood pressure medications as well as certain chemotherapeutics. Researchers suspect that the ingredients in the tea block the absorption of the blood pressure-lowering drug Nadolol through the intestinal mucosa.Additionally, it has been found that the medication Bortezomib (a chemotherapy drug) loses its effectiveness when taken together with EGCG 21. 

Intake and Dosage of Matcha

Matcha is very popular due to its refreshing and only slightly bitter taste. Users are also particularly fascinated by the versatility of matcha powder. It can be mixed into hot beverages and smoothies. But matcha can also provide an appealing color and special flavor note in desserts such as cakes and sweets. There are almost no limits to its application. Matcha powder can also be used in pasta dough, sauces, and salad dressings. Good news for matcha fans: In a typical amount, matcha is well tolerated.Participants consumed up to 16 cups of tea daily, with side effects such as insomnia, headaches, and digestive issues occurring as frequently as in the EGCG group 22. 

Buy Matcha Tea

https://myvial.de/shop/bio-matcha-pulver-100g/ When purchasing Matcha tea, it is particularly important to pay attention to good quality. The production process is significant, as not all tea garden operators master the art of producing outstanding Matcha tea. The harvesting, drying, and processing of the tea leaves require both time and expertise. Therefore, high-quality organic Matcha powder is relatively expensive. However, the investment is worthwhile, as it convinces with both quality and taste. Buyers can play it safe by sourcing the Matcha green tea powder in organic quality. Since the whole tea leaf is processed, no herbicides or chemical fertilizers should be used.In online retail, various price levels are catered to. For every type of consumption, there is a suitable product, depending on whether the tea is to be consumed solely or also processed in the kitchen. Those who want to be on the safe side should buy matcha powder from a trusted dealer, as they can rely on the product information.

Sources:

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  1. Pazyar N, Feily A, Kazerouni A. Green tea in dermatology. Skinmed. 2012 Nov-Dec;10:352-5. Review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23346663
  2. Kwon OS, Han JH, Yoo HG, Chung JH, Cho KH, Eun HC, Kim KH. Human hair growth enhancement in vitro by green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Phytomedicine. 2007 Aug;14(7-8):551-5.Epub 2006 Nov 7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17092697
  3. Muthu M, Gopal J, Min SX, Chun S. Green Tea Versus Traditional Korean Teas: Antibacterial/Antifungal or Both? Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2016 Oct;180:780-790. Epub 2016 May 19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27193355
  4. Yang TT, Koo MW. Chinese green tea lowers cholesterol level through an increase in fecal lipid excretion. Life Sci. 2000;66:411-23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10670829
  1. Xu P, Ying L, Hong G, Wang Y. The effects of the aqueous extract and residue of Matcha on the antioxidant status and lipid and glucose levels in mice fed a high-fat diet. Food Funct. 2016 Jan;7: 294-300. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26448271
  2. Samavat H, Newman AR, Wang R, Yuan JM, Wu AH, Kurzer MS. Effects of green tea catechin extract on serum lipids in postmenopausal women: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016 Dec;104:1671-1682. Epub 2016 Nov 2.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=27806972
  3. Gomikawa S, Ishikawa Y, Hayase W, Haratake Y, Hirano N, Matuura H, Mizowaki A, Murakami A, Yamamoto M. Effect of ground green tea drinking for 2 weeks on the susceptibility of plasma and LDL to the oxidation ex vivo in healthy volunteers. Kobe J Med Sci. 2008 May 23;54:E62-72. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18772610
  1. Wu AH, Spicer D, Stanczyk FZ, Tseng CC, Yang CS, Pike MC. Effect of 2-month controlled green tea intervention on lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, and hormone levels in healthy postmenopausal women. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2012 Mar;5:393-402. Epub 2012 Jan 13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22246619
  2. Geleijnse JM, Launer LJ, Hofman A, Pols HA, Witteman JC. Tea flavonoids may protect against atherosclerosis: the Rotterdam Study. Arch Intern Med. 1999 Oct 11; 159: 2170-4.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10527294
  1. Kuriyama S, Shimazu T, Ohmori K, Kikuchi N, Nakaya N, Nishino Y, Tsubono Y, Tsuji I. Green tea consumption and mortality due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all causes in Japan: the Ohsaki study. JAMA. 2006 Sep 13;296:1255-65. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16968850
  1. Rieger-Christ KM, Hanley R, Lodowsky C, Bernier T, Vemulapalli P, Roth M, Kim J, Yee AS, Le SM, Marie PJ, Libertino JA, Summerhayes IC. The green tea compound, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate downregulates N-cadherin and suppresses migration of bladder carcinoma cells. J Cell Biochem. 2007 Oct 1; 102:377-88. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=17348027
  2. Tsubono Y, Nishino Y, Komatsu S, Hsieh CC, Kanemura S, Tsuji I, Nakatsuka H, Fukao A, Satoh H, Hisamichi S. Green tea and the risk of gastric cancer in Japan. New England Journal of Medicine. 2001 Mar 1;34: 632-6.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11228277
  3. Bettuzzi S, Brausi M, Rizzi F, Castagnetti G, Peracchia G, Corti A. Chemoprevention of human prostate cancer by oral administration of green tea catechins in volunteers with high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia: a preliminary report from a one-year proof-of-principle study. Cancer Research 2006 Jan 15; 66:1234-40. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16424063
  4. Kumar NB, Pow-Sang J, Egan KM, Spiess PE, Dickinson S, Salup R, Helal M, McLarty  J, Williams CR, Schreiber F, Parnes HL, Sebti S, Kazi A, Kang L, Quinn G, Smith T, Yue B, Diaz K, Chornokur G, Crocker T, Schell MJ. Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Green Tea Catechins for Prostate Cancer Prevention. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2015 Oct;8:879-87. Epub 2015 Apr 14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25873370
  5. Ehrnhoefer DE, Bieschke J, Boeddrich A, Herbst M, Masino L, Lurz R, Engemann S, Pastore A, Wanker EE.EGCG redirects amyloidogenic polypeptides into unstructured, off-pathway oligomers. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2008 Jun;15: 558-66. Epub 2008 May 30. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=ehrnhoefer%202008&cmd=correctspelling
  6. Noguchi-Shinohara M, Yuki S, Dohmoto C, Ikeda Y, Samuraki M, Iwasa K, Yokogawa M, Asai K, Komai K, Nakamura H, Yamada M. Consumption of green tea, but not black tea or coffee, is associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline. PLoS One. 2014 May 14; 9: e96013. eCollection 2014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24828424
  7. Aktas O, Prozorovski T, Smorodchenko A, Savaskan NE, Lauster R, Kloetzel PM, Infante-Duarte C, Brocke S, Zipp F. Green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate mediates T cellular NF-kappa B inhibition and exerts neuroprotection in autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Immunol. 2004 Nov 1;173: 5794-800. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15494532?dopt=Abstract
  8. Priya BM, Anitha V, Shanmugam M, Ashwath B, Sylva SD, Vigneshwari SK.Efficacy of chlorhexidine and green tea mouthwashes in the management of dental plaque-induced gingivitis: A comparative clinical study. Contemp Clin Dent. 2015 Oct-Dec;6:505-9. Jurgens TM, Whelan AM, Killian L, Doucette S, Kirk S, Foy E. Green tea for weight loss and weight maintenance in overweight or obese adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Dec 12;12:CD008650. Golden EB, Lam PY, Kardosh A, Gaffney KJ, Cadenas E, Louie SG, Petasis NA, Chen TC, Schönthal AH. Green tea polyphenols block the anticancer effects of bortezomib and other boronic acid-based proteasome inhibitors. Blood. 2009 Jun 4;113: 5927-37. Epub 2009 Feb 3. Chow HH, Cai Y, Hakim IA, Crowell JA, Shahi F, Brooks CA, Dorr RT, Hara Y, Alberts DS.Pharmacokinetics and safety of green tea polyphenols after multiple-dose administration of epigallocatechin gallate and polyphenon E in healthy individuals. Clin Cancer Res. 2003 Aug 15; 9: 3312-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=12960117
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