Matcha is good for you. No wonder there, right? Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past five years, you’ve probably seen countless headlines extolling the superhero benefits of matcha, cafes serving up vibrant matcha green tea and Matcha lattes, and supplement companies integrating powdered tea into their production lines.
And all for good reason – Matcha Green Tea is a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that support the body and health of everyday sports enthusiasts and avid athletes.
From boosting performance to aiding training recovery, now is a great time to review the benefits matcha offers athletes of all levels.
What is the difference between matcha tea and green tea?
Although matcha tea and green tea come from the same plant, the technique of growing and processing matcha is what takes this powdered tea to the next level. Simply put, matcha is shade-grown three weeks before harvest, which results in increased chlorophyll levels as well as the plant’s amino acid content. Regular green tea, on the other hand, is left in the sun until harvest.
The leaves of the shade-grown green tea tree are then ground into a fine powder (resulting in matcha), preserving all the health benefits of the plant, thereby taking the benefits of green tea and strengthening them.
This process also results in higher levels of antioxidants and caffeine, creating the perfect natural pre-workout supplement.
With that, matcha tea contains a long list of phytonutrients and antioxidants such as EGCG, making this green tea an athlete’s best friend.
How Matcha Improves Recovery After a Workout
Hard training leads to all kinds of pain and the search for supplements to help alleviate pain and heal torn muscle fibers. One of Matcha’s powerful antioxidants does just that. EGCG (a catechin), targets the stress caused by sports training. A study found that EGCG prevented the destruction of muscle mass after training, which is great news for those who exercise regularly.
Longer stamina
Matcha is the man when it comes to helping you pick up the pace. Studies have shown that athletes have improved endurance when taking matcha because it helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure, allowing you to push harder for longer.
Matcha improves performance by using fat as energy
The combination of catechins and caffeine in matcha tea results in more energy (stored fat) that the body can take out and use. Studies have shown that matcha can improve athletic performance through increased availability of stored fat during exercise
The Benefits of Matcha
No more jolts through your nervous system with a sudden release of caffeine through your veins only to crash later. Matcha contains an important amino acid, L-theanine, which encourages your body to release caffeine at a sustained rate, resulting in a calmer alert feeling during workouts with a slow release of energy.
Matcha Tea Vs. Green Tea: Nutrition Facts Comparisons
One cup of Matcha is equivalent to 10 cups of regular brewed green tea with:
- 137x Antioxidants
- 5x L-theanine
- 10x Vitamin C
- 99x carotene
- 27x Vitamin B2
- 96x Vitamin B6
How to prepare matcha tea
Depending on the serving size of the brand you choose, simply add the serving size to a cup of hot water and whisk until the powder is evenly dissolved. Enjoy as is or add your favorite cream.
- Ways to enjoy matcha: Add a teaspoon of Matcha tea to your favorite smoothies, lattes, oatmeal and baked goods such as homemade protein bars and energy bites.
Top 3 must-try matcha brands
*Culinary grade is ideal for smoothies and baked goods, while ceremonial grade is best consumed as a tea.
