Findings suggest that green tea can also reduce allergic responses and asthma. Diabetes: Not only does green tea help improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetics, but one study found that drinking more than six cups of green tea per day slashed the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 33%. Its antibacterial properties thwart the effects of the bacteria most responsible for gum disease. Both matcha and regular green tea come from from the Camellia sinensis plant -- as do all other green teas -- so you may wonder what the difference is between the two. May 6, 2013 By Caitlin Weeks From GFG: This is another great guest post by my trusty intern: Coco Noel. I invited her over to brunch recently and she brought some Matcha green tea. Other studies have shown an associated decrease in prostate cancer and found a link suggesting green tea may slow down the growth of tumors in breast cancer patients. I had actually never had it before and she was the first person to bring it to my attention. We mixed it with hot water, coconut milk and a little stevia and it was divine. The major antioxidant in green tea -- EGCG -- is linked to potential weight loss benefits, and matcha has more of it than regular green tea. So the matcha beverage you pick up at your local coffee shop contains 100 percent of the tea leaf, which is unlike regular green tea, in which the leaves are steeped in water and the nutrients come from what leaches out into the liquid. The good news is that the amount of EGCG used in the study may be found in a cup or two of matcha tea, based on studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in March 2008. The bulk of the available data is based on research on mice, which may not translate to humans. Relax: Green tea increases the production of alpha brain waves to calm the body.
Oral health: Green tea strengthens your teeth, thus decreasing your risk of cavities. And it may even help ward off bad breath. This study only had 12 subjects, so more studies are needed using a larger sample size and actual brewed tea instead of the extract. For starters, it contains 10x the antioxidants of pomegranates and 5x the antioxidants of goji berries. Immunity: Green tea may help you fight off illness by altering the makeup of intestinal bacteria. The EGCG in matcha may boost your metabolism during moderate-intensity exercise, thus enhancing weight loss, suggests a small study. She earned her Master of Science in nutrition from the University of Chicago and has contributed to health and wellness magazines, including Prevention, Self, Shape and Cooking Light. Be sure to like follow her smart and informative posts on Facebook. Some studies even suggest that components of green tea can help prevent skin cancer when applied directly to the skin. Still, matcha is a unique, antioxidant-rich and health-promoting beverage you may want to incorporate into your weight loss plan. Matcha is essentially very finely powdered green tea leaves that are mixed into liquid and consumed whole. Janet Renee is a clinical dietitian with a special interest in weight management, sports dietetics, medical nutrition therapy and diet trends. Skin health: German researchers found that drinking six cups of green tea per day can help your skin be more resistant to sunburn. One of the darlings of the tea world, matcha is a stone-ground green tea and a traditional staple in Japan. Atherosclerosis causes arteries to narrow and become clogged, which may cause heart attack or stroke. Weight loss: Approximately 2 cups of green tea will speed up your metabolism by nearly 5% in a 24 hour period.
