You know that green tea is good for your health, but did you know that matcha green tea is even better? Three times better! That’s because unlike regular steeped green tea, when you drink matcha you’re ingesting the entire antioxidant-rich, crushed up leaf – not just leaf-infused water.

Amazing health benefits

Matcha green tea contains an exceptional blend of anti-inflammatories and antioxidants and is prized for its mood enhancing, memory boosting, cancer-protective and weight loss benefits.

It also can boost your liver function and detoxify poisons and carcinogens. One of its main compounds, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), enables your immune system to search for and destroy cancer cells, thus giving your DNA repair team a helping hand.

What’s more, matcha’s health benefits go way beyond cancer. Regular consumption can also protect from or reverse other health issues:

• Decreases heart attack and stroke risk by lowering cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and slowing hardening of the arteries.
• Kills certain bacteria, especially in the bladder. Green tea drinkers have a 40% lower incidence of urinary tract infections.
• Aids digestion by increasing helpful bacteria (probiotics) in your intestines, and decreasing harmful ones.
• Speeds metabolism and helps you lose weight.
• Helps balance blood sugar levels.
• Helps reduce inflammation linked to inflammatory bowel disease and may help prevent colon cancer.

One large Japanese study even showed that drinking 5 cups of green tea daily (equivalent to slightly less than two cups of matcha) significantly lowers the risk of death from all causes, especially heart disease.

Are you wondering if matcha green tea’s benefits extend to ‘regular’ black tea? Remember that the answer lies in how the tea is processed, as this makes a substantial difference in its nutrient and anticancer value. Green tea is the least processed tea, far richer in antioxidants and beneficial polyphenols than black.

Easy to consume

You can simply blend it with hot water (a touch of honey or maple syrup offsets its slightly bitter taste). Or try this refreshing summer smoothie!

Kiwi and Matcha Tea Smoothie

Ingredients (use organic whenever possible)

• 1 cup almond milk (unsweetened)
• 1 cup fresh spinach
• ½ green apple
• 1 kiwi (peeled, sliced and frozen)
• ¼ banana (frozen)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds (optional)
• ½ tsp matcha powder
• ½ cup cold filtered water

Wise rule: Adding citrus (lemon or lime) to your matcha drink increases the absorption of nutrients into your bloodstream.

Note of caution: Some people should not take green tea, including matcha. Pregnant or nursing women should avoid it and those on thyroid medications should check with their doctor.