Is matcha anti inflammatory?
Drinking matcha has become a popular trend, not only due to its bright green, photogenic qualities, but also the vast health benefits that drinking matcha comes with.
Some of the key health benefits of matcha include; high amount of antioxidants, helps with weight loss and can lower the risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease and Alzheimer's.
A popular benefit that people are looking for at the moment is anti-inflammatories. Leaving many to ask, does matcha powder reduce inflammation?
What is an anti inflammatory?
Before we dive in to is matcha anti inflammatory, we should look into what an anti inflammatory is/does in the body.
Your immune system becomes activated when your body recognises anything that is foreign.
This can be things such as, a chemical, an invading microbe or plant pollen.
This then often triggers inflammation. Intermittent bouts of inflammation directed at truly threatening invaders protect your health.
However, sometimes inflammation persists, day in and day out, even when you are not threatened by a foreign invader.
That's when inflammation can become a problem.
The best way to over come this is through the diet and not with drugs. This is where anti inflammatory foods come in.
Is matcha anti inflammatory?
So, is matcha anti inflammatory? ...
Yes! Matcha is anti inflammatory! Drinking matcha everyday can have a huge anti inflammatory effect.
Matcha contains high amounts of substances with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
It has promising potential health benefits, mainly through a high concentration of catechins. With regular consumption, it may support the body’s efforts to maintain health and prevent disease.
The plant Camellia sinensis (which matcha and other teas are made from), has excellent anti-inflammation properties.
Therefore, both green and black tea contains these properties as they come from the same plant.
The only difference is that green tea leaves undergo less oxidation than the black kind, helping them retain their green colour.
The anti-inflammatory components of such tea are regarded to be polyphenols, of which the most potent is epigallocatechin-3-gallate, better known as EGCG. EGCG’s anti-inflammatory properties help aid with pain relief when it comes to inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Where to buy matcha
If you're looking to start drinking matcha, where to buy it is an important part of the process.
You can now buy matcha pods for a Nespresso machine at Rejuvenation water. Our Nespresso compatible matcha pods are quick and simple to use as they don’t require any preparation like making and whisking regular matcha powder.
When buying matcha it is important to know the quality of the matcha. Rejuvenation water’s Nespresso compatible pods are filled with premium organic matcha, so you can be sure you are getting high quality matcha when buying matcha from us.
Each pod is also packed with added prebiotic fibre and 8 energising B vitamins, adding to the great anti inflammatory effects of matcha.
By Alex Warmisham ANutr - Nutritionist at Rejuvenation Water
