Matcha tea has one huge advantage over any other caffeine drink, and that's L-theanine. This natural amino-acid in green tea boosts calm feelings and dampers anxiety in those tested. Moreover, the moderate level of caffeine also means your brain won't be overexcited (leading to damage) like from coffee.
Matcha contains both caffeine and L-theanine, which work synergistically to offer calm alertness without the jittery side effects sometimes associated with coffee orenergy drinks. This one-of-a-kind blend can help relieve anxiety and promote focused relaxation.
Matcha Tea Benefits over Coffee
While coffee and matcha both have their own health benefits, matcha is better for you overall and has fewer potential side effects. It's gentler on the body and is good for you in so many different ways.
The takeaway
Both coffee and matcha have health promoting properties when consumed in moderation, supporting energy levels and cognitive function, through their caffeine and antioxidant content. However, if you're looking to reap health benefits with fewer caffeine jitters and less acidity, matcha is the way to go.
While coffee can increase cortisol, matcha tea will also help regulate blood sugar levels. So, when looking for a morning brew that will give you the benefits of a caffeine hit without the side effects or afternoon crash, switching to matcha is the perfect choice.
These results suggest that Matcha tea powder exerts an antidepressant-like effect through the activation of the dopaminergic system including the PFC-NAc-VTA circuit and that mental states are important factors affecting the physiological benefits of Matcha tea powder.
L-theanine has been shown to alter the amounts of dopamine and serotonin that the brain emits. By increasing the amount of dopamine and serotonin in one's brain, matcha can help improve your mood and drown out any negative thoughts.
Matcha green tea contains the amino acid theanine, which may reduce anxiety and stress, so it's less likely to create the jitters that coffee can, they add. A cup of green tea has roughly 70% less caffeine than a cup of coffee, says Sollid.
Drink plenty of water. This will help you flush the caffeine through your system. Caffeine causes dehydration which can, in turn, worsen the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, so make sure you keep hydrated. Meditation or mindful breathing can help your nervous system to de-stress.
If you've got a date lined up, get sipping that green goodness! The green brew can also have a calming effect on your mind. Theanine, an amino acid found in green tea leaves, helps you relax and keep stress at bay. According to researchers, theanine also helps to reduce anxiety.
“If you are prone to arrhythmias or if you have heart disease, then matcha could be harmful for you,” she said. People who are sensitive to caffeine may also want to pass on matcha because it could cause anxiety and disrupt sleep.
Matcha can help make you happy: Another positive side-effect of the L-Theanine in matcha is the production of dopamine and serotonin. These two chemicals are known to enhance mood, improve memory and promote better concentration.
While matcha's caffeine and L-theanine provide a sustained energy boost and increased alertness, too much of it can make you feel overstimulated, overly energized, jittery, and anxious. Excessive amounts of matcha can result in typical caffeine-related symptoms, such as: Increased heart rate.
Drinking matcha every day results in a noticeable mood boost, optimized all-day energy, and potential benefits like weight loss, heart health, lower blood pressure, metabolism balance, and even totes cancer-fighting properties.
Research has shown that l-theanine in matcha may help foster a state of deep relaxation and alertness within 30 to 40 minutes of ingestion.
Matcha tea is a powerful antioxidant that may help support hormone balance. Matcha contains polyphenols, antioxidants that can reduce inflammation throughout the body and keep our organs healthy. This means it could also play an essential role in regulating hormones during menopause or other hormonal changes.
L-theanine works on your brain chemistry to create balance; matcha contains much higher levels of L-theanine than green tea, which may benefit those with social anxiety, panic disorder, and general anxiety disorder.
It's a natural nootropic
Drinking green tea and matcha will provide you with the benefits of nootropics but without any nasty side effects. Matcha acts as a powerful natural nootropic that boosts cognitive functions like concentration, memory, attention, and motivation.
Summary: Researchers say Matcha, a traditional Japanese tea, can help boost mood and mental performance. Match tea powder activates dopaminergic neural networks and improves depressive symptoms in mice that previously experienced stress as a result of social isolation.
Here's the science explaining why: Coffee causes spikes in adrenaline glucose and insulin levels, which in turn create jitteriness and nervousness. Matcha, in contrast, does none of that. It creates a calm alertness with just a sixth the caffeine of coffee (25mg versus a typical 150mg cup of coffee).
Matcha offers many health benefits as opposed to coffee, and although coffee is not bad, it can be replaced with Matcha without any detriment to your health. Like coffee, Matcha can be used to make both hot and cold beverages. Matcha is also great for smoothies, baked goods, and even ice cream!
Avoid drinking Matcha on an empty stomach. It can lead to stomach upset. Don't drink Matcha tea at the same time as your main meals, as it can reduce the absorption of vitamin B1 in your body, which lead to a condition named Beriberi. After 5pm in the evening, due to the caffeine.