explore

Organic Matcha Green Tea: 5 Health Benefits Backed by Science

Step into the magical world of organic matcha green tea, where a delicious frothy green cup brings calm focus and well-being. Drinking delicious tasting matcha isn't just trendy; its hidden health benefits are backed by science! In this article, we are going to discuss how and why drinking Japanese matcha can boost your health in ways that you never imagined. 

Why Matcha is Different

Matcha from Japan isn't your ordinary cup of tea. The secret behind matcha's hidden health benefits lies in its special journey from plant to cup. During the last part of its growth, the tea leaves are given some VIP treatment – they're shaded from the sunlight. And you know what that means? The tea leaves preserve their precious nutrients like never before, becoming an excellent source of special vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants and more.

What sets matcha tea apart from other green teas is that you're consuming the entire tea leaf that has been ground into powdered form, saving all these vital nutrients. The Japanese matcha green tea powder goes directly into your cup, smoothie, latte or even tiramisu.  That’s why you can feel confident drinking Fraser Tea® matcha – because it’s all organic and a healthy choice.

Matcha’s Health Benefits

Premium matcha contains an abundance of nutrients, boosts immunity and might be your favorite new drink. Join the matcha movement and unlock the hidden health benefits in every nourishing sip!  Here are our top 5 potential health benefits of matcha.

Stress and Anxiety Reduction

Ever wondered why sipping on organic matcha green tea brings a sense of calm? That’s because matcha contains a special amino acid known as L-theanine, which could potentially reduce stress, anxiety and promote relaxation (1, 2). Studies suggest that L-theanine, found in matcha, can pass through the blood brain barrier allowing it to exert its relaxation effects on the brain (3).

So how does it work? When you indulge in a comforting matcha tea latte or even enjoy a matcha-infused brownie, L-theanine steps in by influencing neurotransmitters in the brain. These are like messengers that facilitate communication between the brain and body.

Dopamine, for example, works as both a neurotransmitter and a hormone. It is responsible for crucial daily functions such as movement, memory, mood, and sleep (4). The release of dopamine is what contributes to that delightful, pleasurable feeling you experience after savoring a cup of organic matcha.

Serotonin, another messenger and hormone, is key for regulating your happiness level, digestion, learning, sleep and more. Unlike dopamine, serotonin can’t cross the blood brain barrier. Therefore, consuming foods rich in serotonin does not have the same impact. The best way to help your body make more serotonin is to increase your consumption of tryptophan, which is a key amino acid found in our ceremonial organic matcha (5).

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter, acts as a gatekeeper, dampening some of the messages transmitted through the nervous system. GABA plays the role of a moderator, helping manage the body’s response to stress, anxiety, and fear (6).

In a nutshell, incorporating matcha into your daily routine offers a flavorful method to help regulate your nervous system.

Heart Health

Like how a car engine requires the right balance of fuel and oxygen to function smoothly, your body operates optimally when everything is in equilibrium. Just as a car needs fuel to run and releases waste gases, our bodies need sustenance while eliminating waste.

Failure to do so in either case can lead to consequences, from engine damage in cars to health risks in humans. If left unchecked, the proliferation of free radicals and oxidants in your body can cause cellular damage, potentially leading to inflammation and cardiovascular disease (CVD)(7)

These free radicals are unstable and highly reactive molecules in your body that lack specific components. In their attempt to complete themselves by stealing parts from other molecules, they cause stress and damage which is referred to as oxidative stress.

When you have more free radicals in your body vs antioxidants, this can initiate oxidative stress and cause damage to your body’s cells. This oxidative stress can alter the lipids (fats) in your body and cause inflammation.

Whether influenced by genetics, or external factors (like smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise), this imbalance can contribute to elevated cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis.  Atherosclerosis involves the thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque. This condition increases the risk for stroke, heart attack, and peripheral vascular disease (8).

So how do you keep these free radicals in check? You guessed it right – bring in the protective antioxidants!  Drinking organic matcha gives your body an extra dose of antioxidants and ensures your cells are shielded from harm.

In addition, consuming this delicious green tea powder has the potential to control your cholesterol levels naturally. By maintaining lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and higher HDL (good) cholesterol levels, you’re on a path to better health and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Immunity Boost

Whether you're prepared or not, the cold and flu season is upon us. While maintaining a healthy diet, getting sufficient sleep, and practicing good hand hygiene are essential steps to ward off germs, sometimes these measures aren't enough. That's where organic matcha can provide an additional shield against invading microbes.

Matcha is packed with a potent natural compound called Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG). This special catechin found in matcha green tea possesses robust antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This contributes to an enhanced immune system. Here's how EGCG works its magic (9):

• Barrier Defense: Blocks the way germs and viruses try to invade your body.
• Boosted Immune Response: Encourages your immune cells to be more active, strengthening your defense against pathogens.
• Inflammation Control: EGCG reduces the inflammation triggered by your body’s immune response.
• Coordinated Defense: By orchestrating your immune response, EGCG helps your body combat infections more efficiently.

Evidence suggests that consuming matcha might assist in preventing acute upper respiratory infections (URI's). In a randomized placebo-controlled trial led by D. Furushima et. al, 285 health care workers were divided into 3 groups. They were provided either a high-catechin, low-catechin, or placebo beverage to consume at specified intervals over 12 weeks.

While all participants received standard preventive measures like handwashing, mask usage, and flu shots, the results were intriguing. The high-catechin group had 11 cases of upper respiratory infections, compared to 24 in the low-catechin group and 23 in the placebo group (10).

Further insights into EGCG's protective defense against influenza -A emerged from a study on chicken embryos conducted by Q. Mou et al. They discovered that EGCG can activate our body's defense genes, such as β-defensin 3. Through certain pathways, EGCG essentially signals these genes to fortify the fight against the H1N1 flu virus. This research suggests that EGCG might hold promise against this type of flu (11).

Staying ahead of cold and flu season is all about the basics: sleeping well, eating right, and keeping those hands clean. But why stop there? Elevate your body's defenses to a whole new level with a daily energizing matcha drink.

Cancer Prevention

As previously mentioned, EGCG, the potent compound found in matcha, boasts remarkable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. But did you know that EGCG might also be able to stop the progression of tumor cells, preventing them from transforming into cancerous ones?

In a study conducted by Ahmad et al., it was revealed that the constituents present in green tea can impact a process within cancer cells, potentially triggering their self-destruction. Considering matcha green tea's higher EGCG content, it holds promise for cancer prevention (12).

Clinical trials led by D. Chen et al. delved into the potential anticancer effects of green tea among cancer patients. Their findings highlight two crucial functions that contribute to cancer prevention. Firstly, green tea impedes the growth of new blood vessels, which are essential for tumor development. Secondly, it fosters the growth of healthy cells while prompting harmful cells to naturally die off (13).

Exciting news for matcha tea enthusiasts! K. Landis-Piwowar et al.'s study investigated how specific components within green tea could combat breast cancer. Their research unveiled that by curbing the activity of a particular enzyme in breast cancer cells, these components become more adept at inhibiting cancer cell growth. This discovery presents an encouraging avenue to augment breast cancer treatment (14).

While EGCG in matcha shows promise in preventing cancer, let's now shift our focus to explore its benefits for oral health.

Oral Health

Did you know that people with gum disease are twice as likely to die from a heart attack and three times more likely to have a stroke (15)? General health issues can arise when bacteria from your mouth spread throughout the body because of periodontal disease. The bacteria can enter the bloodstream and can even attach themselves to plaques on the coronary arteries making you a higher risk for heart attacks and stroke.

While regular dental care practices such as brushing your teeth, flossing, and regular dental check-ups remain essential, some promising studies suggest that green tea might have positive effects on periodontal and gingival health.

Research indicates that individuals who regularly consume green tea, such as during meals or breaks, tend to enjoy better gum health. Special compounds found in matcha green tea, particularly EGCG, have been shown to inhibit the growth of harmful mouth bacteria.

If periodontal disease is left untreated, the bacteria can be carried to your blood stream, potentially leading to general health issues (16).  Drinking premium matcha could potentially contribute to maintaining healthy gums!

A clinical pilot study was conducted by Hirasawa et. al to investigate whether green tea catechins could help improve gum disease. The researchers used a special strip containing green tea catechin to treat the patient’s gum pockets over an 8-week period. Patients who used these green tea catechin strips along with regular dental cleaning exhibited better gum health compared to those who did not use the strips (17).

Summary

Clearly, the potential health benefits of Matcha are remarkably promising, spanning stress reduction, heart health support, immunity enhancement, cancer prevention, and oral health maintenance. Explore our selection of organic matcha teas and begin your path to improved well-being today.

Want to learn more? Be sure to Explore our website and learn more about tea basics, wellness, origins of tea, tea traditions and new recipes using tea.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and sign up for our Newsletter. 

Please Note: Before starting any change to your diet and routine, you should always discuss this with your primary care physician first and make sure that it does not interfere with any health conditions or your current medications.

Disclaimer: This website is not intended for the purpose of medical advice. All information, content, and material of this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.

Sources

1. Unno K, Furushima D, Hamamoto S, Iguchi K, Yamada H, Morita A, Horie H, Nakamura Y. Stress-Reducing Function of Matcha Green Tea in Animal Experiments and Clinical Trials. Nutrients. 2018; 10(10):1468.
2. Hidese S, Ogawa S, Ota M, et al. Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2362. Published 2019 Oct 3.
3. Liwen Wang, Margaret Brennan, Shiming Li, Hui Zhao, Klaus W. Lange, Charles Brennan, How does the tea L-theanine buffer stress and anxiety, Food Science and Human Wellness, Volume 11, Issue 3, 2022, Pages 467-475.
4. Bhatia A, Lenchner JR, Saadabadi A. Biochemistry, Dopamine Receptors. [Updated 2022 Jul 18]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan.
5. Bamalan OA, Moore MJ, Al Khalili Y. Physiology, Serotonin. [Updated 2022 Jul 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan.
6. Nathan PJ, Lu K, Gray M, Oliver C. The neuropharmacology of L-theanine(N-ethyl-L-glutamine): a possible neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing agent. J Herb Pharmacother. 2006;6(2):21-30.
7. Pham-Huy LA, He H, Pham-Huy C. Free radicals, antioxidants in disease and health. Int J Biomed Sci. 2008 Jun;4(2):89-96
8. Yang RL, Shi YH, Hao G, Li W, Le GW. Increasing Oxidative Stress with Progressive Hyperlipidemia in Human: Relation between Malondialdehyde and Atherogenic Index. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2008;43(3):154-158.
9. Selena Ahmed, John Richard Stepp, Chapter 2 - Green Tea: The Plants, Processing, Manufacturing and Production, Tea in Health and Disease Prevention, Academic Press, 2013, Pages 19-31.
10. Furushima D, Nishimura T, Takuma N, et al. Prevention of Acute Upper Respiratory Infections by Consumption of Catechins in Healthcare Workers: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2019;12(1):4. Published 2019 Dec 18.
11. Mou Q, Jiang Y, Zhu L, Zhu Z, Ren T. EGCG induces β-defensin 3 against influenza A virus H1N1 by the MAPK signaling pathway. Exp Ther Med. 2020;20(4):3017-3024.
12. Ahmad N, Gupta S, Mukhtar H. Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate differentially modulates nuclear factor kappaB in cancer cells versus normal cells. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2000;376(2):338-346.
13. Chen D, Daniel KG, Kuhn DJ, et al. Green tea and tea polyphenols in cancer prevention. Front Biosci. 2004; 9:2618-2631. Published 2004 Sep 1.
14. Landis-Piwowar K, Chen D, Chan TH, Dou QP. Inhibition of catechol-Omicron-methyltransferase activity in human breast cancer cells enhances the biological effect of the green tea polyphenol (-)-EGCG. Oncol Rep. 2010;24(2):563-569.
15. Harvard Health Publishing. Gum disease and heart disease: The common thread. Harvard Health Publishing; 2021. Accessed August 13, 2023.
16. Sakanaka S, Aizawa M, Kim M, Yamamoto T. Inhibitory effects of green tea polyphenols on growth and cellular adherence of an oral bacterium, Porphyromonas gingivalis. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1996;60(5):745-749.
17. Hirasawa M, Takada K, Makimura M, Otake S. Improvement of periodontal status by green tea catechin using a local delivery system: a clinical pilot studJ Periodontal Res. 2002;37(6):433-438.