6 Proven Ways Matcha Tea Improves Your Health

Matcha has skyrocketed in popularity lately, with matcha shots, lattes, teas, and even desserts appearing everywhere from health stores to coffee shops.

Like green tea, matcha comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. However, it’s grown differently and has a unique nutrient profile.

Farmers grow matcha by covering their tea plants 20–30 days before harvest to avoid direct sunlight. This increases chlorophyll production, boosts the amino acid content, and gives the plant a darker green hue.

Once the tea leaves are harvested, the stems and veins are removed and the leaves are ground up into a fine powder known as matcha.

Matcha contains the nutrients from the entire tea leaf, which results in a greater amount of caffeine and antioxidants than typically found in green tea

Studies of matcha and its components have unearthed a variety of benefits, showing that it can help protect the liver, promote heart health, and even aid in weight loss.

Here are 7 health benefits of matcha tea, all based on science.

1. High in antioxidants
Matcha contains a concentrated amount of antioxidants, which may reduce cell damage and prevent chronic disease. In fact, by one estimate, the number of certain catechins in matcha is up to 137 times greater than in other types of green tea.

One study showed that giving mice matcha supplements reduced damage caused by free radicals and enhanced antioxidant activity.

Including matcha in your diet could increase your antioxidant intake, which may help prevent cell damage and even lower your risk of several chronic diseases

2. May help protect the liver
Some studies have shown that matcha could prevent liver damage and decrease the risk of liver disease. However, additional studies are needed to look at the effects on humans in the general population.