You might have already heard that matcha green tea is a well-known tool for weight loss. Many swear by matcha for weight loss, or seek out supplements that contain green tea extract to experience some of its benefits. Although you may already associate matcha with weight loss, you may not know the "why" behind it all.
In this blog, we’ll take you behind the scenes into the world of matcha green tea. Warning: reading this blog may lead to increased matcha consumption. Warning pt 2: increased matcha consumption may just be the best thing to happen to your health.
What is Matcha?
While green tea is made by steeping green tea leaves, matcha is made by grinding young green tea leaves into a fine green tea powder. This powder is then dissolved into hot water to create the beverage we know and love.
Matcha vs. Green Tea
Matcha green tea is grown differently than green tea. Matcha is highly protected from the sun, to keep its bright green color and prevent oxidation. This also preserves many of the nutrients found in green tea leaves, including powerful antioxidants. In fact, matcha has 137x the antioxidants of traditional green tea.
Also, because green tea is only steeped for a short period of time in water, many nutrients remain in the leaves or tea bag. When you consume matcha, on the other hand, you consume the entire green tea leaf. This potent form of green tea has been around for centuries, and continues to be touted for its many health benefits -- including weight loss.
Does Matcha Help with Weight Loss?
If you've come here for a quick answer, here it is: yes matcha helps with weight loss. Several studies have shown matcha's effects on weight loss, and continue to confirm this powerful tea's many superpowers.
But we get you, cautious consumer -- you want to know why matcha helps you lose weight. It's time to put your food scientist goggles on, because we're diving headfirst into matcha science.
How Matcha Can Help Burn Fat
The idea of "burning fat" seems like a largely immeasurable one, but in reality, it's a scientific process that can be improved by external factors. Burning fat is a biochemical process that occurs in the body when your digestive system breaks down large fat proteins into triglycerides that are then processed as used as energy. This process occurs naturally, but can be sped up with some help.
Matcha green tea contains high levels of catechins, which increase your body's thermogenesis (fat breakdown process) up to four times -- from 8-10% to 35-43% of daily energy expenditure. This means that fats are broken down into energy much more quickly, so they don't go straight to storage. In short, drinking matcha is a fat burning life hack.
While green tea contains catechins as well, matcha is an especially great source of EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate egcg) which is known to boost the metabolism and thermogenic effects in the body.
Matcha, Stress Reduction, and Weight Loss
One of the most common reasons for weight gain is stress. Stress can cause binge eating, lack of sleep, or just the extra storage of calories as your body goes into fight or flight mode. While most weight loss strategies skim over this fact, matcha actually directly addresses stress-linked weight gain.
This is because matcha contains l-theanine. L-theanine is a compound known to help regulate cortisol, the stress hormone that is often linked with weight gain. When you drink matcha, you get a hefty dose of l-theanine to help your body manage its cortisol production, avoid energy crashes that lead to poor quality of sleep, and generally better your ability to practice focus and mindfulness while eating.
Matcha Regulates Blood Sugar
Balancing glucose levels is key when you are trying to lose weight. Spikes in blood sugar can negatively impact the way your body processes food, and can even lead to Type 2 diabetes. A comprehensive review showed that green tea consumption is associated with decreased fasting glucose levels and reduced fasting insulin levels.
Matcha has also been shown to improve insulin resistance, which is a common issue in those experiencing weight gain.
Matcha and Caffeine
Matcha contains a good amount of caffeine, which, when paired with l-theanine, produces a sustained energy and focus. Unlike coffee, matcha's energy boost doesn't come with a hard crash in the middle of the day, which means that you can use your matcha energy boost to help get you through your daily exercise, and you won't sacrifice a great sleep at the ned of the night.
Matcha and Curbing Your Cravings
Studies have shown that matcha may help with reducing your sugar cravings. This is because of matcha's EGCG levels, which simulate glucose uptake in the cells and reduce blood sugar levels, thus curbing your cravings.
Matcha Contains Minimal Calories
One of the best things about matcha for weight loss is that it contains only 3 calories per serving. When trying to lose weight, calorie-dense beverages can be the ultimate enemy. Matcha tea is essentially calorie-free, making it a great option to help you lose weight while enjoying a non-water option with your favorite meals or at snack time. If you crave a flavorful drink throughout the day, try to sip on a cup of matcha instead of a sugary beverage. Mosi's Vanilla Matcha adds a touch of vanilla for a light sweetness to mimic some of your favorite, more indulgent beverages.
If you're keep track of your calories to help your weight loss journey, matcha tea may be your new best friend.
How to Prepare Matcha Tea
Now that you know the countless benefits of drinking matcha for weight loss, it's time to start incorporating this powerhouse bev into your daily routine.
Preparing matcha is often overcomplicated. In reality, all you need is a high quality matcha powder, and something to use as your whisk.
We recommend sourcing a high quality matcha powder, like Mosi's garden-picked Vanilla Matcha, and trying out an on-the-go way to brew your matcha. Our matcha whisk attachment to Mosi's All-in-one infuser is the easiest way to make your matcha tea as you run out the door.
Here are some fun new ways for you to incorporate matcha into your life:
Iced Lemon Mint Vanilla Matcha Tea
Ingredients
- 1 tsp Mosi Vanilla Matcha tea
- lemon slice
- mint sprigs
- 3/4 cup water
- ice cubes
Tools + Equipment
- Mosi All-in-One infuser to combine all the ingredients easily
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cup
Directions
STEP 1: Add Mosi Vanilla Matcha powder to your infuser.
STEP 2: Pour water (about 185 degrees which has small boiling bubbles) into your infuser through the spout. Secure infuser.
STEP 3: Attach the lid, switch up the lock, and shake. Let the tea sit for 15 minutes or until it is cooled off.
STEP 4: Meanwhile, add ice cubes, mint leaves, and sliced lemon to a glass.
STEP 5: Pour the tea into a glass, stir and enjoy!
Note: This recipe is best enjoyed cold/over ice. Please be aware you should not pour boiling hot water into a glass as it can break — wait until your tea is cooled off before adding it to a glass!
Vanilla Matcha Mint Chip Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1/2 tsp Mosi Vanilla Matcha powder
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1/2 cup spinach
- 1/2 avocado
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp dark chocolate – roughly chopped ice cubes
Tools + Equipment
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cup
- Blender
Directions
STEP 1: Throw all of the ingredients except the dark chocolate in your blender, then blend until smooth.
STEP 2: Add the dark chocolate and pulse your blender a few times until it breaks down into smaller pieces.
STEP 3: Pour into a glass or mason jar if you wish. Enjoy!
Conclusion
Weight loss is complicated -- and oftentimes products that claim weight loss are deceiving, full of unnatural ingredients, or simply fads that never lead to sustainable weight loss. It's easy to fall victim to these tactics, especially because weight loss is a highly personal journey -- and many go through it without consulting trusted sources. We recommend that you consult your physician prior to any weight loss journey, and think of matcha not as a cure to weight loss, but a phenomenal tool to add to your toolkit as you navigate the process.
