Matcha: An Everyday Anti-Inflammatory Superfood

Ali Segersten Jan 30, 2024
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MATCHA LATTE-2

Matcha, or powdered green tea, is one of the most powerful antioxidant superfoods you can consume. Matcha is a concentrated source of a specific group of polyphenols called catechins. You may have heard of EGCG, or epigallocatechin gallate. EGCG is a catechin found in concentrated amounts in matcha—much higher than regular green tea! EGCG has been widely studied for years for its beneficial effects on weight loss, inflammation reduction, cardiovascular health, cancer prevention, and gut microbe balancing. 

Matcha powder is made from finely ground young green tea leaves, however the process of growing green tea for matcha is different than regular tea leaf production. During the last six weeks of growing, the tea plants (camellia sinensis) are shaded to increase the levels of amino acids and chlorophyll in the leaves. This, in turn, creates bright green matcha without any bitterness. High quality matcha should have a very smooth, balanced, and almost sweet flavor. 

Matcha contains about 60 to 70 mg of caffeine per teaspoon of powder,  as well as L-theanine, quercetin, rutin, catechins, chlorophyll, and vitamin C. The L-theanine in matcha helps to improve attention, focus, and mood. It also takes the edge off of the caffeine, calming anxiety. The higher the grade of matcha, the more L-theanine (ceremonial grade contains the highest amount). In fact, L-theanine is often added to sleep supplements because it calms the brain by blocking the binding of L-glutamic acid to glutamate receptors in the brain. The combination of L-theanine and caffeine in matcha gives you sustained energy and focus, instead of the high and subsequent crash associated with coffee. 

The most widely researched catechin in matcha is EGCG, or epigallocatechin gallate. EGCG accounts for about 33% of the catechins found in green tea. Aside from taking a green tea extract supplement, matcha contains the highest levels of EGCG. Catechins act as an antioxidant in the body, scavenging free radicals to reduce oxidative stress. EGCG can inhibit the NF-kB pathway in the body (an inflammatory pathway). EGCG can also induce cancer cell apoptosis (programmed cell death), reducing cancer cell growth. High-dose EGCG treatment has also been used to reduce weight and waist circumference. The catechins found in matcha and green tea can increase fat oxidation and increase insulin sensitivity! The combination of the high levels of catechins and caffeine in matcha seem to have the greatest effect on weight loss. The catechins in green tea can also increase the production of glutathione—the body's most powerful antioxidant! 

The health benefits from matcha come from daily consumption. Enjoy 1 to 3 teaspoons of high quality matcha powder every morning. I have found that whisking matcha powder with several tablespoons of cold water to form a thin paste, before adding hot water (around 180 degrees F) and non-dairy milk, creates the smoothest matcha lattes and improves the overall flavor profile of the beverage. 

ALI-2023-PHOTO-VERTICAL-2

About the Author

Ali Segersten

Alissa Segersten holds a Bachelor's of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University and a Master’s of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine from the University of Western States. She is a Functional Nutritionist, the mother of five children, a whole foods cooking instructor, professional recipe developer, and cookbook author. She is passionate about helping others find a diet that will truly nourish them. Alissa is the author of two very popular gluten-free, whole foods cookbooks and guidebooks: The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook and Nourishing Meals. She is also the co-author of The Elimination Diet book. Alissa is the founder and owner of Nourishing Meals®.

See More

Nourishing Meals Newsletter

Email updates.

Add Comment

Related Posts

May 04, 2017

Dairy-Free Vanilla Cashew Creamer Recipe

Are you working to eliminate dairy from your diet and in need of a creamy "milk" to add to your morning coffee or tea? I've been making this dairy-free cashew creamer for over a decade and never get tired of it!

Read More
Jan 01, 2014

Cucumber Kale Cleanser  (aka "Green Juice")

Happy New Year! Cheers! This is our favorite green juice recipe, in fact, our children think it's the bomb! They love it. Serve it in a pretty glass with a stainless steel or glass straw. I think you'll find that this green juice is very mild tasting and quite enjoyable to drink.

Read More
Dandelion Root Chai Tea
Feb 28, 2013

Dandelion Root Chai Tea

I'm so excited to share this dandelion root chai tea recipe with you today! It makes a great coffee substitute for those of you who are trying to reduce caffeine intake. I don't know about you, but I just love warm spicy drinks like chai tea, especially in the wintertime.

Read More
Homemade Hemp Milk
Jan 03, 2012

Homemade Hemp Milk

Making your own hemp milk is easier than buying it! Plus by making your own, you don't get any extra added ingredients, just pure creamy goodness. However, since there are no added flavorings, this milk tastes a lot like hemp seeds (as it should) so the flavor might be a tad stronger if you are accustomed to store-bought hemp milk.

Read More
Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Recipe
Nov 21, 2010

Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa

The wintery blast that hit us last night brought snow and hot cocoa too. I had some vegetable side dish recipes to post for Thanksgiving....but hot cocoa calls when the wind is whipping and the snow is falling! We woke up this morning to a couple of inches of snow on the ground and the kids decided to go out early to play.

Read More