A solid of source of energy with amazing health benefits you need to try!
Gearing up for a workout can sometimes be a daunting task. A long day can be draining and sometimes your calorie and hydration intake wasn’t up to par. You know you need to work out but you just need to get that quick boost to ignite your legs to walk out the door. While many performance enhancing supplements, both natural and artificial, exist, finding the right one to really boost your overall health and performance can be tricky.
Top pre-workout supplements and even a heaping cup of coffee can certainly get you to where you want to be when it comes to your energy levels and overall goals, but matcha can provide similar effects in terms of energy while offering plenty of other health benefits and is a great natural stimulant with minimal, if any, side effects.
Green tea and the benefits surrounding health and performance have long been known to enhance an athlete’s overall progress, but this form of green tea has even more benefits than traditional green tea alone. As a special form of green tea, matcha has caffeine lovers in a frenzy with just one more great option for a much-needed energy boost.
What Is Matcha?
Matcha is a powdered form of green tea, and unlike traditional tea where leaves are steeped in hot water, matcha powder is mixed thoroughly into the desired liquid. The preparation and actual overall process of matcha differs from green tea in that the plants used for matcha are shade-grown which helps enhance flavor and texture. Hand selected and dried, they are then ground into a fine powder for consumers to reap the rewards.
Health Benefits
Caffeine & Energy
Containing caffeine, matcha provides for a clean source of energy without suffering from those unwanted jitters and crashes. The buzz you may feel is actually a lot cleaner than that from coffee and will keep you alert and awake but also relaxed and non-drowsy. Too much caffeine can lead to headaches, anxiety, irritability, and poor sleep (1) but in a society where we fight to stay awake to get everything done, this is a clean way to do just that.
When it comes to a workout, matcha can offer a serious pre-workout boost without feeling terrible in the gym. You are already going to push yourself to the limit, so why make yourself feel worse if you don’t have to? The combination of caffeine and L-theanine offers a stable and extended boost to power you through any workout.
Rich With Antioxidants
Matcha is very rich in catechins which are polyphenolic antioxidants found in green tea leaves that serve as antioxidants. With many proven benefits towards your overall health (2), they provide great immune support to protect against unwanted viruses and pathogens, promote healthy brain function and heart health, and keep you pumping away so those strength gains really start to show. Increasing your antioxidant intake can also work to reduce cell damage and prevent chronic disease.
Enhance Brain Function
With a lot going on in our lives, brain health needs to take number one priority. Thankfully, matcha works to boost cognitive ability and ultimate brain performance so when lifting big, you stay focused and alert to really work on gains (3). Matcha can improve attention, reaction time, and memory, and a clean amount of caffeine will enhance focus for whatever the sport may be. Combine with L-theanine, caffeine induces that sense of relaxation while also providing mental clarity for increased alertness and calm.
Promotes Weight Loss
In many fat burning supplement and pre-workout products, green tea extract is a key ingredient. This is because green tea has a strong ability to aid in weight loss by speeding up your metabolism and boosting total energy expenditure for fat burning (4). Working to naturally boost your metabolism, your daily calorie burn will increase to the point where you then utilize fat for fuel, leading to a decrease in body fat mass and an increase in lean muscle mass.
With the increased levels of caffeine, you will also have energy to work harder and for longer and that sustained amount of work leads to more calorie burn, increased aerobic capacity, and a more productive metabolism. Breaking down fat and shedding that unwanted fat is just a step away with a great cup of matcha.
Great Supplement
Matcha is a natural supplement to boost energy that offers a clean source to do so. While pre-workouts are great, and do have many useful ingredients, it can be easy to find products with hidden formulas that contain artificial flavors, colorings, or preservatives. With a cup of matcha, you know you are getting a fully natural stimulant to aid in your workouts and give you a boost you can be happy and proud of. The added health benefits are just icing on the cake for a great supplement that this is.
Wrap Up
Matcha has been around for centuries but a boom in popularity has made this green tea powder one of those supplements everyone has to try. With proven health benefits and the ability to really boost all aspects of your performance and weight loss goals, this tasty drink should be considered for your pre-workout routine or mid-day caffeine drink. Check out great brands that offer the best quality matcha for you and see what it can do for your overall health. From boosting metabolism, pumping you with great antioxidants, enhancing brain function, and offering a clean source of energy, matcha has all your needs covered. Your workouts are important but so too is your overall health and wellness so find a solid matcha supplement for you, check out fun recipes to incorporate into your dietary regimen, and watch your gains grow just with a small change.
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*Images courtesy of Envato
References
- Winston, Anthony P.; Hardwick, Elizabeth; Jaberi, Neema (2005). “Neuropsychiatric effects of caffeine”. (source)
- Nagao, Tomonori; Komine, Yumiko; Soga, Satoko; Meguro, Shinichi; Hase, Tadashi; Tanaka, Yukitaka; Tokimitsu, Ichiro (2005). “Ingestion of a tea rich in catechins leads to a reduction in body fat and malondialdehyde-modified LDL in men”. (source)
- Dietz, Christina; Dekker, Matthijs; Piqueras-Fiszman, Betina (2017). “An intervention study on the effect of matcha tea, in drink and snack bar formats, on mood and cognitive performance”. (source)
- Hursel, R.; Veichtbauer, W.; Westerterp-Plantenga, M. S. (2009). “The effects of green tea on weight loss and weight maintenance: a meta-analysis”. (source)
