MatchaMax™ Capsules
Pure Organic Matcha Tea Capsules (from Japan)

Matcha Overview

Matcha is a powdered form of whole green tea leaves. It contains high concentrations of the polyphenol catechins found in tea, and is also rich in non-soluble compounds that are not dissolved when making traditional tea diffusions.

In addition to being a delicious beverage, green tea has been drunk in China and Japan for use in traditional medicines. There is a lot of support in the scientific community for the health benefits of consuming Green tea (Camellia sinensis) [1]. This has led to an increase in the worldwide consumption of Matcha, and it is now widely enjoyed outside of Eastern Asia. 

It is thought that most of the helpful benefits associated with drinking tea are related to it being a rich source of bioactive constituents. These include well-known molecules such as caffeine, l-theanine, polyphenols, and flavonoids. The polyphenolic compound Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant of the green tea catechins and is thought to be its main bioactive ingredient. 

Although drinking natural green tea is a great natural source of these bioactives, the powdered form of green tea, known as Matcha, provides an even more concentrated source. 

Powdered Matcha green tea is traditionally used in Japanese Tea ceremonies. It is traditionally produced by grinding with a stone mill. This result in a powder that is much more concentrated in nutritional elements than found in other green teas.

Perhaps the biggest difference between drinking traditional green tea and Matcha is that when you consume Matcha you consume the leaves themselves, whereas with a tea diffusion you are only drinking its soluble extracts. This can mean that in Matcha the constituents are more effective, partially because they are not subjected to degradation by boiling water and also because you will get to consume non-soluble tea extracts. 

Composition of Green Tea Matcha

The base green tea leaf itself is a rich source of proteins and amino acids, carbohydrates (cellulose, sucrose, fructose), sterols, lipids, and a multitude of minerals (aluminum, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, strontium, and zinc). The leaves are also rich in vitamins B, C, and E, volatile compounds, xanthic bases (caffeine, theophylline), and pigments such as carotenoids and chlorophyll. [2]

Although all of the above are thought to have potential health benefits, perhaps one of the most studied groups of these constituents with specific regards to Matcha are the green tea polyphenols (GTPs). These include bioactive compounds such as flavandiols, flavonols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids [2]. The largest group of the green tea polyphenols is the catechins. These are found at greater levels in green tea than in black and oolong tea; largely because the tea has not been oxidized during its processing (the oxidation process results in the major polyphenolic compound class in black teas being theaflavins) [3].

As mentioned above Matcha green tea powder is a much-concentrated form of green tea that is also rich in insoluble solids. It is therefore no surprise to learn that it is much richer in catechins than traditional green tea tinctures are. Indeed, it has been reported that the availability of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in Matcha is at least three times that of the largest reported value found from traditionally brewed green teas and as great as 137 times the concentration of that produced from China Green Tips tea [4]. 

Matcha and Green Teas and Health

The consumption of green teas is thought to have numerous potential health benefits. These include the support of healthy cells, support of the cardiovascular systems and the heart, of blood pressure, a healthy control of blood glucose levels, support of the immune system, and the control of body weight [2]. 

Weight Control

The consumption of tea extracts has been reported to suppress elevation of blood glucose levels in mice. It is thought that the EGCG catechins are able to affect pathways involved in the mediation of food intake, energy balance, hormonal balance, redox state, and metabolism of carbohydrates and fats [5].

It is reported that the consumption of a beverage containing green tea extract, caffeine, and calcium solution is able to increase energy expenditure by up to 4.6% over a 24-hr period in healthy humans [2]. This has led to great interest of its use in the diet industry, as an increase in energy consumption is likely to have enormous positive benefits with regards to weight control.

Glucose and Carbohydrate Metabolism

The EGCG found in Matcha has been reported to mimic the insulin hormone in rat cells [2]. Further to this, extracts of green tea may help to support glucose metabolism and support islet mass [2].

Studies using rats suggest that catechin polyphenols are able to reduce triglyceride levels in the plasma [6]. The glutathione found in tea extracts is also reported to have antioxidant effects and is thought to act in the liver to inhibit lipid peroxidation [2].

Antioxidant Activity and Ion Absorption

It is widely reported that green tea is a rich source of antioxidants [2]. These compounds play a major role in protecting cells and DNA from damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as free radicals and superoxides [7]. Catechins, such as those found in Matcha, are reported to increase the total antioxidant activity in the plasma [8]. 

Catechins are also reported to have an effect upon iron absorption [9] [10], but not on that of copper. It is able to increase manganese absorption and reduce that of zinc. These effects upon ion absorption are thought to arise from the effects of flavonoid interactions.

Cognition

The consumption of Matcha green tea powder has been reported in a pilot study to improve cognitive performance and function in the elderly as they age [11]. As Matcha contains caffeine and L-theanine it is also likely to support greater attention, task performance, memory performance, and mental alertness.

VitaMonk MatchaMax Organic Matcha Capsules are a great way of consuming green tea in a concentrated form. Taking it may help with weight control, support your body’s cells and DNA from ROS, help you to feel more energized, and help to support mood through improved focus and feelings of calmness. You can also find our matcha capsules on Amazon if you prefer to shop there. 

Further Reading  

• MSU Extension: What is Matcha Powder [http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/what_is_matcha_powder] 
• The Beaumont blog: Health Benefits of Matcha Tea [http://blog.beaumont.edu/health-benefits-of-matcha-tea/]
• ANR NEWS BLOG: Popular Japanese tea Matcha has health benefits [http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=21611] 
• SouthWest Institute of Healing Arts: An Experiment With Green Tea & Matcha [http://www.blog.swiha.edu/experiment-green-tea-steps-make-tasty-green-tea-matcha/] 

Citations, Reviews, Abstracts and References

[1] Saeed et al. Green tea (Camellia sinensis) and l-theanine: Medicinal values and beneficial applications in humans-A comprehensive review. Biomed Pharmacother. 2017 Nov;95:1260-1275. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.09.024. 

[2] Chacko et al. Beneficial effects of green tea: A literature review. Chin Med. 2010; 5: 13. doi: 10.1186/1749-8546-5-13

[3] Khan and Mukhtar. Tea and Health: Studies in Humans. Curr Pharm Des. 2013; 19(34): 6141–6147. 

[4] Weiss and Anderton. Determination of catechins in matcha green tea by micellar electrokinetic chromatography. J Chromatogr A. 2003 Sep 5;1011(1-2):173-80.

[5] Yang, Wang, and Chen. Green, oolong and black tea extracts modulate lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemia rats fed high-sucrose diet. J Nutr Biochem. 2001 Jan;12(1):14-20.

[6] Wu et al. Effect of green tea supplementation on insulin sensitivity in Sprague-Dawley rats. J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Feb 11;52(3):643-8.

[7] Halliwell B, Gutteridge JMC. Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine. Oxford: Clarendon Press; 1985

[8] Doctor Yokozawa et al. Antioxidative activity of green tea polyphenol in cholesterol-fed rats. Journal Agric Food Chemistry. 2002 Jun 5; 50(12):3549-52. 

[9] Samman et al. Green tea or rosemary extract added to foods reduces nonheme-iron absorption. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001 Mar; 73(3):607-12.

[10] Mira et al. Interactions of flavonoids with iron and copper ions: a mechanism for their antioxidant activity. Free Radic Res. 2002 Nov; 36(11):1199-208.

[11] Dr Ide et al. Green tea consumption affects cognitive dysfunction in the elderly: a pilot study. Nutrients. 2014 Sep 29;6(10):4032-42. doi:0.3390/nu6104032.