Benefits of Matcha for Your Health

Matcha tea is quickly taking the social media scene by storm, with both influencers and health practitioners ranting about the drink. But what actually is matcha? And how does it support our bodies? 

Production.

First, matcha is a finely powdered green tea originally grown in Japan and shading of the plants during the growth period enhances the processes of synthesis and accumulation of biologically active compounds. Matcha leaves are picked slightly different to green tea; with only the leaves at the top of the plant being picked as the contain the most vibrant colour and nutrient concentration. Leaves are then steamed and dried before being refrigerated and later finely ground. 

Quality. 

Matcha quality can vary largely depending on the production process and the quality of the leaves themselves. The newest, freshest, and greenest leaves being awarded a higher grade. The quality grades of matcha range between ceremonial and culinary with ceremonial being the higher with a brighter, smoother, and purer end result.

How to make a good matcha? 

We’ve all had matcha’s that taste like milk and ice, with the powder clumpy, not at all blended and sitting at the bottom, yuck. Or the ones that are made on a bad quality powder, are unbelievably bitter and make you look like a fool when you convince your friends to try it. But, its not all lost hope, 

There are a couple of things to understand when making a good quality matcha

1. You NEED a good quality powder, poor quality, poor taste

2. PLEASE remember to blend it well

3. Honey is ALWAYS the best sweetener

To make a matcha, simply combine a teaspoon of powder with a drizzle of honey (if desired), add a dash of hot water (enough to cover the powder) and blend either with a traditional matcha whisk or a milk frother. Once blended, serve as you desire, either with hot milk or (my personal preference), ice and milk (Most often, hot matchas will be more bitter so start with iced if your just starting out, I promise one day you will want them stronger)

For a free video tutorial, click the link and head to my social media. 

Now lets get into the nitty gritty, the health benefits. 

There are many health benefits for drinking matcha, whether your’re trying to make the switch from coffee, or are just wanting some more support for your health. 

Antioxidants. 

One of the most notable health-bestowing compounds in matcha tea are natural antioxidants like polyphenols. Antioxidants can account for as much as 30% of the dry weight of green tea and contain more than 15x more antioxidants than blueberries! The benefits of these antioxidants include to protect your cells from damage from free radicals, lowering inflammation and preventing chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. 

Caffeine. 

While matcha does still contain caffeine, with older leaves containing less, the compounds in matcha regulate the release of caffeine in a very different way. Matcha’s secret ingredient is an amino acid called L-Theanine. L-Theanine stimulates the brains alpha waves, increasing a state of altertness and not only that but the combination of L-Theanine and caffeine gives you all the benefits of coffee, increasing energy and cognition, while reducing the jitters and ‘crash’ experienced with coffee. This is because L-Theanine increases the alpha brain wave activity, increasing relaxation without inducing drowsiness. The effects of caffeine in matcha are moderated by L-Theanine and because matcha is a whole leaf tea ground into powder, it takes longer to metabolise, thus providing a slow release of caffeine over 3-6 hours. 

Anti-inflammatory response.

Inflammation or the inflammatory response is the key part in most diseases in the body and leads to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can damage the bodies cells and lead to long term disruption of the bodies functioning. Dietary supplementation of the antioxidant EGCG, the main bioactive compound in green tea, is studied to alleviate complications of the inflammation process and alleviate signalling of inflammation pathways. It is also known to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. These anti-inflammatory processes lead by EGCG can lead to a healthier functioning body, even on a cellular level.

Micronutrients. 

Matcha is PACKED full of micronutrients, so if you’re looking for a way to increase diversity and bump your nutrient levels, this is it. Matcha contains potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, zinc, phosphorus and just 1g contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, E and K. This, as you can imagine, makes the list of health benefits for matcha a long one. 

Just briefly, the benefits of drinking matcha can include: 

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  • Improved metabolism 

  • Reducing anxiety

  • Cellular energy production

  • Concentration

  • Focus

  • Cognitive function

  • Immune support

  • Anti-ageing

  • Enhanced mood

  • Stress relief

  • Detoxification

  • Anti-inflammation

  • Reduced cholesterol

  • Increased memory

  • Reduced neuroinflammation

  • Reduced oxidation

  • Reduced insulin sensitivity

  • Regulated insulin secretion

  • Reduced glucose absorption

  • reduced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines

  • Strengthened blood vessels

  • Reduced tumour grown factors and angiogenesis 

  • Anti carcinogenic effets

  • Cardio-protective 

  • Antiviral properties

  • Regulating carbohydrate metabolism

Its really a no brainer.

Illma Wellness would like to take this opportunity to announce the release of our very own MATCHA POWDER! Ceremonial grade and hand-picked from Nisho Japan, this certified organic matcha powder is sure to produce a health-promoting, smooth, beautiful tasing drink to add to your day. 

And if drinks aren’t your thing, check out our matcha-based recipes, including choc chip cookies! 

Head to our website at www.Illmawellness.com/shop to pick up your bag today! Or head to our social media @illmawellness to browse some recipes. 

Welcome to Illma Wellness

Hi, yes l, I know this is well overdue,  

But Welcome to Illma Wellness  

To start off, let’s dive into an into to the name  

The name Illma comes from my Great Grandmother,  

She was the most hardworking and dedicated woman I knew and is my biggest inspiration 

Illma Jeffs

[Doing her favourite thing, gardening with her chickens]

 While she wasn’t the healthiest woman alive diet-wise (she would have lived off solely meat, and stew made of meat with minimal greens and no flare for the culinary arts - and she only drank water if it was in the form of a strongly brewed tea or hidden in the stew)  

She was one of the most physically fit and hardworking women I’ve ever met. I’m talking 6am daily walks around the block and she constantly swept the leaves off the driveway, that is when she’d run out of gardening or tending to her chickens. She was giving and kind and she loved creating things to share with others.  

She sadly passed away about half way through my degree at the beautiful age of 102 (a feat I wish to share with her someday) But her strength and determination is something I carry with me every day. I’ve always been amazed by her health and how she was so strong and capable right to the end, and its part of the reason I started studying health. I thought, how can someone live to such an old age, and have the health, strength, and passion for life to carry her to 102 years old, without even really trying. She made me realize, I too want to enjoy life as best I can, for as long as I can. I want to wake up at 6 am every morning and walk around the block, and garden, and look after myself, and be happy.

I chose nutrition because I have a passion for feeling as good as I can. Feeling healthy, and strong, and being able to enjoy movement and know my body is as strong and capable as it can be.  

For as long as I can remember, ive always struggled with movement, dizziness and fatigue. 8 years and ¾ of a degree in health science lead me to discover I have a nervous system disorder called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome [POTS] as well as Chronic fatigue syndrome [CFS]. This severely limits my ability to do a lot of things. But if there is one thing I believe, it is that the body is capable of anything when given the right tools and supported with love and kindness.  

“Our mission at Illma Wellness is to empower individuals to support their well-being through the healing power of holistic healthcare and nutrition. We believe in the innate ability of the human body to thrive when provided a loving community, and nourishing foods. Our commitment is to guide and support clients on their journey to optimal health through evidence-based nutrition, personalized guidance and a holistic food-first approach.” 

Our goal is to create a community focused on promoting health-care and wellbeing in a holistic way, to uplift others physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health and foster love and joy in our daily lives. And maybe one day we can live to 102, and have the same joy and passion for life that my great grandma did.  

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