The Caffeine Content In Matcha Green Tea Versus Coffee
How does caffeine content in Matcha green tea compared to coffee?
Its important to understand how caffeine affects the body. Caffeine, a naturally occurring compound thats found in around 60 types of plants including tea and coffee, is a central nervous system stimulant that most of us rely on to boost energy. Indeed, caffeine has been known to help with focus and reaction time, along with providing more energy, endurance, and strength for physical activities. Its even a gastric stimulant which is why you may find yourself running to the washroom after a cup of coffee in the morning. Additionally, its a vasoconstrictor, meaning it narrows the blood vessels and increases blood pressure.
The effects of caffeine may be enjoyable and beneficial for some people and challenging for others. We compared coffee versus matcha green tea caffeine below, to help you decide whether a green tea like matcha is a healthier source of caffeine in comparison to coffee.
As most of us are aware, coffee contains a high amount of caffeine content. While caffeine may be beneficial, especially for those who feel lethargic, or are in need of a quick energy boost, the caffeine in coffee can also have some negative effects.
I Have Never Before Heard Of This Tea Is It That Healthy What Are The Benefits
You are fortunate to have found Matcha. As a nutritionist I have personally used it for about 15 years and have every one of my nutrition clients on it. I have researched all there is to know about Matcha and tried just about every company and variety out there and when I found Got Matcha I fell in love with their quality and flavored blends.
Anyways, Matcha is not only healthy but considered an ancient superfood which means it does more than provide energy but it nourishes and balances the entire body. It is the healthiest form of caffeine out there and actually the caffeine is completely different compared to coffee and black tea…Matcha’s caffeine is not acidic and does not disrupt the body’s nervous system. It is actually beneficial and gives Matcha many of its health qualities.
I have used it for clients for weight management, cleansing, digestive health, depression, anxiety, lack of focus and clarity and even those with high cholesterol and high blood pressure. This is a whole food that the body can use in many ways depending on what the body needs to restore balance. Plus it gives amazing 3-4 hours of energy and endurance which is wonderful for a mom like myself 🙂
I personally advocate healthy eating to my clients and encourage organic which is why I love this Matcha so much because it is organic and pure. The entire Got Matcha staff is very health conscience and Matcha is an important part to all of our daily healthy lifestyles
Where To Buy Matcha Green Tea
Looking for an amazing everyday matcha green tea powder?
Look no further than Tenzo Tea. We might be a bit biased, but we also flew across the world to organically source the best matcha on the planet from local farmers in Kagoshima, Japan. Tenzo Tea is ceremonial in quality, emerald green in color and delicate and smooth in taste.
*The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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Matcha Caffeine Vs Coffee Caffeine
When it comes to comparing caffeine levels, coffee contains more caffeine per serving than matcha. For example, the average cup of coffee contains 96 mg of caffeine per 8 ounces, while a 2-ounce cup of matcha, when prepared traditionally with one teaspoon, contains about 1850 mg/g. And did you know just one 1-ounce shot of espresso has up to 100 mg of caffeine?
Most coffee drinkers cannot rely on just one cup of coffee to get them through even half their day. The boost from coffee’s caffeine usually lasts a mere 13 hours and then leads to a sudden crash in energy levels. Then it’s time for another cup.
Having the four 8-ounce cups of coffee you may think you need to get you through the day, which is around 400 mg of caffeine, can be harmful to your health. Consuming up to 400mg/day of caffeine from coffee, or about 4 cups, has been shown to double the risk of headaches, panic attacks, feelings of being trapped or caught, anxiety, and feelings of worthlessness.
However, matcha releases slowly in the body, so you aren’t left with an uneasy feeling. Caffeine from matcha promotes a state of relaxation and overall well-being, providing 6 hours of sustained energy.
Should You Swap Coffee For Matcha Tea
This really depends on you and what you like to drink.
The effects of the caffeine from matcha are certainly much more pleasant due to the ltheanine. It also has the benefit of being rich in antioxidants, amino acids and other healthy nutrients so its definitely a great addition to your daily routine.
So if you, like me, often feel a little on edge after drinking coffee in the morning, try swapping coffee for matcha for 7 days and see how you feel.
Please do get in touch and let me know how you get on!
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How Do I Prepare A Cup Of Matcha
Matcha green tea is considered a whole food product – the special Matcha tea leaves are dried and ground into a powder. This is a powder that dissolves into liquid. Although Matcha is a distant relative to traditional steeped green tea leaves this is a completely different food. With Matcha you are drinking a whole food that is packed with so many vitamins, minerals, nutrients, antioxidants and even amino acids that it could literally sustain your body energetically and nutritionally for hours at a time. Matcha, which means “powdered tea”, is made from aged green tea leaves which are then harvested, steamed and dried. They are later ground into a fine bright green powder, known as Matcha.
Benefits Of Drinking Matcha Green Tea For Skin
What are Free Radicals?
Free radicals are unstable molecules that are missing an electron. They are formed when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, as well as other environmental pollutants such as cigarette smoke.
When free radicals form, they start to attack healthy cells in an attempt to steal electrons, which can damage the cells DNA and lead to premature aging.
Free radicals also play a role in the development of skin cancer. Antioxidants are substances that can help to neutralize free radicals and protect the skin from their damaging effects. Some common antioxidants include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and green tea extracts. Including these ingredients in your skincare routine can help to keep your skin looking young and healthy.
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Matcha Is Healthier Than Coffee
Look, coffee lovers dont shoot the messenger here. Were not saying that matcha is BETTER than coffee, were simply stating its healthier.
When consuming matcha, it has a range of antioxidants in it and, as mentioned above, a slow-releasing form of caffeine. Matcha also has more balanced PH levels than coffee, which can better your digestion.
Matcha is also an excellent remedy for helping your mental and emotional well-being it wonders when youre on a down day.
Can Cause Acne Breakouts
Matcha contains more caffeine than regular green tea. It is so because the whole leaf is consumed when brewing. It is only the infusion in conventional steeped green tea. That means that drinking matcha could give you more caffeine than drinking several cups of regular green tea .
For some people, that may mean that they end up with more acne as a result. Thats because caffeine has been shown to cause acne flare-ups in some people. It is especially true when consumed in large amounts on an empty stomach. If youre prone to breakouts, then it might be best to drink matcha later in the day. Also, avoid having too much of it if you know that it tends to trigger your pimples.
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Does Green Tea Have Caffeine From Matcha To Decaf Sencha
Green tea naturally contains caffeine, but there is a surprising amount of nuance between different types. How the tea is grown, processed, and steeped affects the caffeine content. A typical cup of green tea falls in the range of 25-45 mg of caffeine per 8oz. cup. Thats less than black tea, which is usually 45-75 mg per 8oz. cup. And far less caffeine than coffee, which has between 80-110 mg per 8oz. cup. But dont generalize too quickly, matcha green tea has 60-70 mg of caffeine per 8oz. cup!
There are four main factors that affect caffeine content in green tea:
- How the tea is grown
- What part of the plant is used
- Processing methods
- How the tea is brewed
Just by learning how the tea is made, youll know which teas have higher amounts of caffeine. And different methods of brewing your tea will give you control over the caffeine content in your cup.
Why Caffeine In Matcha Provides A Less Jittery Experience
Matcha provides a less jittery experience than coffee is because the L-theanine amino acid is present in matcha. This amino acid helps to offset some of the negative effects of caffeine. It does this by promoting relaxation without causing drowsiness.
In other words, the caffeine from other drinks is absorbed faster by the human body in absence of the L-theanine amino acid. This results in a shorter, more intense “caffeine high” with a sharp drop after the peak of the effects. This is the infamous caffeine crash we’ve all heard of.
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Contains Tannins That Can Stain Your Teeth
Tannins are plant polyphenols that can be found in many different foods, including tea . Although tooth enamel mostly consists of calcium and other minerals, tannins can still stick to it if theyre present in high enough concentrations. Thats why drinking dark-colored beverages like black tea or red wine can lead to stains on your teeth over time .
If you drink matcha too often over a long period, then the polyphenol content may accumulate on your enamel which could stain them after prolonged exposure. There are ways to prevent this, such as drinking citrus fruit juice after consuming tea. Furthermore, be sure not to brush your teeth right away because that may actually make the staining worse.
Matcha Tea Side Effects: 9 Reasons Why You May Want To Drink Less Of This Beverage
There are many reasons why people drink matcha tea. But it seems that the health benefits of this beverage may come with some side effects.
Matcha is a finely ground powder made from green tea leaves. When you drink matcha, youre consuming all of the nutrients found in those leaves. These include caffeine and also a powerful antioxidant called epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG for short.
Matcha drinkers say they feel more energized and focused after drinking it. This makes sense, as both caffeine and EGCG have links to improvements in mental performance and mood. But theres one catch: matcha may also come with some unpleasant temporary side effects.
In this article, well explore nine side effects of matcha tea that you should be aware of.
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What Does Matcha Taste Like
Matcha green tea tastes bright, fresh, vegetal , slightly bitter, and a little sweet.
A few things that will change the taste of matcha are overall quality and freshness.
Matcha should be consumed fresh.
Meaning within a reasonable amount of time from stone-grinding.
And from when the bag or container has been opened.
Because green tea is essentially unoxidized, it’s susceptible to oxidation.
Which goes bad kinda quickly.
But going bad in tea lingo just means it starts to taste a lot different than it was originally intended to.
What’s probably more important is the quality of your matcha.
There are no official grades of matcha.
But you’ll see a lot of them talked about .
Most of that is marketing.
But! Some matcha teas are definitely made for cooking or mixing into drinks with milk like matcha lattes.
They happen to be a lot more bitter.
And aren’t used for traditional matcha drinking.
So that’s just something to be aware of.
It’s also important to note that it’s a Japanese tea and should be grown in Japan
Now on to what you’re here for…the caffeine!
The Science Behind The Health Benefits Of Matcha
Lets take a look at the science behind the health benefits of matcha.
l-theanine, one of the amino acids contained in matcha, is reported to provide a feeling of calm, while still being alert. For this reason, l-theanine has been used to treat anxiety, but not enough research has been performed to confirm its usefulness in this area.
Matcha also contains an amino acid known as epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, which is a type of catechin.
In one promising study using rodents, EGCG was found to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Additionally, a research study was performed on the effectiveness green tea has on preventing DNA damage in people with type-2 diabetes.
This studys findings are quite intriguing
Study participants were asked to drink 2 cups of steeped green tea per day over a 12 week period. The results found that DNA damage was significantly reduced.
Considering that matcha has higher concentrations of the amino acids found in steeped green tea, it can be reasonably concluded that the health benefits of matcha exceed those of the more standard types of green tea. In fact, the EGCG content in matcha is at least 3 times greater than most brands of steeped green tea.
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Caffeine In Hot Tea Drinks
Tea drinks can be broken into three parts: chai lattes, matcha lattes, and traditional tea offerings in tea sachets/bags. Chai lattes are made with a concentrate while matcha lattes are made with a powder.
Although you cant get just straight matcha tea at Starbucks, you can get a chai tea, which is much different than a chai tea latte. A chai tea latte is made with a concentrate and served with milk while chai tea is a tea bag made up of black tea and spices.
For hot tea drinks, much of the caffeine content in a drink is determined by how many tea bags are used in a drink. Short and tall hot teas have one tea bag, and grande and venti drinks have two tea bags.
Emperors Clouds & Mist
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May Reduce Your Risk Of Heart Disease
Heart disease is the biggest cause of death worldwide. Many factors are known to increase heart disease risk .
Drinking green tea may help improve several of these risk factors, including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar levels (
24 ).
However, keep in mind that green tea is only a very small piece of the weight loss puzzle and not all studies agree that it helps.
A recent review concluded that the weight loss effects of green tea are so small that they are not of clinical importance .
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Matcha May Improve Heart Health
Stay calm for this: Matcha green tea can help protect you from a heart attack or stroke* and matcha green tea powder may be much more effective than steeped green tea when it comes to heart health . Introducing matcha green tea into your regular diet may significantly lower your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.Of course, matcha isnt all you need for a healthy heart. Experts recommend a healthy and regular eating pattern that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish, and foods that are low in sugar, fat, sodium and cholesterol. Eating right and exercise are key to a healthy heart!
I Have A High Metabolism I Am Concerned That Matcha Will Cause Me To Lose Weight
As a nutritionist I have worked with many clients both needing to lose weight and others with a faster metabolism just trying to maintain a healthy balance and both have been successful with Matcha. It has to do with the quantity you use and when you take it. For example, those trying to lose weight I will have them drink it prior to a meal to healp cleanse and satiate their appetite or have it in the afternoon when they are hungry instead of a larger meal.
I too have a quick metabolism and weight loss is not my goal but have had a very successful and healthy relationship with Matcha for the past 12 years 🙂 I would recommend 1/2 teaspoon of Matcha about 2x/day for increasing energy and stress reduction. I use it for the same purposes and always add Matcha to a morning shake that is a full meal with fruit, protein powder, yogurt, green superfoods, chia seeds,etc. I think the key for you is to not just drink matcha by itself with only say milk and water. When it is combined with a meal you will experience the endurance and the L-Theanine will go to work on your central nervous system to bring balance, reduce stress and improve focus.
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