• If you are at all acquainted with the weight loss/supplement aisle in your local supermarket, you will recognize that green tea is a star player in many formulations, and for good reason. Though there is no salient alternative for a healthy diet, calorie deficit and exercise, incorporating green tea into a daily lifestyle pattern can make a slimming difference.
  
  Mechanism:
  The caffeine and EGCG contained within green tea are proposed to liberate fat from storage through a process called lipolysis where it is then oxidized for energy thereby reducing body fat, especially when combined with physical activity.
  

• Piecing together some of the previously mentioned characteristics, it seems matcha increases focus, concentration, energy, reduces fatigue, and optimizes energy metabolism (fat and glucose). It also helps to increase blood flow, as well as reaction time which inherently makes it useful for physical pursuits as an ergogenic aid. If you're feeling sluggish, try a cold Matcha brew and feed those gains!

• Face it, we've seen countless green facemasks on social media posts. That's because Matcha may also assist in improving the visual appearance of skin (14) and may protect it against damage, especially that which is precipitated by the sun.
  
  A ghostly veil is not the only way to use Matcha for better skin. Green tea consumption and topical application of EGCG can improve the appearance and health of skin in various ways:
  
  Sun damage
  Matcha application on the skin and drinking it as well, helps decrease symptoms of photoaging caused by sun exposure. The sun can actually degrade collagen fibers in the skin, causing premature wrinkling and accelerating visible aging, which this helps prevent. Though, I would still certainly stick to my sunscreen!
  
  Redness
  Excessive and prolonged sun exposure can cause you to look red and blotchy, or scientifically termed erythema, if you are fancy. This can cause redness from dilated blood vessels in the skin, and sunburns. Though unsightly, this can also increase the probability of someone developing skin cancer. Green tea helps to assuage and decrease inflammation and oxidative damage which also contributes to cancer risk.
  
  Acne
  There is also preliminary evidence to suggest that ECGC extract may lower oil or sebum production that contributes to oily skin and acne (1). Green tea also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties as well, that conceivably could contribute to combating acne.

• We are all familiar with the redness, swelling and pain associated with injury; this phenomenon is termed inflammation, and it is a natural and normal process required to fight disease and mend injuries. When it fails to resolve however, chronic diseases may follow.
  
  Mechanism:
  Matcha, as you well know by now, contains antioxidants...lots of them! Antioxidants are vital to neutralize and clean up debris and reactive compounds which would otherwise damage tissues and adversely impact the organs with which they are associated. This has utility in assisting with numerous functions as we will see.

• Cardiovascular (8) diseases are the foremost causes of death. Don’t despair though, you can lower your risk of developing heart issues like heart attacks, high blood pressure and strokes by employing healthy lifestyle behaviors, and Matcha can definitely help.
  
  Mechanism:
  There is evidence to suggest that matcha green tea may benefit the heart in a few ways:
  ● Matcha acts as a diuretic to lower blood pressure.
  ● Matcha consumption may also lower levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (fatty acid) that lead to blood vessel blockages that impede blood flow.
  ● Antioxidants in matcha promote healthy integrity of the lining of blood vessels and reduce endothelial inflammation.
  ● Helps to produce nitric oxide which is a vasodilator.

• Drinking a hot cuppa of matcha may even help reduce achy, sore joints in those suffering rheumatoid arthritis (RA12), which is an autoimmune degeneration of joint tissue.
  
  In a Swedish case-control study, high consumption of green tea was associated with a reduction in the incidence RA.

• Matcha green tea may help improve your oral (17) health, by preventing decay and oral disease which may lead to systemic problems, pain and hefty dental bills. Foul, fetid breath can be a real damper on one’s social life and may be a sign of poor hygiene. Green tea may help with raging halitosis, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and dental cavities.
  
  Mechanism:
  Green tea has astringent and antibacterial properties by preventing the adhesion of certain bacteria on the teeth, gums and buccal (cheek) surfaces. These bacteria produce acids which degrade tooth enamel and precipitate decay, and sulfur compounds that lead to bad breath. Additionally, matcha tea contains polyphenols called catechins which are antioxidants that help to attenuate inflammation in the oral tract. Furthermore, green tea leaves contain fluoride which is an essential micromineral needed to strengthen and harden tooth enamel, as well as preventing bacterial growth.

• Cancer is a sensitive and terrifying subject. As much as we wish there were an easy solution, it does not exist...yet. This is harsh diagnosis and a multifactorial set of diseases with many different causes, and which can impact any tissue in the body. However, certain lifestyle habits can certainly affect the probability for developing this malignant, uncontrolled growth and proliferation of rogue cells. Consuming antioxidant-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables and of course, our gleaming star, matcha, can lower one’s risk.
  Studies show that regular consumption of matcha, which contain catechins, in accordance with other health-promoting behaviors, can lower the risk of numerous cancers (9) such as:
  ● Oral
  ● Breast
  ● Prostate
  ● Lung
  ● Skin
  ● Colorectal

• Diabetes (11), especially type 2 diabetes, is very prevalent and is partly due to the fact that we sit on our derrieres most of the day and we, on average, eat high sugar and processed foods that promote obesity and diabetes.
  
  Mechanism:
  Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Matcha green tea is proven to be a beneficial adjunct to aid in the prevention of diabetes by several mechanisms:
  ● Improving insulin sensitivity so that your cells can utilize the glucose in your blood.
  ● Lowering blood sugar by reducing enzyme activity that degrades starches into glucose molecules.
  ● Promotes insulin secretion.
  

You can get your tasty defense mechanism from diabetes right here.

• The liver is the jack-of-all-trades and performs over 500 distinct functions. Essentially, it cleans house and detoxifies virtually everything we put in our bodies from fat and drugs to alcohol and everything in between. Poor diet and chronic alcohol intake can cause liver damage and an accumulation of fat, causing dysfunction. Respecting and caring for this vital organ is imperative for our survival.
  
  Mechanism:
  Matcha, unsurprisingly, possesses antioxidant properties to attenuate hepatic (liver) inflammation. Matcha also helps to improve fat/lipid metabolism and may improve liver enzyme biomarkers.

• Detoxing (10) is a huge buzz word in the wellness community these days. To be clear, most of it has little to no basis in science, as organs like the bowels, kidneys, sweat glands, liver and spleen perform those functions for us. Though, there is evidence for benefit from matcha green tea.
  
  Mechanism:
  A small study of 42 people was conducted assessing the ability for matcha to raise a special family of detoxifying and antioxidizing enzymes called glutathione S-transferases that are found in cells, especially the brain, heart and lungs. Mind you, this study used a concentrated pill form of ECGC extract, the equivalent of 8-16 cups of tea. This is clearly not an achievable or recommended daily intake, but illustrates the health-promoting benefits of matcha. Additionally, matcha has the ability to bind and prevent the absorption of certain heavy metals.