Page 8 - Inspire Health November/December 2016
P. 8
Matcha• super food Matcha green tea is a
Vitalizing Morning special form of green tea
Pick-Me-Up with a history steeped
By Leah Porche (pun intended) in both ritual and
tradition. It is an interesting specialty
tea standing at the highest rank of all
super foods. It all begins with how the
matcha is harvested. In the weeks
prior to harvesting, it is kept shaded. It
is then dried and stone ground. The
traditional preparation is very specific,
but generally the bright green matcha
powder is whisked with hot water to
produce a frothy, creamy beverage
with an umami flavor. The full process
and preparation allows for the entirety
of the plant to be consumed, offering
much higher amounts of the beneficial
components of green tea.
GetMYaotucrhMa Foirxn:ing
Create
your own
matcha
breakfast
bowl
Matcha MatchaTry a matcha Add matcha
benefits latte or to your
frappuccino at
1 A sense of alertness without the jitters you your favorite breakfast
get from coffee, thanks to a combination coffee shop smoothie
of caffeine, a stimulant; and L-theanine, an
amino acid. L-theanine offers a soothing Go old school
effect without lethargy. and invest in
a traditional
2Potential cancer prevention via extremely
high amounts of antioxidants, specifically matcha kit
EGCG, a widely studied polyphenol that
has also been linked to weight loss.
3 Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease,
attributed to high levels of catechins, a
phytochemical compound.
8 INSPIRE HEALTH NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2016
