“I feel like I’m getting healthier just by looking at the dark green.”Seung-Hwan, who likes to eat m..
“I feel like I’m getting healthier just by looking at the dark green.”
Seung-Hwan, who likes to eat matcha latte these days, says this. Originally, I drank coffee to wake up during the exam period, but now I’m looking for “horse tea” as a caffeine drink that seems healthier than coffee. In fact, matcha is considered a health food because it is rich in various nutritional ingredients. Jennie from girl group BLACKPINK also drew attention by revealing that she drinks “horse tea instead of coffee.” People all over the world are obsessed with the health of matcha.
Matcha is so popular because of health concerns
These days, matcha fever is blowing around the world. Grandview Research, a market research firm, predicted that the global matcha market will grow from 4.3 billion dollars (about 6.118 trillion won) in 2023 to 7.4 billion dollars (about 10.5287 trillion won) in 2030. Food containing matcha is also pouring into Korea every day. Matcha frappuccino, matcha-flavored snacks, matcha bungeoppang, matcha hotteok. These are the products recently released by the food industry. As of the 17th, more than 9.7 million posts with the hashtag “#matcha” have been posted on Instagram.
It is analyzed that the global trend of matcha is closely related to health. “The amino acid content of matcha is about five times higher than that of regular black tea or green tea, and it can help prevent diabetes and gastrointestinal diseases,” Grandview Research said in a report.
Matcha is made of tea tree leaves such as green tea, but its health value increases during the cultivation process. Green tea is dried and processed into tea leaves. You drink it by boiling it in water. Matcha blocks sunlight with a shading film from three to four weeks before harvesting the leaves, grows the leaves soft and soft, and grind them to form a fine powder. In other words, matcha is a way to eat whole leaves, so you can get more nutrients, right?
Strong antioxidant effect of matcha
The representative nutrient in matcha tea is the powerful antioxidant ‘epigalo catechin gallate (EGCG). Antioxidant refers to the removal of active oxygen that occurs due to stress and attacks normal cells in our body. It prevents various diseases such as aging and cancer that can be caused by free oxygen. In fact, a paper published in Nature Cancer in 2023 found that EGCG inhibits proliferation by blocking the mitochondrial metabolic pathway of cancer cells.
![Boseong Green Tea Field. [Boseong County]](https://wimg.mk.co.kr/news/cms/202511/09/news-p.v1.20251109.90be71391b71493dac782d725f71a6ad_P1.png)
Matcha also has a lot of amino acid called ‘L theanine’. Ltheanine contributes to psychological stability by facilitating the secretion of serotonin and dopamine, which are called happiness hormones. In 2023, the Journal of Nutrition, an international academic journal, published a paper by researchers at Kumamoto University in Japan that showed that the level of depression decreased significantly when matcha was provided to mice vulnerable to stress. Matcha activates the brain’s dopamine system, which has the same effect as an antidepressant. In addition, it contains a small amount of vitamins C, A, K, and B (riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, etc.) and minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Excessive consumption is a side effect of caffeine
Of course, you shouldn’t drink a lot of good matcha like this. This is because matcha has a high caffeine content. It is 1.5 to 2 times more than green tea, and one teaspoon of caffeine is similar to a glass of espresso. Excessive caffeine intake can hinder absorption of essential nutrients such as iron and calcium, slowing growth and causing sleep deprivation.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recommends that adolescents consume less than 2.5mg of caffeine per kg of body weight. If you weigh 50kg, only 125mg per day is allowed. The caffeine content of a matcha drink on the market is 60~155mg, so it’s better not to exceed one cup.
Also, if you want to enjoy the health effects of matcha tea, you should drink it in the form of tea. This is because processed foods such as latte, frappuccino, and snacks are high in sugar and calories. In addition, caffeine on an empty stomach can stimulate the stomach wall. You should drink matcha after meals as much as possible. The Food and Drug Administration said, “There is a risk of side effects such as sleep disorders and anxiety if high caffeine is consumed excessively,” and asked to check the caffeine content before consumption. Reporter Bae Yoon-kyung. Kim Bo-ram, reporter for Maekyung Health.
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