Matcha Tea

Have you tried matcha tea? With matcha, you're drinking the entire green tea leaf, not just the tea water. This is one reason why matcha is much more nutrient-dense than standard green tea. Matcha is high in antioxidants, amino acids, and chlorophyll, responsible for its bright green color. L-theanine is the most prevalent amino acid; it increases serotonin, dopamine, and GABA and is known to have a calming effect on the mind and body (most likely why monks sipped matcha tea). The caffeine content tends to promote focused energy without the jitters or the crash. If you are working on dialing down your cortisol and your stress try a green tea swap occasionally and see how you feel. Green tea can seem bitter and astringent to some taste buds; I suggest trying a few brands to find one you like.

We’re regularly exposed to free radicals that can increase our risk of disease and aging. Stress is a major cause of free radicals. That’s why we need a regular dose of antioxidants to prevent cellular damage. Incredibly, just one cup of matcha tea is believed to have 10x the standard green tea antioxidants!

Nutrigenomics is the science of how nutrients in your food, drinks, and supplements may affect your health by changing your genes’ expression. You can't change your DNA, but you can modify how those genes are expressed and turned off and on through epigenetics and nutrigenetics (lifestyle and food). It's a fascinating and complex topic, but the takeaway is that you have a lot of control over your biology despite genetics. How we eat, drink, move, sleep, and live matters. I'll drink to that!

To make: Add 1 tsp matcha tea powder to one cup of hot (not boiling) water in your favorite mug. Using a small whisk, briskly blend. The match will dissolve quickly. Want a treat? Add steamed nut milk or coconut cream. Are you feeling fancy? Add a dash of Turmeric and cinnamon.