TEXT Anita Parker
SUPER FOOd:
MATCHA L
ess than 400 mg of caffeine daily has no reported adverse
health effects for the average adult. But even the 3-cup-a-
day coffee drinker knows the side effects accompanying
that afternoon pick-me-up — diuresis, irritability,
headache, nervousness, insomnia...not to mention the withdrawal
symptoms if a usual caffeine fix isn’t satisfied.

What if you could switch to a beverage (or whatever your preferred
caffeine source may be) that offered the same mental alertness and
ability to focus without the jitters? See you later, caffeine. Hello,
L-theanine! 22 December 2015 washingtonFAMILY.com
L-theanine is an exceptional amino acid found in tea — every kind of
tea. For the purposes of this article, we’ll focus on matcha green tea,
since it offers the “best bang for your teacup” with L-theanine and
every other nutritional benefit of tea.

Dietary amounts of L-theanine increase alpha wave activity in the
brain, which are the brain waves associated with a state of alert
calmness. This is not an oxymoron. It is possible to be alert and
calm at the same time, and how wonderful would that be at 8 a.m.

every morning and 3 p.m. every afternoon? L-theanine cancels out
the jittery effects of the caffeine contained in tea, relaxing the mind



without inducing drowsiness. It increases brain levels of dopamine
and serotonin and controls levels of blood cortisol. The result is
decreased stress and anxiety (including all the associated negative
physical effects), as well as an enhanced feeling of well-being.

Matcha is a finely milled green tea leaf powder that has been part
of Japanese history and culture for centuries. It is consumed simply
by mixing with almost-boiling water and can also be enjoyed as
an ingredient in lattes, smoothies, ice cream, baking and more.

Because you consume the entire leaf, the health benefits of matcha
are amplified as compared to regular steeped tea. A typical 2-gram
serving of matcha contains more antioxidants than blueberries,
more beta-carotene than spinach, plenty of vitamin C, fiber,
detoxifying chorophyll, metabolism boosters, cholesterol reducers
and more.

The list is lengthy, so instead consider this: Regular tea is healthy.

Regular green tea is healthy. A cup of matcha is equivalent to 10
cups of its steeped green tea counterpart. Bottom line, because
of all the health benefits of matcha on body systems and disease
prevention, regular consumption is directly linked to potential
longevity. Put your java aside and let this bright green super-powder lift your
early morning and mid-day spirits. You can purchase matcha at
any specialty tea store and probably your regular grocery store. Be
ready to spend a bit extra on a quality grade.

Cup o’ Matcha
Place ½ to 1 teaspoon of matcha powder in a mug. Add a small
amount (1 to 2 tablespoons) of cold water and whisk into a paste. Add
almost-boiling water to desired thickness, anywhere from ¼ to ¾ cup.

If you like, you can also add your favorite natural sweetener and a
splash of milk.

Soy Matcha Latte
Place ½ to 1 teaspoon of matcha powder in a mug. Add a small
amount (1 to 2 tablespoons) of cold water and whisk into a paste. Add
¾ cup almost-boiling soy milk (preheated in saucepan or microwave).

Matcha Muffins
Dry ingredients: 1 cup whole wheat flour; ¾ cup quick oats; 2
tablespoons ground flax; ⅓ cup sugar; 2 tablespoons baking powder;
3 teaspoons matcha powder. Wet ingredients: 1 beaten egg; ¼ cup
canola oil; ¾ cup milk.

Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix wet ingredients in
another bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until
just moistened. Spoon batter into 12 prepared muffin cups. Bake at
400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Anita Parker, B.Sc., B.Ed., is the editor of All That Is Wellness. You can contact her at
contact@allthatiswellness.com. All That Is Wellness (www.allthatiswellness.com) is a
healthy lifestyle e-zine with reliable, relevant information about safe, effective fitness,
mind-body wellness, wholesome nutrition and great recipes.

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