Matcha green tea and Diabetes

Matcha literally translates to powdered tea, with Ma meaning powder and Cha meaning tea in English. 

The Matcha green tea like many others has its origin in China and from as far back as the 8th century. It is believed to have been discovered by a Japanese Buddhist Monk, Myoan Eisai. He is attributed with this statement after taking it to Japan in 1191

 “Tea is the ultimate mental and medical remedy and has the ability to make one’s life more complete. Tea has an extraordinary power to extend someone’s life. Everywhere where people will plant tea, long life will follow.” 

This Buddhist adopted this tea to his Zen meditation session after he noticed it improved his calm alertness. 

It became so popular that it is now part of the world-renowned art of the Chado, the Japanese elaborate tea ceremony. 

There is a reason that the Matcha green tea has joined many other teas in that league of "superfoods" and it's owing to the healthy richness it offers. 

We are talking about Vitamins  (B1, B2, B3, A, C, E and K), minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc), and even more potent, Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a unique plant compound that gets a lot of attention for its wide range of health benefits including diabetes prevention.

Let's quickly look at what special technique has made the Matcha green tea different from the typical green tea. 

Matcha green tea is actually no different from the normal green tea but the only distinction is with the farming and the processing. 

Some weeks before harvest, the tea is covered to protect it from sunlight. The veins and stems are hand-selected and steamed for a short period. These leaves are dried and stored only to be ground into fine green powder. 

While you usually soak normal green tea leaves in water then sieve the leaves out to get the tea, Matcha green tea is in powder form so you only add water to dissolve it in a cup. It's also advised to go with the powdered option than the bagged green tea

Matcha green tea is filled with good-for-you nutrients needed to stay healthy and manage diabetes-related issues and even common illnesses. 

Enhances weight loss

The Matcha powder is believed to help with weight loss. People drinking matcha green tea have been shown to have lower body fat and smaller waist as revealed in this study that showed the relationship between re consumption, percent body fat, and body fat distribution. 

Being overweight is more dangerous for those with type 2 diabetes than for non-diabetes but the EGCG found in Matcha powder reduces fatty degeneration of the pancreas and consequently, stops weight gain. 

Additionally, the catechins in green tea have been shown to boost metabolism and weaken appetite. 

Although more research is needed to fully validate this claim, people have claimed that 1-2 cups of matcha tea can assist any dietary plan towards weight loss. 

But also, people with diabetes must speak to a licensed healthcare professional before taking the Matcha tea as one must ensure it doesn't have the potential to spike hyperglycemia.

Prevents Diabetes 

Matcha green tea consumption is believed to have anti-diabetes properties as shown in one study in Japan. The research found that people who drank six or more cups of green tea were 33% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than the group that drank just a single cup weekly. 

A major reason is the high antioxidant concentration and weight management properties found in this herbal tea. R

Although studies of this nature is not many out there, a few have shown that drinking matcha tea can reduce the risk of developing diabetes

Heart Healthy

Another benefit of its rich antioxidant properties is that it helps to prevent bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides which more often trigger the development of cardiovascular disease including stroke. 

This is particularly positive news for diabetics who are typically susceptible to heart disease. 

Helps with glucose control

The major difference between non-diabetes and people with diabetes is while the former has functioning insulin that helps to properly regulate and transport blood sugar, diabetics are usually insulin resistant which causes their blood glucose levels to rise and even fall intermittently. A few animal studies have shown that green tea can help to better regulate blood glucose.

Anti-Aging Potency

One of the many things that cause diabetes is the excessive presence of free radicals in the body but Matcha green tea, with all its powerful antioxidants, helps to neutralize these free radicals. 

This function of the Matcha green tea in neutralizing free radicals in the body is agreed by doctors to be why it's so commonly used as an anti-aging antidote. The beauty industry has been known to use it because of how effective it is in repairing broken cells torn by these free radicals. 

It's always advised that you take any herbal tea or supplement in moderation but even better, do speak with your doctor or any other licensed health provider before you drink any herbal tea. 

This is very important, and at Klinio, we always tell warriors that battle this ugly disease to always talk to us before adding anything to their familiar nutrition. 

We would be glad to be of service to you as you start or continue to make positive progress in your fight against diabetes.

The following are some of the potential risks of taking drinking green tea leaves.

Affects mood and blood sugar levels

As earlier stated, if you don't drink matcha green tea in moderation, chances are you will suffer headaches, indigestion, mood issues and even insomnia. The reason is due to its caffeine properties. 

Although the caffeine property is quite small, drinking this tea in large quantities can trigger these health issues and it could even cause heart palpitations and cause unhealthy fluctuations in one's blood sugar levels. 

Interaction with Drugs

Although not a lot of studies have shown that the Matcha green can interact adversely with diabetes drugs, it's always important that you find out from your doctors before taking any diabetes drugs alongside a herbal remedy. 

One reason is due to the ability of both these remedies and the medications' function to lower blood sugar levels. Taking both can potentially cause an extreme deep in blood sugar level (Hypoglycemia) 

For those that want to join others who have made it a habit to green tea daily, ensure you call your healthcare provider before taking any herbal extract. 

Affects the Kidney

As with most plants, Matcha green leaf may contain contaminants from pesticides and metals which can be bad for the liver and kidney. 

A few people have shown signs of toxicity after taking Matcha green tea so it's best to be cautious with drinking this tea. 

Add ¾ teaspoon matcha into a cup or bowl. Add  2 ounces of cool water and whisk until a thick foamy layer appears.  Add hot water to the foamy matcha, then stir gently. You can add honey if you like to influence the taste a bit and enjoy the soothing effect of this herbal drink.