The world of Tzu Chi Jan-Feb 2022 (Vol.139)

TZU CHI 139 51 Ng Hui Ling A nutritionist with a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and a Master’s degree in Sports Science. She had served with the Singapore Heart Foundation before becoming a self-employed dietary consultant to vegetarians and a contributor to a health magazine. leaves increase, resulting in the brighter emerald colour. When one drinks green tea, one consumes the liquid which is prepared by steeping green tea leaves in hot water. On the other hand, to brew matcha tea, the ground green tea powder is added into hot water. Thus, the tea leaves are ingested along with the liquid. One might wonder: are the health benefits of Green Tea and Matcha Tea the same? Same root, different nutrition Although matcha tea and green tea are not nutrient packed, they are rich in polyphenols, a compound with antioxidant properties and may be beneficial to our health. Green tea is rich in catechins, which can also be found in other plant-based foods, such as fruits, cocoa, and beans. Among the varieties of catechins contained in green tea, Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) is most abundantly present. One study found that matcha tea, which is ground into powder, contains 137 times more EGCG than green tea, indicating that matcha tea seems to bring more health benefits. Nonetheless, scientists have yet to find solid evidence to support the many claims on the Internet, that matcha tea can be used to treat cancer. Despite its health benefits, I have reservations about the saying, “the more you drink, the better”. There are always two sides to every story, same goes for food intake. According to information on the Internet, each gram of green tea contains about 11 to 25 milligrams of caffeine, while each gram of matcha tea contains about 19 to 44 milligrams of caffeine, indicating that matcha contains more caffeine than green tea. However, this should serve as a reference only. After all, factors like brewing method, amount of tea used and the addition of other beverages, may affect the caffeine content of a cup of tea. Caffeine intake may also come from coffee, chocolate and soft drinks, among other sources. The general recommendation is to consume no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day—an amount considered to be safe for most healthy adults. Compared to soft drinks and some processed sweetened beverages, matcha tea is indeed a better choice and viable replacement for them. Substituting matcha tea for green tea or black tea can increase the intake of antioxidants. Given its health benefits, matcha is just one of the healthy food options in our daily diet; it is not a magical drink. For those who love tea, matcha is a healthy choice. As a coffee lover and with my new found love for matcha, I now have one more healthy choice in my daily diet!