Holistic Nutrition: The Benefits of Green Tea and a Chai Matcha Latte

I often take time to meditate on the migration of my meals and morsels but lately, I’ve been especially mindful. Today, I’m deep in thoughts of the science of food, not just for me, but for you too!

Which foods support hormone balance and which hinder it?

It’s all a careful correspondence and I must confess that I love delving into the nitty gritty to customize a dietary plan that delivers the best results possible, while also creating a blueprint for holistic nutrition that you can carry easily into your every day.

Today I want to make a testament to the tea leaf—the green tea leaf. By now, you’ve likely heard that green tea is good for your health. It’s not really “news”. What I’d like to look at with you are the whys and hows behind some of green tea’s goodness.

Let’s go ahead and bring our investigative eye to three great benefits of green tea. Don’t forget to put the kettle on!

Natural metabolism booster

Green tea has thermogenic properties, meaning it helps to produce some heat in your body to burn fat and keep you warm. The antioxidants in green tea (noted below), have been found to extend the release of the neurochemical norepinephrine in the bloodstream and keep it circulating for longer than any other caffeine-containing source. More norepinephrine circulation (say that three times!), means more fat burning potential. Bring it on!

Bonus note: Got cold hands and feet or Raynaud’s syndrome? Try the Green Chai Latte below and add one teaspoon coconut oil to the mix for taking your thermogenesis to the max!

Antioxidant powerhouse for enhanced immunity

Green tea’s powers come from polyphenols that provide antioxidants to neutralize free radicals in your body. Your body is constantly manufacturing unstable molecules that can lead to internal inflammation and even cancer growth. Those unstable molecules are called free radicals, and they cause harm to other cells in your body.

Antioxidants cruise through your body, looking for those free radicals to not only annul them, but also lend some repair to the damage they’ve already caused. Scavenge away!

Elevate your brainpower and bring on the zen

One of my favorite forms of green tea is matcha green tea, which comes in a fine powder made from baby tea leaves. Those young green tea leaves contain the amino acid L-theanine.

L-theanine creates a sense of relaxation and calm about 30 minutes after ingestion. In fact, it stimulates the same alpha waves you activate during meditation. These effects can help counter the jitters that many experience when consuming caffeine.

At the same time, the antioxidants, called EGCG, help protect brain cells, keeping them alive and alert and in less danger of cell death. Drink up when stressed out!

Holistic nutrition recipe for hormonal harmony

I could go on about the benefits of green tea, but let’s digest these nuggets and start experimenting. This recipe incorporates the beauty of green tea with a host of other cancer-fighting, immune-boosting, hormone-balancing spices. I hope you enjoy my Chai Matcha Latte for health, happiness, and hormonal harmony!

Chai Matcha Latte

Ingredients

• 2 tsp matcha green tea powder

• 1/4 cup coconut milk (I prefer Native Forest brand Full-Fat) or almond milk (unsweetened)

• 6 whole cardamom pods

• 6 whole cloves

• 8 whole black peppercorns

• one 2-inch cinnamon stick

• 2 cups just-boiling water

• 2 dashes ground cinnamon

• 1 pinch allspice

• 1 pinch sea salt

• 8-10 drops liquid stevia (plain or vanilla) or 1 tsp raw honey

Preparation

1. Place the whole herbs (cardamom, cloves, peppercorns and cinnamon stick), in a jar or glass measuring cup.

2. Pour just-boiling water over the herbs and steep for a minimum of five minutes and up to overnight for more flavor.

3. Pour milk of your choice into a mini blender like a Nutribullet or into another glass jar or measuring cup where you can whisk the ingredients together.

4. Add the matcha green tea powder, ground cinnamon, allspice and sea salt and blend or whisk until well combined to create a matcha-milk slurry.

5. Pour the steeped water through a strainer, then into the matcha-milk slurry. 

6. Add stevia or raw honey and blend or whisk again. Taste for desired sweetness.

Preparation note: If you’d like your latte hotter, pour ingredients into a small pot and gently heat before drinking to your health!

Are you as intrigued by the benefits of green tea as I am? I hope so because green tea’s holistic nutrition awaits. Go ahead, relish the art of being green!

References:

Tallei TE, Fatimawali, Niode NJ, et al. A Comprehensive Review of the Potential Use of Green Tea Polyphenols in the Management of COVID-19. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:7170736. Published 2021 Dec 3. doi:10.1155/2021/7170736 

Mousavi A, Vafa M, Neyestani T, Khamseh M, Hoseini F. The effects of green tea consumption on metabolic and anthropometric indices in patients with Type 2 diabetes. J Res Med Sci. 2013;18(12):1080-1086.

Ohishi T, Fukutomi R, Shoji Y, Goto S, Isemura M. The Beneficial Effects of Principal Polyphenols from Green Tea, Coffee, Wine, and Curry on Obesity. Molecules. 2021;26(2):453. Published 2021 Jan 16. doi:10.3390/molecules26020453

Chen S, Osaki N, Shimotoyodome A. Green tea catechins enhance norepinephrine-induced lipolysis via a protein kinase A-dependent pathway in adipocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2015;461(1):1-7. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.03.158Dey M, Cutolo M, Nikiphorou E. Beverages in Rheumatoid Arthritis: What to Prefer or to Avoid. Nutrients. 2020;12(10):3155. Published 2020 Oct 15. doi:10.3390/nu12103155

By: Andrea Nakayama, FxNA Founder & Functional Medicine Nutritionist

Functional Nutrition Alliance provides the comprehensive online Functional Nutrition training in the Science & Art of the Functional Nutrition practice. Learn to address the roots of your clients’ suffering with client education, diet & lifestyle modifications.