In the following post, we've compiled thirteen science-backed health benefits of drinking matcha green tea for women's health.
While both men and women deal with various health issues throughout their lifetime, being a woman and maintaining female health can be especially arduous work.
Females deal with unique and specific health concerns, such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, monthly menstruation, hot flashes during menopause, bone-weakening after menopause, and breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers. They also suffer from certain conditions much more frequently than men, such as depression, heart disease, and severe hormonal acne.
Balancing your work and personal life while dealing with your own fluctuating female hormones can take it out of you – but help is at hand with matcha!
Preparing a cup of matcha is a great way to relax and reset — but the benefits of matcha tea go way beyond stress reduction for a woman's health. Adding matcha to your daily routine as a woman can have a whole range of female-specific health benefits.
13 female-specific health benefits of drinking matcha
1) Promotes female fat-burning and weight-loss
Several studies have shown that matcha's catechins and caffeine content may help increase fat burning and boost your metabolism. And this is particularly true for women! One 2018 study with females in their late twenties to early thirties found that drinking matcha before a brisk thirty-minute walk significantly enhanced exercise-induced fat oxidation. (20)
2) Lowers the incidence of depression in women
Did you know that twice as many women experience depression as men? This means women have to take more preventative measures to alleviate stress and anxiety in their day-to-day lives. A study published in 2019 found green tea significantly lowers the incidence of depression in women nineteen or older. Women who drank just three cups of green tea per week had a 21% lower prevalence of depression. (15)
3) Alleviates bloating and menstrual cramps
Delivering a healthy dose of antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties, matcha has been evaluated for the alleviation of the all-too-common period symptoms of bloating and menstrual cramps. For example, in one two-year, cross-sectional study with over 1,000 females of reproductive age, green tea reduced mild to severe menstrual cramping significantly. (8) (23)
4) Helps support treatment of HPV cervical infections
HPV is quite prevalent among young females. In fact, according to JAMA, over 33% of females aged 14 to 24 years have an HPV infection in the United States. Drinking matcha may be a promising therapy regimen for females with HPV. A clinical study with fifty female participants found that taking green tea orally or applying it as an ointment for eight to twelve weeks are both effective at supporting treatment for cervical lesions. (1) (3)
5) A safe caffeine source when pregnant and breastfeeding
Whether you have a ten-month-old having trouble sleeping, a toddler running around the house – or a combination of both, switching from coffee to matcha may be a game-changer for your energy and stress levels as a young mother. Some studies imply that matcha may be a more optimal caffeine source for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Endurance from matcha's slow-release caffeine can last 6 to 8 hours. And thanks to its high L-Theanine content, you don't experience any caffeine spikes and downers. Have more questions on matcha and pregnancy? Check out our whole article, answering all the common queries around drinking matcha and pregnancy. (5)
6) Works wonders for a woman's skin health
Regularly drinking matcha tea comes with several notable benefits for a woman's skin health at any age. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of matcha have been well-studied for increases in skin's elasticity, helping clear up hormonal acne, slowing down the process of skin aging, potential reversal of UV damage, and a boost to natural collagen production. Plus, matcha has actual bioavailability, meaning your body more easily absorbs the nutrients consumed which may give your skin a dewy, detox-glow. (11) (13) (16)
7) Supports women against heart disease and stroke
Did you know that heart disease tends to develop seven to ten years later in women compared to men, tends to go unnoticed in women, and cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death in women over 65? Luckily, you can take easy and affordable measures to decrease your risk of heart disease as a woman significantly. Several studies have reported that drinking green tea regularly has protective effects against cardiovascular disease. One particular compound found in green tea has been associated with breaking up plaque linked to dangerous blockages that trigger fatal heart attacks and stroke according to published research. (9)
8) Combats weight gain from polycystic ovarian syndrome
Green tea has been shown to help overweight and obese women dealing with unwanted weight gain and hormonal imbalances in women with Polycystic ovarian syndrome. For example, in one 2017 study, the consumption of green tea over 12 weeks led to a significant decrease in weight, fasting insulin, and free testosterone levels. (2)
9) Counteracts menopausal and post-menopausal symptoms
Drinking matcha regularly for at least two months has been shown to help balance glucose and lipid profile levels in post-menopausal women who've been studied, helping women feel more like themselves after going through menopause. And while matcha green tea may not alleviate menopausal hot flashes and trouble sleeping, it may do wonders with other herbs. For example, a 2003 pilot study found that an herbal blend of green tea, linden, rosehip, daisy, and sage can help relieve unpleasant menopausal and post-menopausal symptoms. (12) (21)
10) May reduce the risk, onset, and recurrence in breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer
Matcha's strong cancer-fighting properties are primarily due to the finely-powdered green tea's high catechins concentration, which helps halt oxidative stress. And countless studies back up the benefits of drinking matcha daily. For example, one population-based cohort study with almost 75,000 Chinese women found a significantly delayed onset of breast cancer for women who drank green tea since they were twenty-five years old.
Regularly drinking green tea has also been found to dramatically lower the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer and help minimize the chance of recurrence or death from these cancers in women studied. (4) (18) (22)
11) Supports improved bone health in older women
After women go through menopause, they often experience issues with their bone health. One way to effectively strengthen bone metabolism and decrease the risk of bone fractures as an older woman is to drink green tea regularly, according to some research results. Several studies have concluded that their subjects who regularly drank green tea had strengthened bone health in post-menopausal women. (10)
12) Arms female smokers from oxidative damage
If you are a female smoker, it may be especially beneficial to drink matcha every day to offset the not-so-healthy habit of smoking. Research has proposed that regularly drinking green tea for at least four months can help protect female smokers from oxidative DNA damage caused by inhaling tobacco. (6)
13) Holds potential to help address female reproductive disorders
Green tea has been studied to enhance ovulation and reduce cyst formation in animal trials, which shows enormous promise for Matcha being a potential go-to preventative therapy for improving female reproductive health in the future. Researchers are continuing to study green tea for its potential to improve fertility in women. (7) (14)
The bottom line - matcha may help women live longer | Start drinking more green tea
Given the incredible range and concentration of compounds found in matcha, such as catechin antioxidants, l-theanine, flavonals, and vitamins and minerals, it isn't surprising that drinking matcha regularly actually helps women live happier and healthier (and maybe even longer!) too.
In one 11-year study with over 14,000 Japanese adults, researchers found that women who drank the most green tea – at least five cups or more per day – were significantly less likely to die from all causes of death. (9)
Matcha green tea is one of the world's healthiest beverages, so it isn't surprising that it's packed with a range of female-specific health benefits. So if you are a woman who is looking to feel better generally, lose weight, an alternative to coffee, balance out out-of-whack hormones, alleviate period cramps, or want to lower your risk of chronic diseases and live longer – consider adding matcha green tea to your daily routine! And always feel free to ask your physician to make sure that matcha is right for you.
Disclaimer:
These statements in this blog post have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information provided here is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. It's essential to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any dietary or lifestyle changes
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