You may be wondering how green tea matcha and collagen work together, or why it’s reportedly recommended to combine them as skin and joint health nutrients.
Looking for a natural way to boost your body's collagen production and improve your overall skin health? High quality matcha tea is an amazing dietary source for essential nutrients and collagen protecting antioxidants. Studies have shown that drinking matcha daily may help increase your natural collagen levels— leading to softer, smoother, and firmer skin.
In the following blog, we provide information and information on the most relevant studies regarding matcha and collagen peptides, and how matcha can boost your body's collagen and overall health beyond the benefits of beautiful skin.
We cover ‘the how’ behind collagen and matcha, and why drinking matcha green tea can be a healthy daily ritual to help boost your long term collagen health and overall skin health.
Matcha green tea for anti-aging skin care | Does matcha improve collagen?
How long does it take for matcha green tea to improve collagen health?
The latest studies around matcha and skin health suggest that if you consistently drinking matcha green tea every day, you can see benefits in your body's collagen health and overall skin health in just 2-3 months.
You can also look to use matcha green tea in DIY facemasks at home to provide more immediate and fast-acting relief for various skin ailments such as blackheads or dry skin. Check out some of our favorite matcha face mask recipes here.
Collagen peptides matcha powder: Is matcha nature's best natural collagen powder?
Since most people are familiar with the long list of well-studied matcha health benefits already, let’s take a step back and define collagen.
Collagen definition: Collagen is the ‘glue’ that holds our bodies together, and collagen tissues range from bone, to cardiovascular structures, even to flexible ligaments.
All types of collagen are made from amino acids, just like other proteins in your body. Collagen is unique for the high concentration of glycine and proline aminos, and an individuals’ collagen health can be influenced by genetic and lifestyle factors (e.g. stress, diet).
Here’s two essential questions we should answer before we get to the specific role matcha plays in natural collagen production:
1. How is collagen absorbed in the body?
Since the degradation of collagen has a role in skin wrinkles and joint problems, people are interested to make sure they are getting enough. But can your body really absorb it directly?
The evidence is limited. It’s a misconception that collagen is always absorbed into the body to go where it’s needed most. Studies which measure food-derived collagen peptides in human blood levels are few, and don’t address any direct action, whether just as a source of nutrients.
2. What are collagen vitamins for hair, skin, & joints?
Most studies evaluating elasticity and skin appearance following collagen supplementation do not address collagen alone, so it’s unclear whether outcomes rest on collagen or the coadministered nutrients.
These include vitamin C, enzyme cofactors like hyaluronic acid, and protective dietary and antioxidant compounds which may modulate collagen damage.
The latter is where matcha and collagen production come together, and with the most definitive research behind it.
Is matcha green tea the ultimate collagen boost?
While adding collagen protein powder to your diet has its perks, the real hero in matcha collagen blends might just be matcha powder itself, offering potential benefits for both skin and joint health.
Promising studies suggest that achieving optimal collagen synthesis is best supported by a well-rounded diet, enriched with essential antioxidants and collagen-boosting vitamins.
Interestingly, matcha green tea often covers all these bases in one convenient and natural package. It could be the ultimate solution for those seeking a natural collagen boost, promoting overall well-being and nourishing the body from within.
Does matcha make you look younger?
Infused with methylxanthines, matcha stimulates blood circulation, contributing to vibrant, purified, and evenly toned skin. Its profound and well-studied nourishment properties combat aging indicators, along with addressing acne and breakouts.
This extensive array of matcha green tea advantages solidifies its position as a supreme enhancer of natural collagen production.
Matcha collagen vitamins
Matcha is an excellent source of vitamin C, and polyphenol antioxidants which can stop collagen from being damaged by oxidative stress.
The unique polyphenol EGCG in matcha, and the flavonoid rutin are also reported to halt glycation, a process similar to oxidative damage. Studies have also shown that the EGCG found in matcha may help keeping hormones balanced and in check. This makes drinking matcha extremely beneficial for both men and women's health as we age.
Glycation of collagen: Is matcha an anti-glycation supplement?
Glycation happens when sugar binds to cells and causes uncontrolled damage. This is a common fate of collagen cells, so it’s critical to learn that matcha is a dietary source of collagen-specific antioxidants, including rutin, which are reported to directly interfere with this damaging process.
In fact, matcha contains more rutin than any other beverage in the world, and ranks very high among total food sources.
Furthermore, rutin and vitamin C work together to naturally boost collagen, so it’s worthwhile to acknowledge matcha tea as a reliable source of both.
Fun fact: Did you know matcha tea contains vitamin K, which is involved in regular elastin production, a protein that helps collagen cells maintain integrity. Just one large cup of matcha green tea contains the daily recommended intake of vitamin K.
You should be aware that large amounts of vitamin K do have an impact on blood thinners. Read more about matcha and heart health here.
Collagen protein and collagen amino-acids | Is it even better to take collagen powder and green tea together?
While the protein boost of matcha collagen peptide blends should not be ignored, the green tea powder itself contains many of those same collagen building block amino acids, including glycine and proline.
In other words, you don't need to combine matcha powder with a collagen powder to enjoy the skin health and body benefits you are looking for. Matcha powder on its own is a wonderfully potent and powerful collagen boosting supplement.
Matcha green tea antioxidants and skin, joint, collagen health
Besides working in many unsuspecting ways inside the body, the basics of matcha health benefits still apply. The potent and broad range of antioxidants in matcha tea carry regular protections against many stressors, most which are also associated with aging generally.
With a couple bowls of matcha tea everyday, and a balanced diet, you may be able to skip the fancy green tea collagen blends and stick with matcha on its own.
Pro Tip: Matcha may also help balance cortisol levels (helping relieve stress and anxiety), which when elevated can damage collagen, having an indirect benefit on skin, hair, and joint health.
The bottom line | Consider drinking matcha daily to boost your natural collagen in the body
At Matcha.com, we feel strongly that a good day always starts with a delicious cup of matcha.
Our ceremonial-grade matcha tea may be an excellent dietary source of collagen protecting antioxidants, as well as each of those essential nutrients (vitamins and aminos) required for natural collagen.
As science does not yet know if collagen peptides work as claimed, at least we can feel grounded in a daily matcha practice to boost all things health. Use matcha inside and outside the body, it even makes for a great facemask!
This article is also written in collaboration with Nick Noble*
References
- Hosseinzadeh, H., & Nassiri-Asl, M. (2014). Review of the protective effects of rutin on the metabolic function as an important dietary flavonoid. Journal of endocrinological investigation, 37(9), 783–788. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-014-0096-3
- Kjaer, M., Frederiksen, A. K. S., Nissen, N. I., Willumsen, N., van Hall, G., Jorgensen, L. N., Andersen, J. R., & Ågren, M. S. (2020). Multinutrient Supplementation Increases Collagen Synthesis during Early Wound Repair in a Randomized Controlled Trial in Patients with Inguinal Hernia. The Journal of nutrition, 150(4), 792–799. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxz324
- Jakubczyk, K., Kochman, J., Kwiatkowska, A., Kałduńska, J., Dec, K., Kawczuga, D., & Janda, K. (2020). Antioxidant Properties and Nutritional Composition of Matcha Green Tea. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 9(4), 483. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9040483
- Rutter, K., Sell, D. R., Fraser, N., Obrenovich, M., Zito, M., Starke-Reed, P., & Monnier, V. M. (2003). Green tea extract suppresses the age-related increase in collagen crosslinking and fluorescent products in C57BL/6 mice. International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition, 73(6), 453–460. https://doi.org/10.1024/0300-9831.73.6.453
- Sibilla, S., & Borumand, M. (2015). Effects of a nutritional supplement containing collagen peptides on skin elasticity, hydration and wrinkles. Journal of Medical Nutrition and Nutraceuticals, 4(1), 47. https://doi.org/10.4103/2278-019x.146161
- Stallings, A. F., & Lupo, M. P. (2009). Practical uses of botanicals in skin care. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 2(1), 36–40. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20967187/
- Zague V. (2008). A new view concerning the effects of collagen hydrolysate intake on skin properties. Archives of dermatological research, 300(9), 479–483. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-008-0888-4
