Every spring and fall, nearly every state in the U.S. shifts the clocks forward or backward by an hour. While this change may seem small, the transition can cause sleepiness, mood disturbances, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, higher hospital admissions, and elevated production or inflammatory markers due to an increase in stress. So, it's not such a small change after all!
The sudden shift can disrupt our natural rhythms, making mornings tougher and energy harder to come by. Packed with nutrients, caffeine, and calming l-theanine, matcha green tea can help make this transition a bit easier. Matcha offers a smoother, longer-lasting energy boost, helping you stay focused and alert during daylight savings.
Here’s how matcha can help you make the switch a little easier:
Boosts your energy
One of the best things about drinking matcha is its sustained energy boost, without the crash, often associated with other caffeinated beverages like coffee.
On average, a cup of matcha contains about 35-70 mg of caffeine. For comparison, a cup of coffee contains roughly 90 mg of caffeine. However, unlike coffee, matcha contains l-theanine, an amino acid that helps the body feel calm, focused, and relaxed. L-theanine enhances the positive effects of caffeine while reducing undesired side effects like jitteriness or crashing later on. One study found that participants who combined 250 mg of l-theanine with 150 mg of caffeine showed improvements in memory, alertness, and task speed.
Matcha’s balanced and sustained energy can be a great ally during daylight savings when you may feel a little more tired, out of your routine, or groggy.
The ritual of tea drinking
Daylight savings can throw your routine off-kilter a bit—especially if you have kids! A consistent ritual, like making your morning cup of matcha, can offer stability and reinforce healthy habits. Sticking to your routine and what you know can make adjusting to the new time a little easier.
Making a cup of matcha can also be meditative. This can be especially useful during daylight savings when you may feel extra rushed or groggy. Taking a few moments to prepare your tea can help your body and mind adjust more gently to this change. The almost meditative ritual can help you start your day on a positive and more centered note. As daylight savings disrupts your regular routine, making your cup of matcha can also give you a bit of normalcy and reduce stress.
Helps maximize productivity and cognition
Thanks to its unique compounds, matcha may help curb some of the mental fog that accompanies this time shift.
Matcha contains a moderate amount of caffeine, providing the energy needed to focus without causing jitters or crashes. It’s also a rich source of l-theanine, an amino acid that promotes feeling relaxed yet alert and focused. This combination is ideal for productivity, as it helps keep you focused. During daylight savings, when you might feel mentally scattered or fatigued, matcha can help you stay sharp and focused.
Studies also suggest that matcha may enhance memory and improve cognitive health. One antioxidant found in matcha, EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), has been shown to improve memory, reduce inflammation, and promote overall brain health.
Matcha and sleep
The unique combination of l-theanine, polyphenols, and antioxidants in matcha may support healthy sleep patterns and help you adjust more smoothly to the time change.
While matcha is known for providing an energy boost, it may also help promote better sleep. Matcha contains caffeine but often affects people differently than other caffeinated drinks due to its l-theanine content. Studies show that l-theanine helps people relax, fall asleep quicker, and get deeper sleep.
One review of 33 studies found that drinking two cups of matcha daily, consumed two to three hours before bedtime, reduced stress and improved sleep quality.
Additionally, matcha contains less caffeine than coffee, offering a subtle energy boost without lingering in your system and disturbing sleep. This can be especially important during daylight savings when your circadian rhythm is already adjusting.
Bottom Line: Drink Matcha to Ease Daylight Savings Adjustment
While daylight savings may not be a favorite for everyone, it’s a reality for most of us. The one-hour shift may not seem like a big deal, but it can affect our sleep and circadian rhythms and cause grogginess. It also increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and rates of car accidents.
Drinking matcha during this transition can help by providing a clean energy source, supporting your morning routine, improving focus, and even promoting better, deeper sleep.
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.
References:
Dasdelen MF, Er S, Kaplan B, Celik S, Beker MC, Orhan C, Tuzcu M, Sahin N, Mamedova H, Sylla S, Komorowski J, Ojalvo SP, Sahin K, Kilic E. A Novel Theanine Complex, Mg-L-Theanine Improves Sleep Quality via Regulating Brain Electrochemical Activity. Front Nutr. 2022 Apr 5;9:874254. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.874254. PMID: 35449538; PMCID: PMC9017334.
Dodd FL, Kennedy DO, Riby LM, Haskell-Ramsay CF. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the effects of caffeine and L-theanine both alone and in combination on cerebral blood flow, cognition and mood. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2015 Jul;232(14):2563-76. doi: 10.1007/s00213-015-3895-0. Epub 2015 Mar 13. PMID: 25761837; PMCID: PMC4480845
Mostafa MD, ElKomy MA, Othman AI, Amer ME, El-Missiry MA. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate Enhances Cognitive and Memory Performance and Protects Against Brain Injury in Methionine-induced Hyperhomocysteinemia Through Interdependent Molecular Pathways. Neurotox Res. 2022 Dec;40(6):2103-2116. doi: 10.1007/s12640-022-00605-4. Epub 2022 Nov 17. PMID: 36394770; PMCID: PMC9797462.
Pervin M, Unno K, Takagaki A, Isemura M, Nakamura Y. Function of Green Tea Catechins in the Brain: Epigallocatechin Gallate and its Metabolites. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Jul 25;20(15):3630. doi: 10.3390/ijms20153630. PMID: 31349535; PMCID: PMC6696481.
Rao TP, Ozeki M, Juneja LR. In Search of a Safe Natural Sleep Aid. J Am Coll Nutr. 2015;34(5):436-47. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2014.926153. Epub 2015 Mar 11. PMID: 25759004.
