Matcha Tea - Superfood
Green tea is known for its many qualities: a detoxifying superfood, antioxidant, and particularly rich in polyphenols that demonstrate numerous activities promoting cardiovascular health 1, and its significant antioxidant properties attributed to flavonoids help combat the formation of free radicals in the body, reduce inflammation, and have antimicrobial effects.2
A study concluded that regular consumption of matcha, this Japanese tea, can have a positive effect on physical and mental health.3
Matcha tea can be consumed instead of coffee; this magnificent invigorating green powder promotes alertness and concentration.4
Also, according to Dr. Camilla Skokholm, matcha tea is a powerful health beverage for many reasons, and this is partly why the centenarians of Okinawa, Japan, live so long. She mentions that it also contains a very important microbiome bacterium called Akkermansia mucinliphila.
What are the characteristics of this Akkermansia muciniphila bacterium?
For the past few years, Akkermansia muciniphila has garnered significant interest due to the positive correlation between its intestinal colonization and the host's homeostatic metabolism.
The bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) was first detected in human feces in 2004. Due to its specialization in the degradation of mucin, it is an essential microorganism for ensuring the barrier function of the intestinal mucosa.5
It has been demonstrated in a study that the consumption of matcha green tea extract alleviates metabolic abnormalities induced by a high-fat diet because epigallocatechin, the component of matcha green tea, stimulates the growth of Akkermansia.6
Akkermansia muciniphila thus proves to be a promising target due to its beneficial effects for the treatment of metabolic syndrome and associated diseases, such as the improvement of type II diabetes, obesity, and anti-inflammation.7-8
Akkermansia muciniphila thus establishes its position as a next-generation probiotic.
References:
1. Eng QY, Thanikachalam PV, Ramamurthy S. Molecular understanding of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. J Ethnopharmacol. 2018 Jan 10; 210:296-310. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.08.035. Epub 2017 Aug 31. PMID: 28864169.
2. Sharangi, Amit, Medicinal and therapeutic potentialities of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) – A review. Food Research International June 2009, 42(5-6):529-535
3. Joanna Kochman , Karolina Jakubczyk, Justyna Antoniewicz, Honorata Mruk, Katarzyna Janda. Health Benefits and Chemical Composition of Matcha Green Tea: A Review, Molecules, 2020 Dec 27;26 (1) :85. doi : 10.3390/molecules26010085, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33375458/
4. Dietz C, Dekker M, Piqueras-Fiszman B. An intervention study on the effect of matcha tea, in drink and snack bar formats, on mood and cognitive performance. Food Res Int. 2017 Sep;99(Pt 1):72-83. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2017.05.002. Epub 2017 May 5. PMID: 28784536.
5. Zhou JC, Zhang XW. Akkermansia muciniphila: a promising target for the therapy of metabolic syndrome and related diseases. Chin J Nat Med. 2019 Nov;17(11):835-841. doi: 10.1016/S1875-5364(19)30101-3. PMID: 31831130.
6. Yuefei Wang, Yueer Yu, Lejia Ding, Jihong Zhou. Matcha green tea targets the gut–liver axis to alleviate obesity and metabolic disorders induced by a high-fat diet. Front. Nutr., 01 August 2022 Sec. Food Chemistry Volume 9 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.931060
7. Hagi T, Belzer C. The interaction of Akkermansia muciniphila with host-derived substances, bacteria and diets. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2021 Jun;105(12):4833-4841. doi: 10.1007/s00253-021-11362-3. Epub 2021 Jun 14. PMID: 34125276; PMCID: PMC8236039.
8. Dietz C, Dekker M, Piqueras-Fiszman B. An intervention study on the effect of matcha tea, in drink and snack bar formats, on mood and cognitive performance. Food Res Int. 2017 Sep;99(Pt 1):72-83. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2017.05.002. Epub 2017 May 5. PMID: 28784536.
Maison Jacynthe disclaims all liability. All the information contained on this page is not intended to substitute for justified allopathic treatment, nor to disregard the expertise of the medical profession. It is up to each individual to take charge of his or her own health, to inform him or herself and to make the necessary changes to improve his or her condition. Therapeutic supervision by a qualified health professional is obviously suggested.
