Matcha For Weight Loss – How It Helps You To Burn Fat and Lose Weight

I didn't start drinking matcha for weight loss. I started drinking it for all of the other health benefits but I quickly discovered that weight loss was an awesome side effect of this amazing superfood!

In this article, you are going to learn all about how drinking matcha tea can help you lose weight – and by the time you finish reading it, you are going to know if matcha is for you.

What Is Matcha?

Matcha is made from the leaves of the green tea plant. The green tea leaves are shaded during the end of the growing process which enhances its benefits.

he leaves are then ground to an ultra-fine powder and consumed whole, in matcha green tea, which provides much more health benefits than regular green tea.

According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, catechins or an epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-caffeine mixture has a positive effect on weight loss and weight maintenance.

Catechins are a type of compound found in tea. With matcha, we are focusing on the catechin – epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is a very potent antioxidant.

For more information visit The Ultimate Guide to the Best Matcha.

Below you will find a great video showing how matcha is produced from start to finish.

How Matcha Tea Helps With Weight Loss

Let's take a more in-depth look at how drinking matcha tea can help with weight loss.

1. Metabolism - The powerful polyphenol antioxidant EGCGs mentioned above act like a fat blocker, boosting metabolism and slowing or even stopping the growth of fat cells. Another Green Tea study has shown significant weight loss as well as a significant decrease in body mass index and reduced waist circumference after 12 weeks of high-dose green tea consumption. This study also uncovered a decrease in total cholesterol and LDL without any side effects or adverse effects.

2. Thermogenesis - Thermogenesis is the rate at which the human body burns calories. In this study, green tea extract, like that found in matcha, was proven to increase the human body's ability to burn calories from 8-10% to a shocking 35-40%!

3. Matcha can help Balance Blood Glucose - Spiking your blood sugar has been shown to not only cause weight gain, but can also cause diabetes over time. Consuming matcha, which is sugar-free has been shown to balance blood sugar resulting in better moods and less weight gain. 

4. Matcha Provides Sustained Energy - Because of the unique combination of EGCGs and caffeine, caffeine is tempered when consuming matcha tea. There is no big jolt of energy, but a more evenly distributed energy, and the caffeine effects are sustained over a much longer period. This increased energy level can help to keep you more active throughout the day, leading to more calories burned and more weight loss.

Other Benefits of Matcha Tea

1. Lowers Cholesterol

In test-tube studies, matcha has been shown to block an enzyme that plays a role in cholesterol and fat metabolism. When this enzyme is blocked, it can lower cholesterol. It also helps boost HDL cholesterol while reducing LDL. These effects make it possible for you to enjoy heart-healthy benefits without changing your diet or exercise habits, which is convenient since many people do not have enough time in the day to squeeze these activities into their schedules.

2. May Lower the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Studies have found that regular consumption can lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes. In one study, participants who drank more than four cups daily reduced their risk of developing diabetes by 58 percent after 12 weeks. Matcha powder also works as well as metformin to improve glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetics.

3. Fights Against Cancer

Matcha may help fight specific cancer cells in your body. It has been shown to protect the body against lung, prostate, and breast cancer. This effect is caused by polyphenols, antioxidants that fight toxic substances in your body and lower the risk of oxidative damage. Ceremonial matcha also has been found to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

How To Prepare Matcha Green Tea For Weight Loss?

While we call it matcha green tea, it really isn't a tea at all.

Unlike green tea, which is steeped in water, matcha is prepared by mixing the finely ground matcha tea powder into water in order to create an emulsion.

By doing this, you are actually consuming the ground matcha tea leaves and you are getting all of the benefits of the matcha.

The traditional method for preparing matcha green tea is with a bamboo matcha whisk and a bowl. However, more and more matcha lovers are moving towards a simple milk frother.

How To Prepare Matcha Tea

Here is a great video showing exactly how to prepare matcha green tea. The recipe is below the video.

1. Sift one-half of a teaspoon to one teaspoon of matcha green tea powder into a bowl or cup.

2. Add 2-4 ounces of hot water. (180-190 degrees F)

3. Use a bamboo whisk using a back-and-forth motion to form an emulsion and a layer of foam, or use a milk frother to do the same.

Your matcha green tea is now ready to be consumed.

How Many Cups of Matcha Tea A Day For Weight Loss?

Now that you know how matcha helps with weight loss and how to prepare matcha green tea, let's take a look at how many cups of matcha tea you should drink every day for weight loss.

It is widely accepted that consuming between 1 - 4 teaspoons a day of matcha green tea powder will significantly increase your body's ability to lose weight.

If you were to use 1 teaspoon in each cup of matcha green tea, then you would need to consume between 1 - 4 cups of matcha tea a day for weight loss.

However, keep in mind that there are more ways to get matcha in your diet besides matcha tea.

One of our favorite ways to use matcha for weight loss is by adding it to the best matcha smoothies!

Best Time To Drink Matcha Tea For Weight Loss

The best time to drink matcha tea for weight loss is before every meal.

And here's why.

Not only will you get all of the weight loss benefits of matcha, but matcha and caffeine are also known to suppress your appetite.

On top of the metabolism boost, the thermogenic boost, and the increased energy, you will also take advantage of the reduced appetite factor.

The truth is that there isn't a bad time of day to drink matcha for weight loss. I would, however, advise against drinking matcha before bedtime as the caffeine will keep you up. Finally, most of the studies showed that the best weight loss results from matcha were also in combination with moderate to vigorous exercise. This means that matcha alone won't cause you to lose weight, but coupled with physical activity it has an accelerated effect on the metabolism and burning of fat!

Final Thoughts

As the studies cited above have proven, matcha for weight loss is real. Although many of the studies surrounding weight loss were done with green tea, matcha's nutrient profile is much denser than green tea, and it is therefore assumed to have an even greater benefit.

Can one little change, like adding matcha to your diet on a daily basis really make that big of a difference?

There is only one way to find out!

Go check out the best matcha powder, buy one of the recommended brands and start implementing matcha green tea into your diet.

You will quickly learn that weight loss is only one of the many benefits of matcha that you will enjoy!

FAQs

What does matcha taste like?

Matcha has a very unique flavor profile, and much like wine, the better the quality of matcha, the more full-bodied, bright, and rich the flavor is. Matcha is characterized as having an umami flavor, with vegetal grassy notes, and a slightly sweet or nutty finish. Matcha powder in its highest quality form, also known as ceremonial matcha, is smoother, earthier, and less bitter than less-premium matcha. Therefore, for the best matcha experience and the best-tasting matcha powder for ceremonial-style, matcha lattes, or matcha smoothies, we recommend the following ceremonial-grade matcha powders: Encha, Pique, and Tenzo.