Workouts are hard. Sometimes you barely have the energy to get started, let alone power your way through a full exercise routine. Endurance sags quickly, and then you have to deal with sore, stiff muscles for days on end.
Doesn’t sound like much fun, but there are ways to find the energy, endurance, and speedier recovery you're wishing for, and, believe it or not, you've probably sampled the answer at your local coffee shop. Matcha can do all of that and more. Here are five ways matcha can pump up the jam on your exercise and contribute to your overall health.
Initial Energy
Matcha comes naturally sporting 30 to 45 mg of caffeine. That's a little less than you will find in coffee and a lot less than you might find in an energy drink, many sodas, or most pre-workouts, but it is the perfect amount to perk you up and help you find that first spark of elusive motivation. This means matcha makes a great, natural pre-workout that won't leave you feeling overly jittery.
Long Term Endurance
The special thing about matcha is that caffeine doesn't come alone. It is in a natural complex with catechins, powerful antioxidants, chlorophyll, EGCG, and L-Theanine. That last one is key. L-Theanine is an amino acid that creates a sense of calm, focused well-being. It also offsets the caffeine, creating a longer, more sustained energy boost that doesn't spike and fall off like most caffeine sources. Matcha delivers endurance that lasts, so you don't lose momentum mid workout.
Concentration and Focus
The L-Theanine can also keep your mind on the exercise at hand. L-Theanine boosts alpha waves, so you don't get distracted. Focus is also important in avoiding injuries while working out. That extra concentration comes in handy when pushing yourself harder to eek out extra reps.
Recovery and Pain
Catechins are potent antioxidants that reduce inflammation, protect muscle cells from oxidative damage, reduce pain, and aid in speeding recovery. EGCG, one type of catechin found in matcha, is especially good at protecting muscles, bolstering endurance, and reducing lactic acid buildup by encouraging muscle cells to burn fat instead of glucose.
Fat Burning
EGCG's ability to boost metabolism and fat burning is amazing, especially in combination with the heat creating effects of caffeine. One study hints adding matcha to your everyday life alone could increase your weight loss two times as much as exercise alone. With exercise, that doubles again, making it four times the fat burner over regular exercise. That's the difference between losing ten pounds and forty pounds. This is a big reason matcha has become so popular in the keto dieting world. It also doesn't break fasts or kick you out of ketosis.
Best Ways to Consume Matcha
A tall, hot matcha latte just before you work out may not be the best idea. Luckily, there are many ways to get your matcha in before exercise. Matcha can be found in on-the-go packets naturally sweetened without sugar that can be easily mixed with water. Try our Sweet Matcha. Some of these zero calorie sweetened packets are combined with energizing B vitamins for even better pre-workout, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Try our Matcha Energy. Matcha can be taken in tablets paired with black ginger, another powerful antioxidant rich superfood that boosts endurance, metabolism, and libido. Try our Black Ginger Matcha. Or you can go old school and mix up a small batch of tea, refreshing spritzer, or protein smoothie. Try our Ceremonial Blend Matcha.