When You Drink Matcha Every Day, This Is What Happens

Matcha, a type of finely ground green tea, doesn't just look fantastic in a mug — though its bright green color does make for Instagram-worthy photos. But behind the green color is a nutritional powerhouse, and swapping your afternoon coffee for a cup of matcha instead may have major health benefits.

The primary benefit of matcha is that it offers a pick-me-up similar to coffee, but without the crash that's typically associated with caffeine. Because matcha is packed with flavonoids and L-theanine, it can keep you feeling alert. But unlike caffeine, which may increase feelings of anxiety, L-theanine tends to promote focus while actually decreasing stress levels. 

The caffeine in matcha — about a third of the amount found in most coffee — also helps perk you up, but with the addition of L-theanine, it avoids the crash (via Healthline). That means if you're heading into an important meeting and you have a packed schedule for the rest of the day, switching your coffee for a matcha might help you power through without feeling the stress and eventual sluggishness that comes from drinking coffee.

Matcha is packed with health-boosting antioxidants, including catechins, which can help lower blood pressure. It also contains polyphenols, another critical type of antioxidant which may help lower inflammation in the body (via WebMD).

Matcha may also support liver health as well as heart health. Thanks to its ability to reduce bad cholesterol in the body, drinking it might keep your heart healthier as a result (via Eat This, Not That).

And like other types of green tea, matcha may even help with weight loss or maintenance (via Healthline).

If you don't love the taste of green tea, matcha does tend to be a bit sweeter and more mild than your average green tea. But the taste isn't ideal for everyone. You don't have to stop at simply sipping a plain cup of hot matcha tea in water. You can use it to make a delicious latte, mix a teaspoonful into your smoothie, or even add it to baked goods or your morning oatmeal to add an antioxidant boost to your breakfast (via Bulk Nation Foods).