Matcha diet: benefits, side effects, and important points

By Océane Albin Last updated Oct 25, 2023

The foundation of the matcha diet is matcha tea, a traditional and well-liked beverage in Japan made from a powdered form of green tea. This tea helps to promote the health of the heart, liver, skin, and digestive system.

It also has antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-sugar, and anti-wrinkle characteristics. Matcha tea is also highly beneficial for burning fat and aiding in weight loss; in fact, several diets call for it.

How does drinking matcha tea help you lose weight?

With only three calories per gram, matcha tea is low in calories. As a result, consuming this tea prevents the body from storing excess calories.
Caffeine, which is found in matcha tea, helps to boost energy, intelligence, and concentration, as well as your capacity to engage in more and better physical activity.
Robust catechins included in matcha tea aid in increasing metabolism, dissolving triglycerides (blood fat), and removing extra fat from the body.
Matcha tea helps you feel fuller faster and lessens your appetite. It also lowers the chance of consuming sugary meals and aids in blood sugar regulation.

Thus, you can incorporate matcha tea into your diet to benefit from its amazing effects on weight loss and fat burning if you’re trying to lose weight. Of course, remember that drinking matcha by itself is insufficient; you also need to exercise frequently and maintain a healthy, balanced diet.

Furthermore, using matcha excessively may have negative effects, some of which we shall discuss below.

Fat loss in the abdomen with a matcha diet

The delicate areas of the body that gain excess fat are the sides and belly. You must alter your lifestyle, eat well, and exercise frequently if you want to lose your belly and sides.

Occasionally, you could require a quick weight reduction plan that will help you lose weight quickly and lower the size of your sides and stomach. In this situation, drinking matcha tea can be beneficial.

Matcha tea is a powdered green tea made from Camellia sinensis leaves that have undergone specific processing. With benefits that include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-sugar, anti-wrinkle, and metabolism-boosting qualities, this tea is both traditional and well-liked in Japan.

You can drink this tea hot or cold, unadulterated or with the addition of milk, sugar, honey, vanilla, etc.

If you want to use a matcha diet to lose belly fat, keep the following in mind:

Every morning, have a cup of pure matcha tea before breakfast. The body’s metabolism will rise as a result, hastening the weight loss process.
Drink two or three more glasses of pure matcha tea or matcha milk during the day. Please take note that this tea includes caffeine, which might cause sleep disturbances, so you shouldn’t use it after 6 p.m.
Steer clear of greasy, sugary, salty, and high-calorie items during the day. Eat fruits, vegetables, eggs, fish, lean meats, nuts, and seeds in their place. Steer clear of additional sauces and oils, and try to steam or grill your food.
Throughout the day, sip on at least eight glasses of water. Water aids in electrolyte balance maintenance and toxin removal from the body. It also curbs your hunger and gives you a feeling of fullness.
Every day, spend at least 30 minutes exercising. Exercise increases endorphins (happy hormones), strengthens muscles, improves blood circulation, and burns excess fat. Try doing a variety of side and stomach-friendly workouts. You can do planks, yoga, hula hoops, swimming, cycling, and chest presses, among other exercises.

You can dramatically reduce the size of your stomach and sides in ten days by using these suggestions and drinking matcha tea on a regular basis. Naturally, it should be mentioned that every individual’s experience may vary based on their unique set of circumstances.

It is advised that you speak with a doctor or nutritionist and obtain the right food and exercise regimen in order to acquire better and more durable results.

kinds of matcha tea and their gradations of quality

In Japan, matcha tea—a kind of green powder made from green tea—is a well-liked and customary beverage. This tea helps to promote the health of the heart, liver, skin, and digestive system.

The Camellia sinensis plant, which also yields green, white, black, and oolong tea, is the source of matcha tea. The cultivation, harvesting, processing, and consumption methods of this tea set it apart from other varieties.

Matcha tea can be sipped in powdered form or combined with hot water and swirled with a chasen, a type of brush.

Matcha tea can be classified into various types based on how it is processed and used. The color, flavor, aroma, texture, and solubility of matcha tea all contribute to its quality.

The following elements have an impact on matcha tea’s quality:

Sunlight: The tea leaves have a deeper green color and a sweeter flavor the longer they are shaded.(1)
Leaf part: The larger the percentage of leaves used in the tea, the higher the quality.
Harvest time: The quality of the tea increases with the early harvest.
Processing technique: The tea’s quality increases with less and more exact processing.

These characteristics allow matcha tea to be categorized into three primary groups:

During the Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu), matcha sirmon, also known as ceremonial matcha, is the most expensive and finest matcha available. This tea is made from tender leaves and the top portion of the plant, which is shade-grown. It has a delicate, sweet flavor and a dark emerald color. It dissolves easily in hot water and has a smooth, silky feel. This tea should be consumed unadulterated—without any sugar, milk, cream, or other additives.
Premium matcha (premium matcha): This tea is ideal for daily consumption and is of higher quality and more affordable than matcha sirmon. This tea is made from the upper, shade-grown portion of the plant. It tastes sweet and bitter, and its hue is lighter than Matcha Sirmon, a jade green. It dissolves in hot water and has a fairly smooth and soft feel. You can drink this tea straight up or sweetened with sugar, milk, cream, or anything else.
Culinary matcha: This is the cheapest and lowest-grade variety of matcha, and it’s used in cooking, pastry making, smoothie making, lattes, and other culinary applications. This tea is made from the lower, sun-grown portion of the plant. It tastes hot and bitter, and it has a drab green and yellow appearance. It has a hard, dry texture and is not very soluble in hot water.

How matcha tea is used and made

Made from green tea powder, matcha tea is a popular and traditional beverage in Japan. It contains anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-sugar, and anti-wrinkle qualities. You can drink this tea hot or cold, unadulterated or with the addition of milk, sugar, honey, vanilla, etc. This tea can also be used to make coffee, juice, smoothies, desserts, and more.

In this part, we will discuss a few ways to consume matcha tea as well as how to make it.

Simple technique: All you need is matcha powder and either hot or cold water to make basic matcha tea. Using a spoon, a special brush called a “chasen,” or an electric stirrer, first dissolve 1.5 to 2 teaspoons of matcha powder in 250 to 300 milliliters of hot (approximately 80 degrees Celsius) or cold water. Stir until the powder is entirely dissolved and the froth slows down. After that, fill the glass with the beverage and sip. You can flavor your drink with vanilla, sugar, honey, milk, etc.
The ceremonial method of making matcha tea, known as the “Sirmon method,” requires the use of high-grade ceremonial matcha powder, a specific cup called a chawan, a special spoon called a chashaku, a special brush called a chasen, and hot water. Wash and reheat the cup in hot water first. Next, using a special spoon, add one to two teaspoons of matcha powder to the cup, and then moisten it with a little hot water (about 70 degrees Celsius). Next, thoroughly whisk the powder with a special brush until it foams and dissolves. Lastly, top off the drink with as much hot water as desired. This tea needs to be consumed unadulterated and undiluted.
Cooking method: Lower-quality matcha powder (culinary grade), milk, sugar, and honey are used to produce culinary-grade matcha tea, which is the method of using this tea in cooking, desserts, juices, smoothies, lattes, etc. You need ice cream, bananas, strawberries, vanilla, etc. In a blender or electric mixer, combine the necessary amount of matcha powder with other ingredients until smooth and homogeneous, depending on your preferred style of drink or meal. After that, offer your meal or drink. For instance, whisk together one teaspoon of matcha powder and fifty milliliters of hot water until the powder dissolves and foams to make a matcha latte. After that, drink with hot milk and sugar to taste.

Matcha diet complications and key points

In addition to following a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, the matcha diet requires you to drink at least four cups of this tea every day.

By speeding up your metabolism, this diet aids in weight loss and calorie burning. Additionally, it improves the health and beauty of your skin and hair by fortifying the immune system.

However, the matcha diet has its advantages and disadvantages, just like any other diet. The following are some crucial aspects of the matcha diet:

Keep matcha tea’s caffeine content low. See your doctor before beginning the diet if you have a caffeine sensitivity or are on any specific drugs.
Take note of the matcha tea’s quality. There are various grades of matcha tea; it is preferable to use the excellent or decent grade. Dark emerald green matcha tea is considered exceptional, whereas jade green matcha tea is considered good.
Be mindful of the food’s proportions. It takes more than just drinking matcha tea to lose weight. You should also steer clear of fast food, carbonated drinks, and foods heavy in fat and sugar in favor of a diet rich in fresh, healthy foods and high in fiber.
Don’t forget to work out. One of the key components of weight loss and overall wellness is exercise. Frequent exercise helps you feel good, develop your muscles, lower stress levels, and speed up your metabolism.

The following are a few adverse effects of the matcha diet:

reduced uptake of iron. Anemia may result from matcha tea’s interference with the body’s ability to absorb iron. It is best to consume matcha tea in between meals and increase your intake of iron-rich foods like legumes, dried fruits, green leafy vegetables, and red meat in order to prevent this issue.
cause issues with breastfeeding and pregnancy. Matcha tea may be hazardous to expectant and nursing mothers due to its caffeine content. The fetal nervous system may be stimulated by caffeine, which can also enter breast milk. Furthermore, heavy metals, which are harmful to fetuses, may be present in matcha tea. As a result, it is preferable to abstain from consuming matcha tea during this time or to limit your intake.
elevating the blood pressure. Matcha tea has the potential to raise blood pressure due to its caffeine content. Before beginning the diet, speak with your doctor if you have high blood pressure or are currently using blood pressure medication.

Synopsis and conclusion of the tea matcha

You can drink this tea hot or cold, unadulterated or with the addition of milk, sugar, honey, vanilla, etc. This tea can also be used to make coffee, juice, smoothies, desserts, and more. This article covered different consumption techniques as well as how to make matcha tea.

Consequently, matcha is a tasty and healthful beverage that can enhance both physical and mental well-being. Naturally, it should be mentioned that consuming too much matcha tea might have negative effects, just like any other beverage.

Consequently, before consuming matcha tea, it is advised to speak with your doctor and have your sensitivity assessed. In addition, it is best to abstain from drinking matcha tea if you are expecting, nursing, on medicine, or suffering from a specific illness. Ultimately, I hope you found this essay informative and helpful.