We love our morning rituals. Yoga, meditation, and of course, caffeine. We’re always looking to evolve our rituals and are taking a look at matcha vs. coffee for our morning boost.
Both beverages contain caffeine. Both are hot, yummy, and comforting. But besides taste, what’s the real difference between coffee and this tea? And how do you know what’s better for your day? While we still love us a cup of cold brew, we don’t think it can beat out the benefits of drinking matcha. Here’s why.
Nutrients:
Although coffee contains some beneficial minerals and nutrients, matcha tea contains a massive mix of antioxidants, minerals, and amino acids. In fact, just one cup of matcha has over ten times the antioxidants of coffee.
Matcha also contains a balanced PH, making it helpful to your digestion. It also contains catechins, which in addition to being great for your skin, can help fight against bad breath and teeth stains. Matcha also supports a healthy metabolism, lowering blood pressure, and more.
Caffeine:
When it comes to caffeine, your average cup of coffee contains more caffeine than a cup of matcha – about 50% more. However, while coffee provides 1-3 hours of energy with peaks and valleys of energy (and sometimes crashes), matcha contains less caffeine, and yet provides an average of 4-6 hours of energy, without the crash.
A key component of this is because matcha also contains l-theanine. L-theanine is an amino acid that promotes relaxation and reduces stress. With this ingredient alongside caffeine in matcha, you are much more likely to experience a calm focus, rather than what can often be an intense or jittery energy that you get from coffee – especially if you are caffeine sensitive.
So, have we convinced you yet? Try for some calming alertness in place of coffee’s caffeine spike, and see what you think.
About the contributor: Today’s wellness section is written by Katie Webb, founder of Aila. Aila is an active wellness brand that creates superfood and plant-based blends for ‘better for you’ energy and recovery on the go.
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