Matcha’s popularity has increased in recent months, resulting in reports of: global shortages and price increases.

If you are not crazy yet, matcha is a powdered version of green tea. On the cafe’s menu, chances are you’ll see a hot or iced matcha latte, and even a matcha-flavored cake or cookie. A fast Google appears countless recipes containing matcha, each sweet and spicy.

Retailers and cafe owners they suggested The predominant reasons for matcha’s popularity are its Instagrammable appearance and alleged health benefits.

But what are the health benefits of matcha? Here’s what the evidence says.

First of all, what is matcha?

Matcha is a finely ground powder of green tea leaves that come from the plant. It is the same plant from which green and black tea are produced. However, production process distinguishes matcha from green and black tea.

In the case of matcha, the tea is grown in the shade. After harvesting, the leaves are steamed and dried, and the stems are removed. The leaves are then fastidiously ground at a controlled temperature to acquire a powder.

The production process for green tea is simpler. Leaves are collected from unshaded plants, heated and dried. We then soak the dried leaves in hot water to make tea (whereas with matcha, the whole leaf is consumed).

In the case of black tea, the leaves are exposed to air after being picked, which results in oxidation. This turns the leaves black and offers the tea a different flavor.

Source of phytonutrients

Phytonutrients are chemical compounds present in plants which have a number of benefits for human health. Matcha comprises several.

Chlorophyll gives plants, amongst others, green color. There is some evidence that chlorophyll can have health benefits – amongst others anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-obesity – as a result of its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which are unstable molecules that damage our cells.

Theanine has been shown to improve sleep AND reduce stress and anxiety. Only other known Mushrooms are a dietary source of theanine.

Caffeine is a phytonutrient that we all know well. In addition to increasing alertness, caffeine has also been shown to extend alertness antioxidant effect and a few protection against a range of chronic and neurodegenerative diseases. However, an excessive amount of caffeine can have negative unwanted effects.

Interestingly, the plants seem like shading during cultivation change the dietary composition leaf and should result in higher levels of these nutrients in matcha in comparison with green tea.

Another compound value mentioning are catechins, of which there are several differing types. Matcha powder similarly comprises more catechins than green tea. They are powerful antioxidants that have been shown have a protective effect against bacteria, viruses, allergies, inflammation and cancer. Catechins are also found in apples, blueberries and strawberries.

What are the real health benefits?

We know that matcha comprises a variety of phytonutrients, but does this translate into any noticeable health benefits?

A review published in 2023 identified only five experimental studies that gave people matcha. In these studies, participants received roughly 2–4 g of matcha per day (reminiscent of 1–2 teaspoons of matcha powder) in comparison with a placebo, in the form of a capsule, tea or food. Matcha reduces stress and anxiety and improves memory and cognitive functions. It had no effect on the mood.

AND newer study showed that 2 g of matcha in elderly people aged 60 to 85 improved sleep quality. However, in younger people aged 27 to 64, in one other study matcha had little effect on sleep.

AND research in individuals with obesity found no difference in weight reduction observed between the matcha group and the control group. This study didn’t randomize participants, and other people knew which group they were placed in.

One could hypothesize that, given that you’re going to eat the whole leaf and that levels of some nutrients could also be higher as a result of growing conditions, matcha can have more dietary benefits than green tea. However, to my knowledge, there has not been a direct comparison of the health effects of green tea versus matcha.

There is a lot of evidence about the effects of green tea

Although a limited number of studies have examined matcha to this point and none have compared matcha to green tea, there is quite a bit of research on the health benefits of drinking green tea.

AND systematic review of 21 studies on green tea showed similar benefits to matcha in improving memory, in addition to evidence of improving mood.

There is also evidence that green tea provides other health benefits. Systematic reviews have shown that green tea results in: weight reduction in individuals with obesitylower level some types of cholesterolAND lowered blood pressure. Green tea can too reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.

So for those who cannot reach for matcha right away, drinking green tea may be a good option to get your caffeine fix.

Although the evidence for green tea gives us some clues about the health benefits of matcha, we cannot ensure that they will probably be the same. Nevertheless, in case your local coffee shop has a large supply of matcha, there is nothing to say that you should not still enjoy matcha drinks.

However, it is best to save lots of the matcha croissant or cronut for special occasions. Adding matcha to foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat may negate any health benefits which may be attributed to matcha.

Mammograms can be scary, but as R&B singer Shanice knows, not taking them can lead to rather more terrifying results.

A mammogram in his 40s led to the misdiagnosis of an ultimately benign cyst as a cancerous mass. Although the result was positive, the health concerns were enough for the “I Love Your Smile” singer to skip further mammograms, that are advisable yearly after the age of 40.

“Because of the fear I had when they thought they saw something, I didn’t go there for eight years,” said Shanice, whose full name is Shanice Wilson-Knox.Good morning America” during a recent speech.

Overcoming her fear of further misdiagnosis, the 51-year-old singer finally returned for one more scan in March when she felt a lump in her breast. The results revealed one other terrifying – and this time accurate – diagnosis. The mother of two children was diagnosed ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)an early type of breast cancer that will develop within the milk ducts of 1 or each breasts.

Although DCIS is non-aggressive, normally non-invasive and easy to treat, it is usually common and accounts for 20% to 25% of recent breast cancer diagnoses annually, according to data Cleveland Clinic. Risk aspects include dense breast tissue it’s more common in black women and can make mammograms harder to read because dense breast tissue and tumors are similarly visible in the photographs. It is price noting that the variety of DCIS cases is increasing, and experts consider that this trend is due to lower rates of diagnosis and treatment.

In Shanice’s case, the diagnosis led her to determine to have a double mastectomy, a procedure she underwent in May. The surgery turned out to be more essential than initially thought, because it revealed a one-centimeter grade 1 tumor in a single breast.

“When I had surgery and was told I had cancer, I literally lost my smile,” she told GMA host Michael Strahan. For months, she didn’t reveal either her diagnosis or her double mastectomy. In September, she split her Instagram storyincluding a video of her within the hospital before surgery.

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to face in my life, but I know God is with me and everything will be fine,” she said within the video.

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In the post’s caption, she detailed her diagnosis and treatment, thanking each her medical team and her community of family, friends and additional health care professionals, including her longtime husband and former reality TV co-star, actor and comedian Flex Alexander. “Thank God I caught it early… I wasn’t ready to talk about it then, but now I’m strong enough to talk about it,” she wrote, encouraging others to be vigilant about their breast health. “Everyone please check.”

In an interview with GMA, she echoed that advice, telling the show’s hosts, “I just want to tell women how important it is to get a mammogram… If I had gone earlier, I could have caught (breast cancer) just in time at stage zero.”

“Put that fear aside,” she continued. “If you get tested earlier, you can beat this disease. This is not a death sentence. If you can get there early, you will survive.

Shanice assured viewers that she is now cancer-free and that there is not only life but joy on the opposite side of a breast cancer diagnosis. “I wanted to be on the show to encourage women to smile,” she said. “I got my smile back.”

Because our hands function our guides around the world – they open doors, shake hands and hold onto railway poles, they should be washed often after which well moisturized. With this in mind, it is not enough to depend on body lotions after a shower, as your hands require moisturizing hand creams to combat the elements.

Imagine you have just accomplished a rigorous Pilates workout and you think that, “Lori Harvey has nothing on me.” As you’re taking off your socks and pack, you notice that your hands are so dry that you almost don’t recognize them. You quickly dig through your bag and are available to 2 conclusions. First of all, there is no such thing as a hand lotion on this bag. And secondly, Lori actually has something on you, she would never be caught dead with dry skin!

To avoid the risk of drying out my hands, I’ve compiled an inventory of luxury hand creams that I carry in my purse to maintain them moisturized while traveling.

In my gym bag

Conveniently stocked in my sports bag L’Occitane hand cream with shea butter. This moisturizer is an ideal selection all yr round. The wealthy and thick formula is non-greasy, making it ideal to be used before or after training. Specially formulated for dry skin, L’Occitane nourishes, smoothes and rebalances the skin barrier. Its quick absorption and refreshing scent make it a day by day staple.

In the work bag

My pick for a day of writing and the hustle and bustle of meetings is Sisley’s regenerating hand cream. This luxurious moisturizing hand cream is ideal for keeping at your desk or on the go. The hand cream, containing a biosaccharide solution and sweet almond oil, restores moisture, keeping hands and cuticles brilliant and nourished all day long. The added bonus of provitamin B5, which supports nail health, won’t hurt either.

In a lunch bag

When I got here across Le Baume by DiorI knew its compact size was made to live in my evening bags. Although small in size, this hand cream packs a punch and might be used to moisturize your hands and lips. The flat and rounded shape of this multi-functional moisturizing balm is ideal for luggage with limited space. In addition to fitting perfectly into small clutch bags, handbags and pockets, this elegant packaging is an ideal conversation starter when a restaurant’s hand soap is attempting to eliminate moisture out of your hands.