Swap Your Daily Coffee for Matcha & Enjoy These Beautiful Benefits

Whether you live in Melbourne or Marrickville, it’s undeniable how important coffee is to our culture. Some of us are happy with one coffee in the morning (the delicious scent luring us out of bed), while others break up the day with multiple lattes — either way, coffee has become a returning guest star each day.

From a wellness perspective, reviews about coffee are often muddy or mixed. While some speak to its ability to speed up the metabolism or kick-start the mind, others cite its addictive nature or the way it can mess with the nervous system. At GPA Wholefoods, we take the middle ground. While we count coffee among our collection of organic whole foods, we’re also all for providing decaffeinated or lower-caffeine alternatives.

One such alternative is the matcha powder Australia loves, crafted by our brand, Thankfully Nourished. Many people report feeling better after swapping their morning coffee for matcha. This green goodness is a healthy alternative that provides much-needed mental stimulation minus the drawbacks — and withdrawals. So, is the matcha greener on the other side? Try trading your daily coffee for this less intense alternative and see if you notice the following benefits.

1. Energy Regulation

It’s no secret that coffee contains more caffeine than matcha powder. Although caffeine levels will vary depending on drink size and preparation, your average cup of coffee will have 95mg of caffeine — far more than the average 35mg in a mug of matcha. If you’re a caffeine junkie, this may sound like bad news — but hear us out.

We consider ‘watering your garden with a bucket versus a watering can’ a handy metaphor for the ‘coffee versus matcha’ debate. Buckets are usually much larger than watering cans, but you’ll have to pour most of the water in one go. This represents how caffeine in coffee works; no matter how much caffeine you stuff into your coffee, your body will release the entire supply within one to three hours. You might experience this as an adrenaline rush followed by a crash. On the other hand, a watering can releases a steady stream, allowing a smaller amount of water to cover a greater area. This represents the sustained caffeine release you get from matcha. The nutrients in matcha slow your body’s caffeine absorption, giving you around three to six hours of energy.

In a nutshell, it’s not the size that counts; it’s how you use it! Fuel your next work day with a cup of matcha and see if you feel a more sustained energy release.

2. A Calmer Disposition

You might think we’re being dramatic, but drinking coffee to wake up in the morning is like having someone suddenly shake you awake. It sets everything on high alert, increasing your cortisol and adrenaline levels, elevating your heart rate and might even give you the jitters. Drinking matcha to wake up instead feels like someone rousing you with a gentle nudge. L-theanine, the amino acid that slows caffeine absorption, is linked to reduced cortisol levels and the promotion of calming alpha waves in the brain. Stabilising blood sugar and easing off your overworked adrenal glands, matcha pushes your mind into that magic zone of serene alertness.

3. No Caffeine Crash

Because your body burns through the caffeine in coffee in one to three hours, it’s pretty typical to feel a caffeine ‘crash’ if you frequently fuel up with this energy fix. The more you top up this crash with coffee, the more you strengthen your reliance on coffee. Rather than papering over withdrawal symptoms — headaches, fatigue, decreased alertness or irritability — with yet another cuppa, why not switch to an alternative without the peaks and pitfalls? Try a matcha tea and enjoy a gentle pep-up. The matcha should sustain you for a good long while and gently taper off without leaving you feeling exhausted.

4. Increased Antioxidant Intake

If you’ve read this far without knowing what matcha powder is made from, here’s a potential surprise: matcha powder is ground-up green tea leaves! For this reason, it has a reputation as one of the best ways to consume green tea, as you’re consuming the entire leaf rather than simply an extraction from it. As many know, green tea leaves are full to the brim with antioxidants, catechins, flavonoids and polyphenols. But how can these helpful compounds benefit the body?

Catechins

Catechins (found in tea, berries, and cocoa) can help with blood pressure regulation, weight loss, and disease prevention.

Flavonoids

If you follow a plant-based diet or drink a lot of tea, you’ll be rich in flavonoids. These anti-inflammatory compounds can prevent cell oxidisation and some common diseases.

Polyphenols

Also found in plant-based foods and tea, polyphenols help with heart health, regulate blood sugar and blood pressure, encourage circulation, and reduce chronic blood vessel inflammation.

Experience the Difference Matcha Can Make

Not only does matcha provide a caffeine boost, minus the rollercoaster of crashes and withdrawal symptoms that come with coffee, but it’s also packed with antioxidants. With this green, more sustained source of energy, you’ll float through your day with a calm yet sharp mind — while boosting your health with some bonus, beneficial nutrients. If you’re not sold on drinking matcha, perhaps some of our dessert-inspired serving suggestions will do the trick. Shop our range of matcha powder today and ease into the transition away from coffee. Your body will thank you!