Sweet dreams are made of teas…who am I to disagree 🎶? 

Matcha tea (figuratively) beats away breast cancer, but not all matcha is Dr. V. approved (and some I 100% disagree with!) So power up your kettle because today we are going to sip into the world of my favorite tea!

Pour yourself a cup of the only matcha brand I drink, since it is tested for toxins and radioactivity. Let’s discuss how mighty matcha kicks out breast cancer, types to avoid, and the art of harvesting this miracle-working brew. And yes, of course, I shared a few healthy and creative ways to enjoy matcha tea at the end! 

However, before we get started, I want to note that matcha isn’t for everybody. If even a little caffeine makes you feel nervous or anxious or prevents you from a good night’s sleep, then please try decaffeinated matcha, or do not sip at all. The beauty of matcha is that it is balanced with L-theanine, which has a calming effect on your brain. It’s a perfect balance, so very few people feel the effects of caffeine. 

Matcha and Breast Cancer

Compared to its well-known friend, green tea, matcha gives you up to 137 times more EGCG! How’s that for effectiveness!? Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a unique plant compound called catechin. It is loaded with potent antioxidants that protect against free radicals causing cellular damage, giving it the name: “Tumor Terminator.” 

Here are a few studies showing why drinking matcha tea can help your body calm down breast cancer growth:

• Metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells: “The effects on human breast cancer cells were very striking; the active ingredients in Matcha having a surgical effect in knocking out certain signaling pathways. Our results are consistent with the idea that Matcha may have significant therapeutic potential, mediating the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells.”
• Prevents cancer cells from “refueling:” “We found that the tea is suppressing oxidative mitochondrial metabolism – in other words, it is preventing the cells from ‘refueling,’ and therefore, they become inactive and die.”

• 27% lower risk of breast cancer recurrence: Due to the EGCG, this study found that drinking 3+ cups of green tea a day is associated with a 27% lower risk of developing breast cancer. Imagine what drinking matcha (137x more potent health benefits) would do!

Matcha and General Health Benefits

No matter who you are, matcha tea will do wonders for your vibrant health journey. Here are just a few examples:

• Matcha and green tea are famous for enhancing weight loss as they help speed up your metabolism and boost fat burning
• Provides more antioxidants than even well-known blueberry and pomegranate superfoods
• Loaded with vitamins that help boost your immune system and keep you from getting sick
• Contains 5 times more L-Theanine compared to other green teas, an amino acid that creates alpha waves in the brain that induces relaxation and decrease stress levels
• The chlorophyll in it detoxifies heavy metals and toxic chemicals.
• May reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke

Not All Matcha Is Created Equally

I’ll be straightforward—some are brimming with sugars, dyes, and other processed toxins that never belong if your body! AND THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO READ LABELS!

If you want to skip the research and know you are getting the very best matcha, I offer Superfood Science’s Matcha Tea directly on my website! It is tested for purity and quality. 

For example, the always-popular Starbucks is not helping their matcha-lovers buyers because their Grande (medium) matcha lattes contain around 30grams of sugar! That is about 6 sugar cubes. Adults—at the very most—should have 25 grams of sugar a day according to the American Heart Association. For those on a healthy breast journey, your sugar intake should be as minimal as possible since sugar feeds cancer. Their matcha latte is also packed with 190 calories and 140 mg of sodium! YIKES! To which, Starbucks matcha receives 0 stars from me.

But it gets worse, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s 12-ounce matcha latte fills your body with a scary 41 grams of sugar! To put it in perspective, a full-size Snickers bar is only 20 grams of sugar!

Matcha Mistakes To Avoid

• Contaminated: Some cheap and untested matcha products contain lead. Make sure to only buy the highest quality from trusted brands.
• Diluted: Some companies try and save money by adding fillers to their matcha. I have seen everything from sugar to rice powder and the worst filler: Maltodextrin, a GMO type of corn by-product that can be used as an artificial sweetener. Only buy 100% organic matcha products!
• Non-Certified & Untested: A lack of certification can mean the matcha contains pesticides and may have been exposed to radiation from the Fukushoima’s radio-active leaks.  Unfortunately and sadly, radioactive hotspots continue to be found in various parts of the country. 
• Chinese Matcha: Avoid the majority of Chinese blends because they have very low standards of regulations on products. Japan has far stricter regulations than the US and EU, so go for Japanese products.

How Matcha Is Harvested

Typically only in May, the very best matcha is harvested by hand. About 6 weeks before the harvest, the tea fields are covered from the top. Traditionally this was done with straw, but nowadays black vinyl sheets are typically used. The strategy behind the veil is to gradually decrease the amount of sunlight and hence create photosynthesis by covering up more of the light allowed to shine on the plants.

By the time harvest rolls around, the highest grade matcha is grown in near-darkness. This causes the tea leaves to produce more chlorophyll and amino acids in their delicate buds. Once picked, the leaves start their drying process in large cages equipped with heated blowers. Next is the immensely time-consuming and rigorous task of destemming and deveining happens. Once it is ready, it will be ground into a fine powder using large granite wheels that rotate very slowly. Of course, depending on your product, this process can take on many different shapes and formats. 

How To Enjoy Matcha For Stopping Breast Cancer Cells

It’s time to get creative! Matcha doesn’t have to be consumed as a hot tea. If you have a favorite style, please share it in the comments below!

1. Matcha up your smoothie: You know I love a good superfood smoothie! Adding a scoop of my ceremonial-grade matcha to your morning smoothie is a perfect way to get the benefits of matcha if you don’t desire the taste. 
2. Matcha Mojito Mocktail: Muddled mint and lime, water, lime juice, ice, a pinch of stevia, and a packet of matcha will definitely send you straight to vacation mode! 
3. Matcha almond, cashew, or pumpkin seed milk: Options are limitless here! Add in a packet of matcha with your favorite non-dairy milk and enjoy iced or steamed. 

 

Don’t be fooled by matcha-flavored cakes, mochi, ice cream, and sweet desserts. They are not giving you any of the health benefits of my daily organic, certified matcha tea.

So matcha love for this qual-tea 😉! Sip, sip, hooray to vibrant health and a healthy breast journey! You got this—my team and I and my Breast Cancer Conqueror coaches are here to support you and guide you along the way.