FOOD OF THE GODS: Matcha - Exploring the astounding health benefits of the Zen Brew.

in #health • 8 years ago (edited)

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Food of the Gods: Matcha

From the beginning of the human story we have been using plants of all kinds for not only their physical benefits but the way they alter our consciousness. All religions, societies, spiritual practices, cultures and civilizations have been in a symbiotic relationship with plants. We plant, cultivate and spread their genetics, and in return the offer us altered states of consciousness of many forms. These altered states of consciousness have been the great tool of all great minds to help travel to the other side in attempts to bring something back. They allow us to utilize our brains in a way that normal waking states of consciousness cannot.


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(Ancient Egyptian depiction of the Blue water Lily)

In this series ‘Food of the Gods’, (inspired by the book penned by the late and great Terence Mckenna - LONG LIVE THE KING OF THE TECHNO-PAGANS) I will be exploring various plants, entheogens, psychedelics, and vegetable friends that our species owes a great deal to.


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Despite the modern view of the blanket term “drugs” chemicals have a great potential for mental, spiritual, physical growth and well being. Despite all of the modern medical advancements we are the most sick our species has ever been. We patch up symptoms on the wounds and medicate the mind with chemicals we don't fully understand.

In this first edition of Food of the Gods I will explore the amazing physical and mental benefits of Matcha.

Matcha


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While it may seem naive to embroider Matcha green tea with the title of a Food of the Gods, being that most people would think of Psilocybin mushrooms, San-pedro, Ayahuasca, LSD and various other Entheogens/psychedelics as the primary recipients of this grandiose title, I think I can open your minds to this wonderful “Elixer of the Immortals” - (Eisai - 1191 A.D.)

My interest in Matcha started a few years ago. I have been an avid fan of standard green tea for sometime and have enjoyed its effects on my mind and body. Green tea alone has helped me cultivate healthier, clearer skin, it has helped me wean off of coffee multiple times and has had a huge impact on my mental well being. I often use it in conjunction with my on and off meditation practice and they seemed to be the perfect match. Until I discovered Matcha.

Let me be clear that Matcha is green tea, but it is the whole leaf. It is shade grown and it is harvested early on in the growth cycle. Unlike the steeping process of green tea, Matcha is prepared by powderizing the whole tea leaf and dissolved into a liquid.

The moment I drank real Matcha for the first time I knew I had discovered something on a whole new level. It made me immediately present, calm and mentally poised, eradicating the mental distractions of the ‘Monkey Mind’. I knew it was a powerful medicine the moment the first effects washed through me.

I have been consuming Matcha for a few years now and recently have realized that it is going to be a regular part of my daily health habits. So in a sign of gratitude towards this wonderful brew I would like to spread the word and hopefully inspire some of you to try out this wonderful drink. I know it will only be a beneficial plant in your life.

The Nitty-Gritty science behind Matcha

To reiterate, Matcha is green tea. But the difference is that Matcha if the WHOLE leaf. Not just the compounds that are extracted when you steep the leafs in hot water. Rather Matcha is the entire leaf crushed into a very fine powder that can easily be dissolved into almost any liquid.

One of the best qualities of Matcha is the alertness of coffee without the “jitters”. Not only is Matcha High in fiber but it offers all of the essential nutrients for well balanced health. It is considered an Adaptogen, balancing out multiple of the bodies systems and represing Cortisol (the stress hormone). All in all Matcha may be the healthiest beverage one can consume. It is well known that one cup of matcha tea has the nutritional value of 10 cups of regular green tea, with literally 137 times the antioxidants contained in a regular cup of green tea.

It has a number of antioxidants including the very powerful EGCG(epigallocatechin gallate)


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EGCg is part of a group of plant phenols known as tannins. EGCG is believed to be highly bioactive allowing it to be absorbed and implemented by the body much more efficiently than other organic compounds. EGCG is a powerful agent against fighting oxidation to minimize the oxidative damage that happens in cells.

“The process of oxidation happens as our bodies metabolize (or process) the oxygen that we breathe and in turn our cells produce energy from it. This process also produces free radicals –which interact with the molecules within our cells resulting in damage (or stress) to nearby cells, mitochondria, and DNA (our genes).” - doctordoni.com

Oxidation is believed to be one of the main contributing factors to cancer and the effects of aging. Research on EGCG has been shown to protect against certain kinds of cancer. Protect and treat certain types of Neurodegenerative diseases, and work wonders for weight loss, balancing the bodies hormones, it's systems and improving daily quality of life.

Green tea has always been treated with reverence and used almost like a sacrament in many ceremonies all throughout Asia. The reason for this is it’s cognitive enhancing properties. Due to the presence of Caffeine and the amino acid L-theanine the symbiosis of the two creates an undeniable sense of calm alertness. Matcha’s mind enhancing properties come not only from caffeine (in Matchas case, Theophylline) and L-theanine but also from EGCG itself.

A 2016 study in neuroscience has shown that EGCG can protect newly formed neurons. It even shows promising benefits for individuals with down syndrome.

As I said above Matcha aids in mood and concentration, which is great in my experience for meditation and concentration.

Matcha tea helps the body with metabolism. It helps the body rid itself of toxins. And is much higher than other teas in Chlorophyll, which is what gives it, its distinctive green color.


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Matcha is rich in Magnesium, Selenium, vitamin c, Zinc and Chromium. All vital nutrients for the carbon based life form we are.

When compared with other antioxidant superfoods, it is light years ahead. With an ORAC score (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) of 1573, topping goji Berries (253), acai (60) and broccoli (31). It literally beats out everything in this category.

The powerful antioxidant properties of Matcha are crucial for preventing disease and helping the signs of aging. Who doesnt want that!?

Matcha has a particular form of Caffeine in it called ‘Theophylline’. Theophylline is only found in teas and it is believed that this form of caffeine in conjunction with L-theanine aids in the ‘non-jittery’ stimulant effect of green teas. Theophylline releases and is metabolized slowly in the body (8-10hrs) helping the body absorb the compound slower and more effectively. Not rushing to find another cup of joe every few hours to stay awake sounds like a far better alternative.

Matcha is a far superior way of receiving the nutrition of green tea because you are ingesting the whole leaf. When you prepare Matcha the proper way you are using a powder. You are not steeping the leaves and then consuming what the hot water was able to extract from the leaves. You are eating all of it after you have dissolved it in water, receiving all of the fiber and nutrients that are all to often thrown away with the tea bag.


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Matcha is a great tool for metabolism, especially if your are trying to lose weight. Some research has suggested that Matcha can speed up the fat burning process in the body up to 4 times than your body normally would.

Zen and the history of Matcha


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Matcha tea has its origins in Japan. Most teas including Matcha come from the plant “Camellia Sinensis”, which is a shrub originating in southern China.

The direct translation of Match means powdered green tea (“Cha - Tea, “Ma” - Powder).

Matcha and the modern world owe a great deal to Zen Buddhism for bringing this wonderful elixir into our world. As the story goes Matcha was brought to Japan from China by a Zen monk by the name of Eisai in 1191 A.D. Eisai was the man who actually introduced The Zen philosophy to Japan. He is also credited as being the first person to powderize the tea leaf and consume it in this manner. It would seem like this man was quite the innovator and proselytizer of physical and mental well being. Thank you kind sir! Eisai is quoted as saying that Matcha was the "elixir of the immortals'. And from my research and personal experience, I may just be convinced that he was right.


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From then on Zen and the consumption of Matcha became synonymous. In the Zen tradition Matcha is consumed in the Tea Ceremony. The intention of practicing Zen Buddhism and consumption of Matcha is to bring someone into the ‘here and now’ the present moment. A match made in heaven! Matcha will help promote a state of mind that leads to awareness, a calm disposition, and an astounding alertness. That mixed with a practice of strict meditation can only be one of the most powerful relationships for developing a healthy mind.

Preparation

In harmony with the Zen philosophy Matcha is extremely easy to prepare.

  • Place one teaspoon of Matcha powder into a bowl or cup
  • Add hot water (not boiling) to the power. And Voila you have yourself the healthiest beverage on the planet.
  • Set your intention, share some gratitude, and enjoy.

As I begin this journey of researching and sharing with you guys the plants that I admire and owe a great deal to I am happy to begin with Matcha. It may seem silly to adorn Matcha with the title of “Food of the Gods”. But once you have tried it and have experienced the effect first hand you will agree with me. I feel that anyone interested in mind altering substances but who is trepidatious about what is put into your body and potentially risking partaking in illegal activities, will find that Matcha is a safe bed. It has a long history with the human species, is safe, well researched, and last and in my opinion least important, LEGAL.

So go to your nearest health food store and buy some MATCHA. But remember to buy power not tea bags.

Cheers and safe experimentation to all my psychonauts, experimenters, meditators, yogis, alchemists, love and health enthusiasts, botanists, and Gaian worshipers.

Love,

Arqetype

Sources
http://matchasource.com/health-benefits-of-matcha-tea/
https://www.zenmatchatea.com/
wikipedia.org
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/egcg-green-tea-8453.html

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8 years ago in #health by
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    • [-]
     8 years ago 

    I strive not to be a man of success, but rather to be a man of value.

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    [-]
     8 years ago 

    That was an interesting read thanks, I've never even heard of matcha before :D I live in China so I drink a lot of green tea! I like to start the day with a glass of warm water with half a lemon squeezed in though :D

    [-]
     8 years ago 

    Ah yes! Lemon water is the way to go 1st thing in the morning!

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      [-]
       8 years ago 

      Try it with truly distilled water...the flavors come more alive than ever...and no obstruction with non-photonized minerals that allow a greater download of nutritional goodness of the tea.
      Great article...the zen aspect was really amazing.

      [-]
       8 years ago 

      That's some great advice @the.human.union I absolutely will start using distilled water now. I'm always looking for advice like that. Much appreciated. I'm glad you liked the article. I put a lot of work into it. And. Glad someone enjoyed it. Thanks for reading and leaving a thoughtful comment!!!

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        [-]
         8 years ago 

        Yes, your inspiring post brings informational goodness to Steemit.
        Yes research the quality of distilled water... lots of disinfo abou this very simple way to keep yourself cleansed and so many other benefits. I bought a gallon distiller 3 years ago...
        Miraculous. ..and with my Matcha...with hot but not boiling as you say...wow...

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          [-]
           8 years ago 

          I think if people started off with real clean water as the basis of their health habits they would be surprised by how even that will truly make them feel better. Clean air, and clean water are my absolute no exceptions.

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            [-]
             8 years ago 

            great upload ty

            [-]
             8 years ago 

            Absolutely @kabrony I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment. A lot more great content on it's way.

            [-]
             8 years ago 

            I'm a big fan of green tea and I drink it every morning. I never heard about Matcha. I definitely need to try this. Thank you for this :)

            [-]
             8 years ago 

            If you are a fan of Green tea, then you are going to absolutely fall in love with Matcha. It's far better. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!

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              [-]
               8 years ago 

              You got a 0.80% upvote from @postpromoter courtesy of @arqetype!

              Want to promote your posts too? Check out the Steem Bot Tracker website for more info. If you would like to support the development of @postpromoter and the bot tracker please vote for @yabapmatt for witness!

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                 8 years ago 

                Thank you so much for using our service!

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                You just received 27.42% upvote from @onlyprofitbot courtesy of @arqetype!

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                  [-]
                   8 years ago 

                  matcha is vegan crack 🔥🙌

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