Does Matcha Help With Bloating?
We’ve all had mornings where we suddenly woke up feeling a few pounds heavier than normal. We’re happy to tell you that no, you didn’t actually gain a few pounds overnight — instead, what you’re experiencing is probably some ordinary, run-of-the-mill bloating.
Bloat happens to everyone, but that doesn’t mean it’s normal or that you have to simply put up with it until it goes away. One surprising (but super satisfying) way you can kick bloating to the curb is by drinking matcha green tea. Read on to learn more about what causes bloat, how matcha can help, and how you can try it out for yourself.
What Causes Bloating?
Before we get into how matcha can help bloating, we need to talk about what causes bloating in the first place. You can drink all the matcha in the world, but if you don’t work to remove the trigger that caused your bloating to begin with, it’ll likely keep coming back.
Hormones
One of the main causes of bloating in women is hormonal shifts. For instance, during the second half of the menstrual cycle, progesterone levels tend to rise as estrogen falls. Progesterone slows down digestion, opens in a new tab, which may lead to bloating and constipation.
Right before a woman’s period, progesterone and estrogen both drop significantly. This can also cause bloating as the digestive system suddenly goes into fifth gear.
You might think that all of this bloating will end if you get pregnant or go into menopause. Well, we’re sorry to disappoint, but that’s not quite the case. Progesterone skyrockets during pregnancy, causing extended bloating, while perimenopause can cause massive hormonal fluctuations that contribute to bloating in their own special ways.
Diet
Eating foods that disagree with you can cause bloating and indigestion, opens in a new tab — just ask anyone with lactose intolerance who’s risked it all for a scoop of ice cream. Even if you experience bloating but don’t notice stomach discomfort after eating certain foods, there’s still a good chance you may be intolerant or sensitive to those foods.
Additionally, eating a diet high in salt can cause fluid retention, which can lead to bloating. Being chronically dehydrated can also lead to fluid retention. So, make sure you drink plenty of water, especially when you’re also consuming potentially dehydrating substances like coffee and alcohol.
Stress
If it seems like most of the major health problems you read about can be traced back to stress, that’s because it’s generally true. We aren’t talking about acute stress, such as nervousness before a public speaking engagement or anxiety about Thanksgiving with the in-laws.
Instead, we’re talking about chronic stress. You know, the kind that just runs in the background throughout your day-to-day life. Chronic stress can come with big life changes, illnesses, toxic work environments, or relationship problems.
All stress releases cortisol, a hormone that can affect digestion. This isn’t inherently a bad thing — however, when you’ve been stressed out for weeks, months, or even years, this can obviously cause quite a bit of bloating. Chronic stress can also cause imbalances in your gut microbiome, which can also lead to bloating.
How Can Matcha Help With Bloating?
So, now that we’ve learned what can cause bloating, let’s get to the question we’re all here for: Can matcha actually help with bloating? The answer is a resounding “yes!”
There are a few ways matcha can work to help minimize bloating. These include the following:
- Eases Feelings of Stress: Matcha contains high levels of L-theanine, opens in a new tab, an amino acid that can support feelings of relaxation, opens in a new tab and balanced mental health.
- Minimizes Fluid Retention: Matcha has a higher amount of concentrated polyphenols than regular green tea, which can help our bodies flush out excess water.
- Helps Burn Fat: Studies suggest that matcha can encourage fat oxidation, opens in a new tab. This may not be directly related to bloat but can be helpful if you actually did gain a few pounds over the past couple of weeks.
- Supports a Balanced Microbiome: Matcha contains fiber, which can encourage a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria, opens in a new tab in the gut.
- Provides Antioxidants: Many times, the internal irritation that can cause bloating is related to free radical damage. Matcha contains powerful antioxidants like epigallocatechin gallate, which can help minimize this damage.
- Encourages Hormonal Balance: Drinking matcha every day can help encourage healthy levels of cortisol, opens in a new tab and reproductive hormones, which may help with stress or hormone-related bloating.
How To Enjoy Matcha for Bloating
If you’ve looked at the facts and want to get started right away, we’re way ahead of you. The great news is that matcha isn’t just helpful for bloating — it’s also incredibly delicious and super versatile. Here are just a few ways you can enjoy the benefits of matcha.
Traditional Matcha
This is one of our favorite ways to drink matcha. When you get the good stuff (the highest quality of matcha is ceremonial matcha), the flavor is sweet and complex enough that you can enjoy it all on its own.
We use only the highest grade of matcha in our Mushroom Matcha+ blend. Plus, drinking it plain is as easy as pie — simply add a tablespoon of our blend to a cup of hot water and whisk it up until it’s combined.
Matcha Smoothies
If you prefer to experience matcha with a little more subtlety, then you might enjoy a matcha smoothie, opens in a new tab. There are tons of recipes out there that can help you combine the beloved umami flavor of matcha with your favorite fruits and vegetables for an unparalleled smoothie rich in health benefits.
Matcha Lattes
Finally, we have the classic matcha latte. Although there are so many ways you can customize this matcha latte recipe, opens in a new tab, the basic steps involve mixing some concentrated matcha with steamed or frothed milk.
The Bottom Line
Matcha is everyone’s favorite green drink, and as it turns out, this green tea powder has a few benefits up its sleeve. Among these many benefits is matcha’s ability to help minimize bloating by supporting balanced hormones, relaxation, and a healthy gut microbiome.
As if that wasn’t enough, our Mushroom Matcha+ also harnesses the power of lion’s mane and chaga mushrooms to add even more antioxidants and gut support. We’ve seen what matcha and mushrooms, opens in a new tab can do together — now it’s time for you to give it a try by checking out our Matcha Starter Kit. Pinkies up!
Sources:
How Stress Affects Your Digestive System | Jamaica Hospital, opens in a new tab
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