Does Matcha Help With Bloating?
Weâve all had mornings where we suddenly woke up feeling a few pounds heavier than normal. Weâre happy to tell you that no, you didnât actually gain a few pounds overnight â instead, what youâre experiencing is probably some ordinary, run-of-the-mill bloating.
Bloat happens to everyone, but that doesnât mean itâs 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 donât work to remove the trigger that caused your bloating to begin with, itâll likely keep coming back.Â
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, which may lead to bloating and constipation.Â
Right before a womanâs period, progesterone and estrogen both drop significantly. This can also cause bloating as the digestive system suddenly goes into fifth gear.Â
You might think that all of this bloating will end if you get pregnant or go into menopause. Well, weâre sorry to disappoint, but thatâs 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 â just ask anyone with lactose intolerance whoâs risked it all for a scoop of ice cream. Even if you experience bloating but donât notice stomach discomfort after eating certain foods, thereâs 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 youâre 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, thatâs because itâs generally true. We arenât talking about acute stress, such as nervousness before a public speaking engagement or anxiety about Thanksgiving with the in-laws.Â
Instead, weâre 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 isnât inherently a bad thing â however, when youâve 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 weâve learned what can cause bloating, letâs get to the question weâre all here for: Can matcha actually help with bloating? The answer is a resounding âyes!â
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, an amino acid that can support feelings of relaxation 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. 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 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 and reproductive hormones, which may help with stress or hormone-related bloating.
How To Enjoy Matcha for Bloating
If youâve looked at the facts and want to get started right away, weâre way ahead of you. The great news is that matcha isnât just helpful for bloating â itâs 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.Â
We use only the highest grade of matcha in our Mushroom Matcha+ blend. Plus, drinking it plain is as easy as pie â simply add a tablespoon of our blend to a cup of hot water and whisk it up until itâs combined.Â
Matcha Smoothies
If you prefer to experience matcha with a little more subtlety, then you might enjoy a matcha smoothie. 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, the basic steps involve mixing some concentrated matcha with steamed or frothed milk.Â
The Bottom Line
Matcha is everyoneâs favorite green drink, and as it turns out, this green tea powder has a few benefits up its sleeve. Among these many benefits is matchaâs ability to help minimize bloating by supporting balanced hormones, relaxation, and a healthy gut microbiome.
As if that wasnât enough, our Mushroom Matcha+ also harnesses the power of lionâs mane and chaga mushrooms to add even more antioxidants and gut support. Weâve seen what matcha and mushrooms can do together â now itâs time for you to give it a try by checking out our Matcha Starter Kit. Pinkies up!
Sources:
Bloated Stomach: Causes, Tips to Reduce & When to be Concerned | Cleveland Clinic
Food intolerance | Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)
How Stress Affects Your Digestive System | Jamaica Hospital
Matcha Green Tea Drinks Enhance Fat Oxidation During Brisk Walking in Females | PubMed
Green tea consumption and the management of adrenal stress hormones in adolescents who stutter | PMC
