Matcha: The Best Green Tea for Intermittent Fasting

Whether you have just started intermittent fasting or are a seasoned pro, matcha is a wonderful drink to add to your morning routine to sustain your intermittent fasting and increase its effectiveness.

What Is Matcha Green Tea?

Matcha is a variant of green tea that comes in the form of green powder. Matcha powder has high levels of antioxidants and metabolism, optimising amino acids. It is a reputed weight loss ally that helps burn fat and maintain energy levels.

How Does Matcha Aid Intermittent Fasting?

Here are a few ways matcha green tea can assist your intermittent fast:

1.   Weight Loss

Intermittent fasting can help you reach your weight loss goals by restricting the overall number of calories you consume in a single day. To further aid the fat burning process, include matcha green tea in your diet as matcha contains catechins that can slightly increase your metabolism, enabling you to burn a few more calories. Not to mention that it takes away the feeling of hunger when staying without food for hours.

2.   Decrease Risk of Disease

Many people use intermittent fasting as a way of preventing disease and reducing oxidating stress. Another great benefit of matcha is its ability to provide your body with antioxidants to remove free radicals, reduce cell damage and decrease the risk of diseases, cancer, and heart problems. Although all green tea contains antioxidants, matcha contains more than 130 times the antioxidants from regular green tea.

3.   Stress Relief

Matcha contains an amino acid called L-theanine, which helps calm your mind and lower stress by decreasing the stress hormone cortisol.

4.   Energy Boost

Matcha contains small amounts of caffeine, so it can be a great way to increase your focus and boost your energy without overdoing it with the high levels of caffeine found in coffee.

5.   Stabilise Blood Sugar

Matcha is most notable for its vivid green colour, which comes from chlorophyll. The chlorophyll can also help to stabilise blood sugar. Without stable blood sugar levels, your body may experience sugar crashes, which can lead to cravings for sugary foods, which may cause you to break your fast and lead to impulsive snacking.

Will Matcha Break An Intermittent Fast?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: The calories in a matcha green tea with a drop of milk won’t be enough to break your fast. However, when consumed with other substances, such as collagen powder or stevia, it might not be as effective for your intermittent fast as drinking matcha alone. So if you’re looking to reap the benefits of matcha while maintaining your fast, we recommend consuming it plain without additions.

Can You Drink Matcha On An Empty Stomach?

Of course! Instead of leaving your stomach empty or filling it with food, take a sip of matcha green tea first thing in the morning. Drinking matcha in the morning provides you with a caffeine boost that helps you stay alert and kick off your day with energy. Therefore, making matcha the best green tea for intermittent fasting.

Can I Drink Matcha Every Day?

Matcha can be enjoyed every day as part of a healthy diet. Although generally safe to implement for many people, always remember to approach new changes with caution. Matcha powder contains decent amounts of caffeine, which may cause headaches or irritability when consumed in huge quantities. Make sure to establish a healthy balance and introduce matcha into your daily routine gradually.

How To Enjoy Matcha Green Tea In The Morning?

Luckily, matcha green tea is super easy to make at home, even if you tend to be a little dozy in the morning. Matcha powder dissolves in hot water, and you can use a fork or, even better, a bamboo whisk to mix gently. We recommend ½ tsp matcha powder per cup. However, you could slightly increase the quantity of powder used for a thicker matcha drink. Then, if you wish, you can add hot milk (pr plant-based alternative) and kick off your morning with a taste of relaxation and peacefulness.

Expand Your Matcha Habits

Although we love matcha green tea lattes, you can also incorporate matcha powder into your daily diet in delicious recipes. Our favourite easy and healthy ones include matcha pancakes and vegan energy balls with matcha and lemon.