Maca vs Matcha
Disclaimer: This content has been produced purely for informational and educational purposes only and is never intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical guidelines including diagnosis, advice, and treatment.
Maca and Matcha sound extremely similar but they originated from different plants, matcha is a highly valued green tea, whereas maca is a root from the South American Andes. Both provide advantages that you would like to include in your superfood blend.
Both are rich in antioxidants, boost energy levels, and lower the risk of chronic diseases. The article details Maca and Matcha, their potential benefits, and the differences between these two ingredients.
What is Maca?
Maca is obtained from a herbaceous plant biologically known as Lepidium meyenii and is available in a variety of colors. The root vegetable whose tubers are used to make maca, commonly referred to as "Peruvian ginseng," grows in central Peru. When consumed raw, maca has an almond-like taste and is a lighter shade of sand than matcha powder, which is brightly colored green.
Nutritional Benefits
Maca is a good source of micronutrients and macronutrients including vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. Amino acids, fatty acids, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin C are found in Maca and help to boost immunity and hormonal function in the body.
Health Benefits
Improve Energy and Endurance
Maca root is used as a supplement by certain sportsmen and bodybuilders to boost energy and performance. There is some evidence in favor of this. According to a study, the consumption of maca root extract for 14 days resulted in improved cyclists’ physical performance.
However, the same study discovered that maca extract increased libido in its users.
Boost Reproductive Health
Studies revealed that consumption of concentrated maca root supplements results in improving libido or sexual desire. According to a study, individuals who used maca root supplements for 6 weeks observed a significant improvement in libido.
Moreover, some pieces of evidence showed that maca root also has the potential to improve sperm count and motility in men which may improve fertility.
Maca root can improve menopausal symptoms occurring due to a decline in estrogen levels. Symptoms may include irritability, hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and sleep problems.
A review study showed that there is some evidence using maca supplements will reduce the symptoms of menopause.
Prevent Prostate Enlargement
Some laboratories and animal studies showed that maca root supplements may decrease inflammatory proteins and prevent benign prostate hyperplasia.
May Improve Skin Health
Maca is shown to boost wound healing and protect the skin from the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
How to Use?
Maca is extremely easy to add to the diet and can be used in smoothies. You can also use it raw to replace flour. In contrast to matcha, maca may be used to produce a ketogenic latte by combining it with coconut oil, cacao powder, and coffee.
What is Matcha Powder?
Matcha is a potent green tea that originated in Japan and is prepared from finely powdered green tea leaves. It has been a part of Chinese rituals since the Tang Dynasty. Compared to ordinary steeped green tea, matcha has a considerably greater concentration of antioxidants because of the way it is produced.
Nutritional Benefits
Matcha is an excellent source of antioxidants and is associated with a multitude of health benefits.
Rich in Antioxidants
Matcha powder is a powerhouse of antioxidants and possesses 20 percent more antioxidants than regular green tea.
Caffeine Level
It is studied that the caffeine level of Matcha is three times less than that of a cup of coffee. Matcha is a good choice for people who aim to limit their caffeine consumption but want to improve their energy levels.
Improve Alertness
The caffeine present in matcha powder helps improve concentration and mental alertness. Moreover, it contains L-theanine, an amino acid that helps relieve stress and improve your focus.
Health Benefits
Improve Brain Function
Matcha is rich in antioxidants that protect against aging and improve brain health. An amino acid L-theanine present in matcha powder help to reduce stress and improve concentration and alertness. In one experiment, 23 participants' performance to analyze brain function was examined.
While the control group drank placebo tea or bars, some individuals ingested matcha tea or a bar with 4 grams of matcha. Compared to the placebo, the researchers discovered that matcha improved focus, response time, and memory.
Promote Cardiovascular Health
Studies showed that green tea is rich in antioxidants and is known to reduce cholesterol levels. It also has the potential to regulate blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Help in Weight Loss
Green tea is best known for its ability to reduce weight. It works by accelerating the metabolism to raise energy expenditure and enhance fat burning. A study showed that taking green tea extract in healthy individuals resulted in accelerating bat burning by 17%.
According to another study, consumption of matcha supplements resulted in significant improvement in 24-hour energy expenditure compared to placebo.
Prevent Cancer
Matcha is packed with bioactive compounds which help prevent the development and growth of cancer. In a study, the administration of green tea extract resulted in a reduction of the growth and size of tumor cells in rats.
How to Use it?
There are numerous ways to add matcha powder to your diet. You can use matcha powder in capsule form, make tea and add it to smoothies.
Similarities Between Maca and Matcha
Both these supplements are rich in antioxidants and have been used to uplift mood and boost energy levels. They both can help to encourage general health and well-being.
Differences Between Maca and Matcha
Matcha powder is obtained from tea leaves while maca is a root of a plant that can fight free radicals, manage blood sugar levels, and prevent cancer. Moreover, Maca can regulate hormone levels and improve hormone functions.
They may also differ in color, appearance, and flavor, matcha powder obtained from green tea leaves is vibrant green in color. Maca powder is yellow, red, and black with an earthy flavor.
Matcha contains low levels of caffeine while maca does not contain caffeine.
Bottom Line
Maca root and matcha powder are high in antioxidants and boost energy levels in the body. Both these supplements help improve general health and well-being. However, they may vary in caffeine levels, color, flavor, and appearance.
Here you can check out Vorst's Maca 500mg 90 Vegan Tablets and Matcha+ Organic Spirulina & Chlorella Powder 600G Unsweetened.
References
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31989657/
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