For those who are attached to their coffee, we understand. However, coffee has some downsides. Coffee is very acidic and can give temporary energy with a bad crash, getting us on a bad cycle of yo-yo energy.
For those looking for a healthier alternative, matcha green tea has the caffeine with benefits. Matcha tea is a green tea made by grinding the entire leaf into powder, which is mixed with water and drank whole. While the caffeine gives a stimulating effect, it is balanced with the calming amino acid L-theanine, found in the leaves. L-theanine increases the brain neurotransmitter called GABA, which has a tranquilizing effect. Matcha green tea as a result has a more balancing uplifting effect compared to coffee.
Green tea is also considered to be more alkaline compared to coffee which is acidic. Acidity is often associated with sore joints, fatigue, as well as mineral depletion and inflammation.
Matcha has other benefits such as being high in antioxidants and in catechins, specifically EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate). EGCG has been widely studied and shown to be an antitumor and antiangiogenic agent. It helps induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) and stops cancer cell growth. EGCG inhibits tumor incidence in the liver, stomach, skin, lung, breast and colon. Matcha green tea has much higher quantities of EGCG than green tea so choose matcha when possible. Coffee might have found its match in matcha.