Summer is approaching fast here in our little corner of North East Oregon where Sei Mee Tea is based out of. As the sun begins to fill our days with warmth and the snow begins to melt off of our beautiful mountain peaks we love to reach for our iced Matcha tea products for a cool, refreshing nutrient packed afternoon drink!
Matcha Lemon is one of our favorites to drink as an iced beverage, as it has cooling, light, and moist qualities. In addition, the vitamin C found in lemon increase the antioxidant (Catechins) activity green tea is so well known for.
Latin Name: Citrus Limonum
Family: Rutaceae
Main Constituents known for health benefits:
•Vitamin C / citric acid
•Flavanoids
•Pectin fiber
Several studies highlighted lemon as an important health-promoting fruit rich in phenolic compounds as well as vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, essential oils, and carotenoids
The taste of sour (Earth + Fire) has contributions, functions, qualities of it’s own. Sour is commonly found in citrus fruits (lemons, limes), sour milk products (yogurt, cheese, sour cream) and fermented foods. Sour taste stimulates digestions, stimulates circulation and elimination, energizes body, strengthens the heart, relieves thirst, maintains acidity, sharpens senses, helps extract minerals from food such as iron, nourishes vital tissues and helps stimulate digestive fire.
Top 3 reasons we love Matcha Lemon
1. Cardiovascular Health:
When it comes to our cardiovascular health reducing oxidative stress is a key component. But what exactly does that mean… reducing oxidative stress?
Oxidative stress is defined as:
“An imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants causing tissue damage.”
Excess Oxidative stress can create damage or injury to the tissues, which is why it is so important that we support the tissue health because we are all prone or vulnerable to this damage especially as we age.
So how does Matcha Lemon help us reduce the oxidative stress? For those of you who are already matcha lovers you may know that the antioxidants (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) found in green tea are credited for many of its healing benefits. For more Green Tea Health Benefits click Here.
When combined green tea and lemon, which is packed with flavonoids (more powerful antioxidants) creates quite the power duo to deal with the oxidative stress.
There is much research and studies out there today that provide information on how exactly citrus flavonoids fight free radicals, and protect against diabetes, cancer and other chronic disease. Believe it or not, that sour taste of lemon is known in Ayurveda to benefit circulation, stimulation and strengthening the heart.
If you want to dive deeper into the ins and outs of lemons powerful antioxidants check out the resources listed at the end of the blog.
Matcha + Lemon = Higher Antioxidant Power
2. Protects against anemia:
Another powerful benefit of lemon is that it helps extract minerals such as iron from our food.
Vitamin C and Citric acid, which contribute to the sour taste of lemon are responsible for protection against anemia due to its ability to make plant sourced iron more available to us. We absorb animal sourced iron also known as heme-iron well, but plant sourced iron or non-heme iron is not as bio-available (readily absorbed) to us. This is where lemon comes into play! The high contents of vitamin C and citric acid when combined with non-heme iron helps our bodies absorb this much needed mineral!
3. Aids in healthy digestion:
Did you know that our digestive process actually begins with our sight, taste and smell?! And lemons are a great example of this. The taste of sour is often used in detoxifying teas and other tea formulas for increasing appetite and improving digestive fire.
Lemon is known for its irresistible, yet sour scent and taste which stimulates our tissues of digestion and kick starts the process:
“Lemon has an irresistible scent which waters the mouth and thus aid primary digestion (the digestive saliva floods your mouth even before you taste it). Then the acids in it do the rest. While they break down of the macromolecules of the food, the Flavonoids, the compounds found in the fragrant oils extracted from lime, stimulate the digestive system and increase secretion of digestive juices, bile and acids and also stimulate the peristaltic motion. This is the reason behind having lemon pickle with lunch and dinner is an age old practice in India and some of its neighboring countries.”
Once ingested the acidity of lemons helps breaks down proteins, unwinding them in a way that makes them more easily to digest. In addition, the carminative quality of lemon helps prevent or relieve flatulence.
*Precautions:
*If you are severely anemic, please consult with your primary care physician in regards to regular use of green tea products. Plants like green tea and spinach, have inherent compounds that can inhibit iron absorption. To limit or avoid the binding of iron, drink 1-2 hours before or after meals.
*If you are prone to heartburn, ulcers, rashes, and any burning sensations in the throat, chest, heart or bladder, use Matcha Lemon in moderation.
How to make Matcha Lemon Tea
To make a warm cup of Matcha Lemon Tea:
Put 1/2 tsp. powder per 8 oz water in a cup, add water, mix well and enjoy!
To enjoy Matcha Lemon Tea cold:
Put 1/2 tsp. powder per 8 oz water in a chilled water bottle. Shake the bottle to mix water and powder well. (Don’t forget to put a top on the bottle!) Enjoy as is–it makes a nutritious grab-and-go drink. Or, pour it over ice in your favorite glass and enjoy!
How to use Matcha Lemon Tea Powder in cooking:
For a quick and easy recipes to incorporate Matcha Lemon into your diet check out our recipe for Ginger Lime Matcha Vinaigrette Dressing and substitute with Matcha Lemon for the regular Matcha and lime zest used in this recipe.
Head on over to our store and use coupon code
LEMON15
and receive 15% off any size Matcha Lemon product!
Resources:
Aslani, N., Entezari, M. H., Askari, G., Maghsoudi, Z., & Maracy, M. R. (2016, July 29). Effect of Garlic and Lemon Juice Mixture on Lipid Profile and Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors in People 30-60 Years Old with Moderate Hyperlipidaemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4977979/
Frawley, David. Lad, Vasant. The Yoga Of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide To Herbal Medicine. Page 205.
Hallberg, L., & Hulthén, L. (2000, May). Prediction of dietary iron absorption: An algorithm for calculating absorption and bioavailability of dietary iron. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10799377
Joshipura, K. J., Hu, F. B., Manson, J. E., Stampfer, M. J., Rimm, E. B., Speizer, F. E., . . . Willett, W. C. (2001, June 19). The effect of fruit and vegetable intake on risk for coronary heart disease. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11412050
Kato, Y., Domoto, T., Hiramitsu, M., Katagiri, T., Sato, K., Miyake, Y., . . . Harada, T. (2014). Effect on blood pressure of daily lemon ingestion and walking. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003767/
Mahmoud, A. M., Hernández Bautista, R. J., Sandhu, M. A., & Hussein, O. E. (2019, March 10). Beneficial Effects of Citrus Flavonoids on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6431442/
Mohanapriya, M. (n.d.). HEALTH AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF LEMON (CITRUS LIMONUM). Retrieved May 9, 2019, from http://interscience.org.uk/v3-i1/8 ijahm.pdf
Sucharipa, R. (n.d.). PROTOPECTIN AND SOME OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF LEMON PEEL. Retrieved May 9, 2019, from https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ja01666a019
U. (n.d.). National Nutrient Database. Retrieved from https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/09150?fgcd=&manu=&format=&count=&max=25&offset=&sort=default&order=asc&qlookup=Raw Lemon&ds=&qt=&qp=&qa=&qn=&q=&ing=
Meet the Author: Malia & Mackenzie
