You've probably seen the aesthetically pleasing pics of the pale green beverage with ice cubes or cream art in your feed, but what exactly is matcha? In short, matcha is a fine powder ground from specialty green tea leaves. Because it is ground from the entire leaf, matcha has more caffeine and antioxidants than green tea. It's one of the reasons matcha has become so popular in recent years and can be found in everything from matcha tea to lattes to ice cream and more.
What's really beautiful about drinking matcha green tea versus coffee is the type of caffeine high it provides. When it comes to caffeine content, matcha has 50% less caffeine than coffee. But, due to the amazing nutrients that matcha contains, the body is able to absorb caffeine in matcha much more slowly. So instead of a buzz, it is a steady hum. Keep reading to discover more of the benefits of drinking matcha in your mornings.
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1. Matcha detoxifies the body.
If you are looking for a natural way to cleanse the body, drinking matcha might be where it is at. Drinking matcha can effectively and gently cleanse the body due to its being rich in chlorophyll compounds. Matcha has been shown to remove the body of toxins by supporting natural detoxification in the liver as well as the kidneys.
2. Drinking matcha has antioxidants galore.
Just like its less potent counterpart green tea, matcha is rich in antioxidants known as catechins. Catechins are a type of flavonoid that helps the body fight disease. Additionally, this results in reducing damage cells might incur from oxidation. The EGCG in matcha helps prevent brain disease and inflammation. It can also lower your cholesterol.
3. Matcha gives you more energy with less jitters.
As previously mentioned, one of the benefits of drinking matcha is it gives you more energy than other teas. The reason for this is, that a single cup of matcha has more caffiene than green tea. While you don't have the benefit of getting as much caffeine as you would from coffee, having a cup or two of matcha throughout your day is a great alternative to coffee if you are trying to cut back on how many cups of joe you drink in a day. The L-theanine matcha contains not only reduces stress, but it also makes you more alert. The "high" so to speak is cleaner than the one you experience from a cup of coffee.
4. Drinking matcha is a powerful source of nutrients and vitamins.
Another one of the benefits of drinking matcha is how nutrient-rich it is. In addition to the antioxidants, matcha is full of other nutrients as well. In addition to the previously mentioned chlorophyll, matcha is also rich in fiber, magnesium, vitamin C, zinc, and selenium.
5. Matcha helps with focus and concentration.
Drinking matcha also comes with the added benefit of helping you be more productive. Thanks to the caffeine, EGCG, and L-theanine matcha contains, it is believed that those three power players assist with focus. According to a 2017 study, participants noticed a marked difference in their ability to both process information and pay attention an hour after drinking matcha.
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I never thought the answer to not being able to write could be more writing, but there is something there in that recipe. Through journaling, I have been able to free myself from the confines of mental blocks, find my center, release anxious thoughts, and discover answers to questions I didn't know I had. Recently, I have taken journaling a step further by moving away from guided journaling and embracing flow even more through the practice of morning pages.
What Are Morning Pages?
For those of you unfamiliar with what morning pages are, it consists of writing three pages in a stream of consciousness. No rhyme or reason, just writing your thoughts by putting pen to paper and thereby offering you a release. The concept of morning pages got its origin from author Julia Cameron and her book The Artist’s Way. In it, she described how utilizing the tool has transformed her ability to create. Although her solution was given in the context of being a writer, creativity flows in and out of our lives in a plethora of ways. You don't have to be a painter or a musician to be creative.
Creativity is everywhere. It finds us as we create solutions for problems we may encounter in our life, love, and work just like it does when we're thinking of composition in the next photo we take. Bottom line, morning pages are an outlet for decluttering your mind while also helping you connect to your creativity which in turn speaks to your inner child in a nurturing way.
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The Difference Between Journaling and Morning Pages as a Daily Practice
For people who might already be into traditional journaling, you might be wondering what the difference between journaling and morning pages is. While both practices can be done daily and act as tools for catharsis, morning pages hold a deeper purpose, and the practice is done in a more ritualistic way. Morning pages is a practice that is structured, as you do it daily, it acts as a means to spark your creative process, and isn’t bound by feelings. Instead, morning pages are more focused on the mind and clearing what’s in it. As Cameron said in her book, the intention behind morning pages as a daily practice is to “sweep our consciousness clean.”
Journaling, however, is often done more sporadically with the intent to write out your feelings. Journaling can cross over into morning pages territory but is often less rigid in frequency and length. Conversely, morning pages are written every morning and are generally three pages in length.
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Prompts for Writing Daily Morning Pages
So, what do you write in your morning pages? It is encouraged to take time in the morning to sit and write down your thoughts for three pages with a pen to paper. The beauty of writing morning pages daily is that you begin your day with clarity and creativity. There is no specific guideline about what you have to write about. However, for people who might find themselves stalled on where to begin, prompts for writing morning pages might be helpful to start.
If you want to start writing morning pages but don’t know how to begin your practice, here are 10 prompts for morning pages to get you started:
- Do you believe your dreams speak to you? If so, what have yours been saying to you lately?
- What are you currently most grateful for in your life?
- If gratitude is something you're just adopting, what was the journey to gratitude like?
- Name 5-7 things you love about yourself and your life.
- Name the things you feel neutral about in regard to yourself and your life.
- What are things that you absolutely don’t like about yourself or your life?
- Is pleasure something you allow yourself to feel freely? What are some ways you give yourself pleasure?
- Where are you right now and what are things about your surroundings that make you feel safe?
- Are there things about yourself or your life that you haven’t forgiven yourself for yet? Why or why not?
- What is a word that defines your life right now? In turn, what are some lessons you’re currently learning or relearning?
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