Matcha Tea: An All-Natural Healthy Pre-Workout

Online fitness forums and gym junkies are abuzz over pre-workout supplements. The idea of maximizing your energy and supercharging a workout can be tempting. After all, we strap our shoes on and hit the gym because we want to improve our fitness and physique.

With so many products on the market, it's easy to get our hands on these formulations. But, for those who strive to eat clean, these "proprietary blends" contain a laundry list of ingredients that don't sound appealing. According to the FDA's website, they are not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before marketing.

It's pretty alarming that these products go to market before being reviewed by the FDA. Luckily, there's no need for chemical supplementation! Nature has an option that can get us to the next level and give us the boost we need to power through our tough workouts.

Try matcha green tea for an organic pre-workout that will keep you energized and healthy!

Why drink a pre-workout? The short answer is energy.

Pre-workouts are performance enhancers. This can sound like a good idea for those looking to get to the next level. Most commercial pre-workouts add guarana, caffeine, methylxanthine, and other stimulants to "boost performance."

But, the effects of these beverages are primarily a result of concentrated stimulant content. Some can contain upwards of 300 mg of caffeine per serving, compared to 95 mg in a standard cup of coffee.

Though high energy can boost performance, the "kicking in" effect is the agitation of the nervous system. The combination of vasodilators and stimulants can be taxing on the cardiovascular system.

When we're trying to strengthen our bodies and enhance our health and endurance, the last thing we want is to compromise our cardiovascular health. Matcha provides a much more natural approach.

Why drink matcha as a pre-workout?

One teaspoon contains 68 mg of caffeine, equivalent to a single espresso shot. Despite caffeine, tingling and jittering are not side effects of matcha. L-theanine, an amino acid naturally present in the loose tea leaf, increases alpha brain wave activity. The result is a mindfully energized state instead of stimulant-induced hyperactivity.

This mindset is great for focus and can benefit cardio and strength training(PLUS: mindfulness can prevent injury). The combination of caffeine and l-theanine creates a balanced mental state, so you can lift, run, and stretch with care and attention to detail.

What's in a pre-workout?

Pre-workouts tend to have a massive ingredient list. Researching the pros and cons of all of the different amino acids, minerals, and additives can be daunting.

The safety and toxicity of consuming chemical sweeteners is a hot debate topic. These products contain highly processed artificial sweeteners like fructose, sucralose, and stevia. Their active ingredients are usually shrouded in mystery as well.

By calling it a "proprietary blend," these companies can be vague about the ingredients and quantities in the formulation. Although they contain some beneficial amino acids, the other components may not be so benign.

"Thermogenics" supposedly increase calorie burn. There are no magic pills and cures for increasing the body's rate of metabolizing food. By making healthy food and drink choices, being an informed consumer, and being diligent with an exercise regimen, we can obtain the health and fitness levels we desire without consuming mysterious products.

How can you utilize matcha to maximize your workout?

Whether your goal is to lose weight, increase muscle mass, or increase VO2 max, incorporating an all-natural and organic supplement like pure matcha powder can help you achieve your fitness goals.

Matcha is a concentration of green tea, and all the benefits associated with green tea are concentrated within it. Polyphenols present in the leaves are known to benefit cardiovascular health and reduce blood pressure.

Catechin EGCG has gotten attention for its ability to boost metabolism and aid in weight loss and maintenance. The combination of caffeine and l-theanine amino acid creates a unique mental state that is both stimulated and calm.

Sustained energy and awareness are highly beneficial for paying attention to the workout and the body's minute signals. With focus, the results of an exercise are more refined.

When purchasing matcha powder, ensure that the only ingredient is green tea. Some products will have added sugar and powdered milk, which reduces the vitamin and mineral content while increasing unnecessary calories.

How do you use matcha powder?

Matcha is very easy to use! Since it is a powdered tea, it doesn't require infusers or an apparatus for preparation. It can be prepared in a shaker bottle, alone, or mixed with a protein shake. It's delicious as a latte with frothed milk or a non-dairy alternative.

Treat your body kindly!

If you're working to improve your body's functionality, what you eat is just as important as exercise. Our vessels are highly elaborate and intelligent, and everything within us is interconnected.

Ingesting stimulating chemicals before a workout may supply energy, but those altered states can reduce awareness and prevent you from noticing small clues and signals from the body.

Working with the body allows you to maintain health and wellness for a lifetime. You only get one body, so feed it and treat it right! You can charge up your workout without synthetic chemicals and formulas with natural health boosters like pure matcha powder.