Short Answer: Matcha is good for PCOS. Because it has catechins and caffeine that can help lower blood sugar, insulin, and inflammation levels, and regulate the menstrual cycle and improve fertility.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects your ovaries and hormones.
In PCOS, your body produces too much androgen (a male hormone) and not enough progesterone (a female hormone).
This can lead to various health problems, such as irregular periods, infertility, acne, excess hair growth, weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease.
One of the key factors in managing PCOS is diet.
What you consume can affect your blood sugar, insulin, and inflammation levels, which can impact your PCOS symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage PCOS, you should consume antioxidant-rich foods like berries, leafy greens, and nuts, and avoid refined carbohydrate-rich foods like white bread, pasta, and sweets.
Now, matcha is a type of powdered green tea that has a vibrant color and a non-bitter taste.
It is rich in antioxidants and caffeine.
People usually drink matcha by whisking it with hot water or milk.
Matcha is good for PCOS because it contains catechins, a type of antioxidant that can help lower blood sugar, insulin, and inflammation levels.
Catechins can also help regulate the menstrual cycle and improve fertility.
However, matcha may not be suitable for all types of PCOS, especially those with adrenal PCOS, which is caused by high levels of stress hormones.
In this case, matcha may worsen the symptoms due to its caffeine content.
One teaspoon of matcha can give you about 35 mg of caffeine, 137 mg of catechins, and 3 mg of L-theanine (an amino acid that can promote relaxation and alertness).
Caffeine can positively affect PCOS by boosting metabolism and energy, but it can also negatively affect PCOS by increasing anxiety and cortisol levels.
Catechins can positively affect PCOS by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing oxidative stress, but they can also negatively affect PCOS by interfering with iron absorption and thyroid function.
L-theanine can positively affect PCOS by reducing stress and improving mood, but it can also negatively affect PCOS by lowering blood pressure and causing drowsiness.
Furthermore, matcha is a type of green tea and green tea is good for PCOS.
Because, green tea can modulate the activity of certain enzymes and hormones that are involved in PCOS, such as 5-alpha reductase, aromatase, and sex hormone-binding globulin.
You can drink one to two cups of matcha per day safely.
More than that can cause insomnia, jitteriness, headaches, nausea, and diarrhea.
Also, you shouldn’t drink matcha if you have anemia, hypothyroidism, or high blood pressure to prevent worsening your condition.
Because matcha can reduce iron absorption, lower thyroid hormone production, and raise blood pressure.
You can buy fresh matcha in your local market or can order it from online.
Always choose organic, ceremonial-grade, and Japanese-origin matcha.
Because these factors ensure the highest quality, purity, and potency of matcha.
You can store matcha in an airtight container in a cool, dark, and dry place for up to six months.
Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing PCOS effectively.
I always recommend my PCOS patients to follow a PCOS-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.