Does Matcha Break A Fast?
Fasting, intermittent fasting (IF) in particular, has recently become an extremely popular health & wellness trend. But, surprisingly, this trend has ancient roots. Centuries ago Japanese monks and other religious and spiritual leaders would practice fasting as a method to get closer to achieving total spiritual understanding. For monks, this was known as Enlightenment.
Today, intermittent fasting is used primarily to jumpstart weight loss and improve your overall health. Studies have shown that IF can help to re-program your metabolism and extend the life of cells as well as protecting against things like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. So, we’re not surprised that many people have jumped on this trend.
Unlike other diets, IF doesn’t control what you eat but rather when you eat it. Most commonly, people practice 16-hour fasts daily or 24-hour fasts twice a week. During fasting periods you aren’t allowed to eat anything at all and have to severely restrict calorie intake through any liquids.
So, onto the question of the hour…
Can You Drink Matcha On a Fast?
As you well know, at Tenzo we drink matcha on the daily because we love it. But, that doesn’t mean that we don’t appreciate its many health benefits. In fact, we’re always looking for new ways to explore a healthy lifestyle, matcha is just one of them. So when we learned about intermittent fasting, of course, we were wondering whether or not we would be able to partake in our favorite beverage.
Although there are many different types and methods of fasting, we are happy to report that not only can you drink matcha during a fast, but also that it may help amplify those health benefits that fasting provides. But, that doesn’t mean that you can run on down to your neighborhood Starbucks and grab a matcha latte… In fact, you definitely should not do that. Don’t worry though, we have you covered because Tenzo matcha contains nothing but the pure stuff.
What Matcha Drinks Can I Have While Fasting?
When fasting centuries ago, the only thing that monks had to worry about was not eating. However, keeping calorie count low isn’t the only thing to be concerned about with modern fasting. These days we have artificial sweeteners and other additives that can contain hidden calories, or even counteract your fast. This happens when whatever you ingest forces your body out of ketosis (i.e. it switches from burning fat to burning carbohydrates).
So to ensure that your body gets the most out of intermittent fasting, we suggest refraining from adding sweeteners to your beverages. And, Tenzo matcha is perfect for that. All of our matcha is ceremonial grade, which means that matcha’s natural sweetness can shine through. Try this super simple & easy fasting-friendly matcha recipe for a quick midday pick me up.
How Matcha Helps You Fast
Even if you have never fasted before, you can likely anticipate the most difficult part of it… focusing on your daily tasks while being extremely hungry. And although matcha contains essentially zero calories, drinking a matcha iced or hot tea can help you get through those difficult times.
Matcha is packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and flavonoids that help boost your overall health. But, that’s not what we’re talking about when we say that matcha can help you fast. If you’re intermittent fasting, you’ll likely be much more interested in matcha’s caffeine content than its antioxidants. Caffeine helps to not only curb your appetite but also help you feel more awake and alert. And, when you’re body is functioning with no food, feeling awake and alert can be a big challenge. Luckily, matcha is well-known for fueling your body and brain with a healthy caffeine that helps you focus. We won’t get too much into the details now, but you can read all about it here.
If you’re thinking you could accomplish the same thing with a cup of coffee, you’d be wrong. Coffee lacks an amino acid (l-theanine) that matcha is overflowing with. The special combination of l-theanine and caffeine is what gives a matcha high its longevity and prevents jitters. Coffee also has a much higher acidic content, which can be extremely difficult on an empty stomach and further exacerbate an unfocused mind. So, if you want to stay healthy & productive during your fast, we recommend matcha.
All in all... matcha is intermittent fasting friendly.
