So much hype, so little time! What’s the deal with Matcha? What about Kefir milk? Read on and I can almost guarantee this week you’ll learn something new! Plus, in honor of those who celebrated Easter Sunday (and even those that didn’t!) – I’m covering some of the most creative, delicious ways to enjoy eggs!!
In this report you will find:
* You Ask, We Answer: What Is Matcha?
* 1 Egg 8 Ways
* The Health Benefits of Kefir Milk
You Didn’t Ask, But I’m Answering Anyway: What Is Matcha?
This morning I was on Sirius/XM’s Dr. Radio and one of the callers wanted to share a smoothie recipe of hers that includes Matcha and she claimed she felt great. The lovely host, Dr. Carol Bernstein, had no idea what Matcha was and we both guessed that many of her listeners didn’t either. So here goes:
Q: I keep hearing that Matcha is a healthy drink – what is it exactly and is it something I should add to my diet?
A: This is one of those beverages getting much hype around it, but do you really want to jump on this trendy drink bandwagon? As you know, I’m all about the facts; so here you go: Matcha is made from whole green tea leaves that are ground down into a powder. Since you’re having the whole tea leaves there are higher levels of antioxidants versus drinking regular green tea. Matcha has polyphenols, a type of antioxidant, which some research suggests, may protect against cancer, heart disease and help with blood pressure control.
However, it’s important to remember this is still a caffeinated beverage, with about the same amount of caffeine as 1 cup of brewed coffee. So more isn’t always better, especially if you are sensitive to caffeine. Also, there hasn’t been extensive scientific studies conducted to date to validate some of it’s many health claims (i.e. boost metabolism, burns calories, detoxifies, enhances mood).
However, if you like green tea and enjoy a cup or two, or want to add the powder to your smoothie just because – go for it! Honestly can’t find a reason not to. But if you want to drink it because you believe all the hype – you might want to rethink that!!!
1 Egg 8 Ways
If ever there was a “superfood”, it would have to be a nutritional powerhouse that’s accessible, tastes great, and has endless ways to prepare it. Enter my good friend – eggs! While eggs may have gotten a bad rap in the past, there is new science around the many health benefits of eating them. Plus, there are SO many ways to enjoy them – check out my US News blog for how I and my fellow nutritionists enjoy this nutritious staple.
The Health Benefits of Kefir Milk
Some people swear by Kefir milk, but what is it really, and is it necessary to add to your diet? Check out my interview with Shape.com for everything you need to know about Kefir milk. Spoiler alert – sometimes it’s OK to believe the hype. I know—shocking coming from me!