Some call them miracle weapons, others call them antioxidants and phytonutrients. Regardless of what we call them, the good news is: for us, they are edible health. They protect our cells and neutralize an excess of free radicals. For our diet, this means: the more colorful the plant-based variety, the better. In this post, we’ll tell you why you should look for things like green vegetables and fruit.
Nature offers us a rich selection of these antioxidant phytonutrients. They are found in colorful berries, fruits, legumes, and grains. They serve as protection for plants, for example against intruders and UV light. Red vegetables and fruit, for instance, contain beta-carotene. Green plants and vegetables primarily contain the plant pigment chlorophyll.
The green stars: artichokes, green tea, holy basil
Chlorophyll is responsible for the green color in green vegetables and herbs. Green tea, holy basil (tulsi), artichokes, and avocados contain this green plant compound and much more. Let's focus on matcha green tea today.
Matcha: The green secret from Japan
Wait and drink tea. A good option when it comes to green tea. Those who "wait" with green tea are supporting their health on many levels. Let's start with the ingredients. In green tea, especially in Japanese matcha green tea, two phytonutrients are interesting in addition to vitamins A, B, C, and E as well as calcium and potassium: chlorophyll and catechins. Matcha contains a particularly large amount of chlorophyll, and that is the secret of matcha. Two to four weeks before the harvest, the green tea leaves are shaded to protect them from sunlight. This leads to the production of a particularly large amount of chlorophyll in the leaves. The result is a bright, light green, intense color of the tea and a plus for our health when drinking matcha tea. Look for organic quality when buying matcha.
Chlorophyll – the cleaner
But chlorophyll can do much more. In our organism, it promotes the absorption of minerals such as vital magnesium and iron, it ensures blood purification and the formation of new blood cells, helps with wound healing, as well as with body and bad breath. A welcome fresh change in summer: a matcha smoothie. It’s not just the Hollywood stars who benefit from it.
Enjoying matcha
Entire cookbooks are dedicated to the art of baking and cooking with this Japanese tea of superlatives. Ever tried matcha tiramisu? Matcha cake with a cup of matcha latte? The finely ground green tea powder goes well with both savory and sweet dishes. The trendy superfood is also said to benefit the skin. Face masks with matcha provide the flawless complexion of Asian beauties.
Tip: keeping it green
The green of artichokes and avocados quickly turns gray to black when you cut into them. The reason: the chlorophyll responsible for the green color is formed through photosynthesis, meaning light is absorbed and broken down. A bit of lemon juice, which contains vitamin C, or baking soda can provide a remedy here. Simply sprinkle artichokes or avocados with lemon juice. The green color won’t be lost as quickly then.
