Some people swear by the laxative effects of tea, especially matcha green tea, but is this fact or fiction? Can matcha green tea make you er, poop more? Does it wake up your bowels and get your digestion moving smoothly?

Let’s go over some of the most commonly asked questions about the benefits and the side effects of this amazing leaf and whether the world’s number one drink (tea!!) can actually help you do a number two?….

Matcha Green Tea

Here are some commonly asked questions about matcha green tea:

What is Matcha?

Matcha is a traditional Japanese green tea that is grown, harvested and processed in a special way. Firsty, the tea plant is placed under the shade. The new shoots that are grown under the shade will be much greener, fresher less astringent in taste. These shoots are usually hand plucked and then carefully processed into the the famous bright green powder that is matcha.

What Makes Matcha Different to Green Tea?

Matcha is a type of green tea that’s slowly stone ground into a powder. It is traditionally taken in a special Japanese tea ceremony. Regular green tea leaves are infused before drinking, whereas with matcha powder, the whole leaf is consumed. This makes matcha a highly concentrated tea.

What are the Health Benefits of Drinking Matcha?

All types of tea contains healthy antioxidants and green tea is considered the best type of tea for an antioxidant known as EGCG.(epigallocatechin gallate). EGCG is a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation in our bodies which helps to fight free radicals that can cause oxidative stress in the body. Thus helping to keep us healthier and younger. Green tea also contains methylated EGCG, which is mainly found in Japanese green teas such as matcha. Methylated EGCG helps to fight against irritating allergies. Matcha is also minimally processed and in more concentration than regular tea and so the number of catechins (antioxidants) is much higher.

Does Matcha Green Tea Actually Make you Poo More?

Well, sort of! Matcha contains lots of wonderful antioxidants, high amounts of caffeine, a compound known as strictinin and matcha is usually taken with liquid, all of which can help keep you regular. Let’s take a look at how each of these can help in more detail:

Water intake: Drinking more water can help keep constipation at bay by softening stools and stimulating a bowel movement.
Caffeine: Caffeine can stimulate the colon and intestinal muscles causing the urge to go. Matcha is higher in caffeine than other types of tea as it is concentrated and the whole leaf is consumed. Half a teaspoon contains around 35mg of caffeine.
Antioxidants: These compounds in tea help keep us healthier and younger plus there is evidence to show that they may increase stool output too! This study reports that a high antioxidant intake may lead to a high stool output! Plus this report shows that the catechins found in tea (cocoa and wine too!) may actually help prevent diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease.
Strictinin: A study on rats found that a compound found in tea called ‘strictinin’ may also stimulate bowel movements with a laxative effect!

Does Matcha Make Your Poo Green?

Depending on how much you have consumed, it could actually turn your poo green! High amounts of green foods such as spinach, kale, green soups, smoothies and even matcha can turn your poop a green tint.

Does Tea Make you Pee?

Just like any other fluid, tea definitely does make you pee. There is a common misconception that tea is a diuretic, however, the caffeine in tea works differently to medical diuretics. Medical diuretics flush out the body and can cause dehydration as a side effect. Whilst tea (and coffee) has mild diuretic effects, you won’t actually be peeing out more than you take in.

Is Matcha ok on an Empty Stomach?

Some people are sensitive to green tea on an empty stomach and it can have negative effects such as nausea. Taking tea with milk helps to offset some of the not so nice feelings of taking tea on an empty stomach. Matcha is a bold rich tea that can easily withstand the addition of milk. Try having a delicious tea latte first thing in the morning or adding a sprinkle to a morning smoothie. Alternatively, have a lovely cuppa after you have eaten.

Is Matcha Good for Weight Loss?

Green tea may help speed up the metabolism and aid in burning fat from all the wonderful antioxidants and the caffeine too. Matcha contains higher levels of antioxidants and caffeine compared to regular green tea and so therefore the benefits are increased. Furthermore, matcha may even help you to poop more by aiding digestion so that’s a win win for feeling less bloated and more energetic! However, to gain the most from all the health boosting benefits of matcha, it’s always best to enjoy as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle :)

Does matcha help you poop more? Don’t forget to comment below and let me know!

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