MORINGA vs. MATCHA

December 21, 2020

Both of these superfoods have several things in common:

They provide antioxidants, fight inflammation, slow down aging, protect brain and heart health, and increase immune function.
The two are similar in terms of their appearance and uses, since both are made into potent powders or teas.
They do have some notable differences when it comes to their nutrient profiles. While comparable in terms of calories, gram for gram moringa has more fiber, protein, calcium, sodium, vitamin C and vitamin A than matcha does.
One of the biggest differences between moringa and matcha green tea is in regard to amino acid concentration. Moringa leaves are a surprisingly great source of protein since they provide nine essential amino acids required for human protein synthesis: histidine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. This is one reason why organizations like the World Health Organization rely on moringa to supplement low-calorie diets and prevent deficiencies.
In matcha’s defense, on the other hand, matcha tea (which contains roughly 15 times more active ingredients than any other conventional green tea) provides numerous antioxidants and high doses of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a type of powerful catechin that’s known to protect brain health. Moringa is not known to provide EGCG, which means both plants used together can have even more benefits.

What is moringa good for? In 2008 the National Institute of Health called moringa (moringa oleifera) the “plant of the year.” Moringa health benefits include providing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, balancing hormones and slowing the effects of aging, improving digestive health, balancing blood sugar levels and helping fight diabetes, protecting and nourishing the skin, and helping stabilize mood and protect brain health.
There are actually believed to be at least a dozen different varieties of this plant, but one (moringa oleifera) is by far the most utilized.
Most commonly, supplements are made from dried moringa leaf which forms a powder. Other forms include tea and oil/tincture.
It’s a great source of nutrients including antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, calcium and even amino acids.