In Jewish culture, matza or matzo—also spelled matzoh or matzah—is a common variety of flatbread. During the Passover celebrations honouring their Exodus from Egypt, Jews eat this meal. This dish represents salvation. Similar to that, certain Christian traditions also use unleavened bread as a communion wafer. Here, matzo represents Jesus Christ at the Passover dinner known as the Last Supper.
Most of us are ignorant of the health advantages of matzo, despite the fact that it has a flavour that is ready to be gobbled. The most stringent diets can tolerate matza bread. It can also treat many diseases and is a huge source of energy.
Globally, matza is known by several names. It is also known as matza, matzo, matzah, or just flatbread. Whatever name you give it, the bread’s value remains constant. On its own, matza has a bland flavour. Cooking just takes approximately 18 minutes, but the flavour improves. It may be ingested at any meal of the day.
Nutritional Facts of Matza
The USDA estimates that 100 grammes of matza provide the following amount of nutrients.
- Energy: 351 kcal
- Proteins: 13.1g
- Carbs: 78.9g
- Fibre: 0g
- Fat: 0g
- Phosphorous: 305 mg
- Potassium: 316 mg
- Magnesium: 134 mg
Health Benefits of Matza
Matcha is really a type of green tea, therefore it shares many of the same health advantages.
However, because to the higher antioxidant content of matcha, one cup (237 mL) may be comparable to three cups (711 mL) of normal green tea.
Although there are few research particularly on matcha in humans, an older animal study suggests that it may improve blood sugar, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels while lessening the risk of renal and liver damage.
The main advantages of consuming matcha green tea are listed below.
1. Packed with Antioxidants
Antioxidants from food fight free radicals in the body to shield cells and tissues from deterioration. Catechins, in particular, are abundant in matcha’s antioxidant content. Epigallocatechin gallate is its strongest catechin (EGCG).
Animals have been used in a variety of studies on EGCG. It might help keep your arteries healthy, lower inflammation in your body, and encourage cell repair.
Additionally, compared to tea bags or ready-to-drink goods, whole leaf teas include higher antioxidants.
2. Aids Weight Loss
Saturated and trans fats are generally known to be extremely harmful to your body. For instance, they can worsen LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in your body, which can lead to chronic heart ailments.
The majority of packaged foods created nowadays have a lot of fat in them. Contrarily, there are no fat grammes in matza. Matza can therefore considerably aid your weight loss programme when consumed in moderation.
3. Most Matza Is Dairy-Free
The majority of matzas are made without dairy, giving them a good alternative to crackers for anyone who are allergic to either milk or eggs. Before giving your child or yourself a cracker, just make sure to read the label. If you avoid dairy in general or have a dairy intolerance, matza can also be a good cracker to choose.
4. May Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease
The leading cause of death in the world is heart disease. Heart disease risk is known to be influenced by numerous factors. The levels of total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar may all be improved by drinking green tea.
According to studies, those who drink green tea have an up to 31% decreased risk of developing heart disease than those who don’t. This is mainly owing to the green tea’s antioxidants and plant components, which are present in matcha in even higher concentrations.
5. May Boost Relaxation and Alertness
Green tea is a fantastic source of antioxidants and it has an uncommon amino acid called L-theanine. Actually, compared to other kinds of green tea, matcha has substantially higher quantities of L-theanine.
Your brain’s alpha waves may be boosted by L-theanine. These waves are associated with mental relaxation and may work to block the signs of stress.
The effects of caffeine are also altered by L-theanine in your body, enhancing alertness without contributing to the lethargy that frequently accompanies coffee drinking.
Mood, memory, and focus can all be enhanced by L-theanine by increasing the amount of feel-good chemicals in your brain.
6. Matza Is Free of Unhealthy Fats
Unhealthy fats, which can cause coronary heart disease and other illnesses, are absent from matza. Trans fats, which are prevalent in many packaged foods, are one of the key fats to avoid for potential advantages in cardiovascular health. Therefore, eating matzo occasionally won’t have a negative impact on your health.
Adverse Effects
As long as you don’t have an allergy or sensitivity to one of its constituents, mazta is generally a safe food to consume because of its few ingredients and lengthy shelf life. However, it does have certain drawbacks. These are a few potential side effects of matza.
Constipation
As a food that binds, matza is well-known for reducing the effects of diarrhoea. However, overeating might have the opposite effect. Constipation is a common complaint among those who consume matza on a regular basis since it lacks dietary fibre.
An analysis of studies on fibre and bowel movements reveals that people who consume more dietary fibre than those on a placebo had more frequent trips to the restroom. Due to a lack of water bulking them up, a lack of fibre can make faeces stiff and cause them to pass through the digestive tract more slowly.
Indigestion
Your digestive system may have problems if you consume matza on a regular and excessive basis. Because matza is a dish for stringent diets, most individuals who eat it don’t feel full after eating. They start eating more matza out of reflex, which has negative effects on their health. You don’t have to quit eating matza, though.
The easiest way to control it would be to eat other foods high in fibre, including berries, strawberries, bananas, broccoli, etc. Its impact on your colon would be lessened by these, and regular bowel movements would be encouraged. It is recommended that people with digestive issues avoid eating matza frequently.
Conclusion
Matza is a great substitute for other foods made with wheat flour because it is lower in calories and has no fat. Additionally, this has advantages for those looking to grow muscle or shed weight.
Dairy-free individuals can eat it because it doesn’t include dairy ingredients. Even though it has two serious side effects, indigestion and constipation, you can treat these by making a small adjustment to your regular diet. If everything is consumed in moderation, nothing is harmful.