The iron-y of matcha

Loved for its nutritional values, the globally popular version of green tea might be linked to low iron in some people, warn concerned experts

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The popularity of matcha continues to boom. But recent videos on social media have suggested it could be bad for you if you have low iron.

One Sydney woman recently told media she had “no idea” her daily matcha latte could affect her health until she started experiencing headaches, and noticed her hair and nails were brittle and she was bruising easily. Blood tests found she was severely low in iron.

Similar videos on social media show women in hospital getting iron transfusions - and blaming their matcha habit.

So, let’s unpack this. How healthy is matcha? And can it really cause low iron?

What is matcha?

Matcha is a fine powder made from dried and ground-up green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves. It has recently gained popularity as a drink and a flavour variety in many different foods.

Matcha contains many beneficial compounds (for example, dietary fibre and polyphenols) as well as being a source of caffeine.

Including matcha, or green tea, as part of a balanced diet may provide health benefits such as supporting healthy brain function and blood pressure.

However, despite its health benefits, research has shown that drinking a lot of green tea is linked to lower levels of iron in the blood.

We need iron - but can't make it

Iron is an essential micronutrient that helps transport oxygen around the body, as well as supporting many other important biological processes.