Matcha lovers are in luck! Japanese research confirms: Matcha tea has "anti-depressant" potential and can also reduce cardiovascular and cancer risks
It is nothing new for Orientals to love drinking tea. The bitter and astringent “Matcha” is a favorite of many East Asian people and is widely used in drinks and sweets to add flavor to the diet. Animal experiments published in the nutrition journal “Nutrients” now show that moderate drinking of matcha does have benefits for mental health. It can increase the “happy hormone” dopamine, thus having the potential to improve “depression” or mental illness.
Matcha has antidepressant potential? Japanese research reveals: Increased neurotransmission in 4 brain areas
The research was initiated by Kumamoto University and Dokkyo University in Japan. The research team administered matcha powder to mice at doses of 10 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg, and evaluated the mice’s depression through a tail suspension test. After 2 hours, the research team spent 10 minutes testing the mice’s exercise ability and observing the changes in their brains.
The results showed that after taking matcha powder, mice that were stressed by social isolation in the experiment had a significant increase in neural activity in four emotion-related areas or receptors in the brain:
Increase dopamine D1 receptors. The research team found that the dopamine receptors in the brains of mice were more active and showed more intense resistance in the tail suspension test (the mice were placed in mid-air and their tails were fixed). Mice that did not receive matcha powder were less active and less resistant.
Ventral tegmental area. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is part of 2 major dopamine neural pathways. Research has found that in mice that take matcha powder, the frequency of activation of the nerve cells “c-Fos” in the ventral tegmental area increases and the level of cell activity becomes higher.
Prefrontal cortex. Previously, academic circles believed that reduced neural activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of the brain was one of the main causes of depression. The intake of matcha powder increased c-Fos cells in the prefrontal cortex area of mice; mice that did not consume matcha powder had reduced neural activity.
Nucleus accumbens. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) receives dopamine from the ventral tegmental area and glutamate (an excitatory neurotransmitter) projection from the prefrontal cortex. The mood-enhancing chemical “gamma-aminobutyric acid” (GABA) is also transmitted to the ventral tegmental area through the nucleus accumbens.
The research team believes that the above results show that matcha powder can help promote neural connections between brain regions and achieve anti-depressant effects; as for whether it has the same benefits for humans, further experiments are needed to confirm. In addition, the exercise results of mice after taking matcha powder showed that matcha powder did not increase the exercise performance of mice, and exercise is regarded as one of the important means to improve depression.
Matcha 2 ingredients help regulate dopamine! Experts say drinking “unnatural” matcha powder is useless
Professor Yuki Kuranai, the lead author of the study, said that even one week of social isolation stress in mice was enough to reduce the function of the prefrontal cortex of their brains. On the contrary, the activity of the prefrontal cortex and septum accumbens in mice increased significantly after consuming matcha. These two areas play key roles in dopaminergic circuits and help regulate dopamine levels in the brain.
Why does matcha change neurotransmission in the brain? Professor Kuranai said that the “caffeine” in matcha powder may increase dopamine levels by inhibiting adenosine receptors. In addition, matcha powder is rich in the main amino acid “L-theanine”, which can stimulate the brain. Release dopamine and GABA to achieve the purpose of anti-depression and mood relief.
Professor Kuranai said that caffeine and L-theanine can cross the blood-brain barrier 30 minutes after mice consume matcha and reduce their mental stress and anxiety levels. Matcha also contains ingredients similar to agonists, which can directly stimulate dopamine D1 receptors and affect mood. Professor Zangai also emphasized that this trial used natural matcha powder, and the antidepressant effect of processed or non-natural matcha may be limited.
Drinking natural matcha helps fight stomach cancer? Moderate drinking is beneficial to weight loss and improving skin health
Matcha not only has the potential to improve mood and relieve depression, but it can also reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer? In fact, matcha contains many active nutrients, such as polyphenols, caffeine and amino acids, which are related to improving physical health. According to past research, moderate drinking of natural matcha tea may have the following benefits:
Better cardiovascular health. Research in the “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” shows that matcha is rich in catechins, of which “EGCG” (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) has been proven to have positive effects such as anti-atherosclerosis, preventing plaque accumulation, and preventing the thickening of heart tissue.
It has antioxidant effect. “Food Research International” pointed out that matcha contains “flavonoids”, compounds with antioxidant properties that can reduce inflammation in the body. In addition, catechin is also a strong antioxidant.
Help prevent stomach cancer. A trial involving thousands of people in “Cancer Causes Control” reported that drinking matcha is associated with a lower risk of gastric cancer, in which two major substances, catechin and gallic acid, play a key role.
Helps with weight loss. “Obesity Research” research points out that matcha can increase energy consumption and fat oxidation, reduce lipogenesis and fat absorption, and may have a positive impact on weight loss.
Promote skin health. According to the content of “Cancer Causes Control”, matcha powder and green tea can help promote skin health. Specific ingredients in matcha may help promote local skin regeneration, wound healing, or treat certain epithelial cell pathologies such as aphthous ulcers, psoriasis, rosacea, etc.
Source:
Medicinal and therapeutic potentialities of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) – A review
Molecular understanding of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases
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