Is Matcha Able to Boost Brain Function?
Dementia is a disease that can happen to anyone. With the ageing of the population in developed countries, dementia is becoming more and more of a concern every year. Matcha may be an effective treatment for dementia.
What is dementia?
Dementia is a condition in which the functions of the brain and body, which have developed normally since birth, deteriorate, leading to a decline in memory and judgement, and a loss of the ability to lead a normal life. There are currently no medicines or treatments for cognitive function itself. Therefore, it is important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine in order to avoid dementia.
Theanine and dementia
Theanine is an amino acid that is said to make up more than half of the amino acids in green tea. In this study, people aged 60 years and over were asked to answer a series of simple questions and the number of correct answers was used to assess the extent of their dementia. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the mean scores between the groups who took the green tea capsules and those who did not.
The amount of theanine used in the test, equivalent to approximately 47.5mg, is the amount that can be consumed in one to two cups of a typical tea ceremony matcha using 2g per cup. It is surprisingly low.
Companies are investing actively
Since 2000, Ito En, one of the top beverage manufacturers in Japan, has been engaged in research to scientifically prove the effects of theanine on brain function based on basic research on catechins and has confirmed the neuroprotective effect of theanine on the brain and the improvement of some cognitive functions in healthy middle-aged and older people with continuous consumption of Matcha. 18 years of research published In a study published in 2006, 62 healthy older adults with memory loss who consumed 2g of Matcha tea for 12 weeks showed improvements in executive function (the ability to make quick decisions and carry them out) and attention.
Conclusion
Matcha has the advantage of providing not only the typical nutrients of tea, such as catechins and theanine, but also vitamin C, vitamins A and E, which are difficult to dissolve in water, and dietary fibre as a whole. If you’re not getting enough exercise in Corona, why not try Matcha for a nutritional boost?
