Matcha magic: could this green drink be the key to better sleep and emotional well-being for older adults?
Research on Japanese adults aged 60 to 85 found that drinking green matcha improved their ability to read facial emotions and even helped with better sleep.
Image: Pexels
Matcha isn't just a pretty green drink for your TikTok aesthetic, it's now making headlines for actual health benefits, especially for older adults.
Yes, that matcha latte you've been sipping for the vibe might also be helping someone's granny sleep better and feel more emotionally in tune. Who would've thought?
Let's backtrack for a second. Matcha is a finely ground powder made from specially grown and processed green tea leaves. That's why it has that bold, almost alien-green hue. It's been a staple in Japan for centuries, but now it's gone global and not just because influencers told us to try it.
A recent study published in "PLOS ONE" has added some science to the hype. Researchers in Japan conducted a yearlong study on older adults between the ages of 60 and 85 with mild cognitive decline.
The results show that daily matcha consumption showed a noticeable improvement in how participants recognised emotional expressions. In simple terms: grandma might now read your face better than you can read hers.
Study author Kazuhiko Uchida and his team specifically looked at the effects of matcha in capsule form and found that it didn't drastically improve overall cognitive functioning or day-to-day ability, but it did help with emotional perception and sleep quality.
So while it's not a miracle cure, it's certainly doing something right.
And it's not just brain function that matcha could be helping with. Matcha is packed with antioxidants, especially catechins, which help neutralise free radicals and support overall health.
Matcha is packed with antioxidants, especially catechins, which help neutralise free radicals and support overall health.
Image: Pexels
According to Michelle Patidar, a health nutrition coach who spoke to "FOX News", matcha leaves are shaded before harvest to boost chlorophyll levels. That's good news for your body's detox game.
'This means that when you drink matcha, you're consuming a whole leaf, which is really wonderful because it's packed with a ton of polyphenols, such as catechins, which are powerful antioxidants that help protect against cell damage,' Patidar said.
'You're also getting the fibre of eating the whole leaf.'
Patidar also linked matcha to cancer prevention and recovery, saying its chlorophyll and antioxidant content can play a role in fighting cell damage.
And studies from the University of Salford in the UK back this up, suggesting regular matcha consumption could be linked to a lower risk of breast, ovarian, lung, cervical, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.
Plus, matcha's anti-inflammatory properties are worth mentioning. Chronic inflammation is one of those underlying issues tied to serious diseases, and matcha might be doing its part to calm the storm.
So yes, while it started as another internet trend with everyone frothing green milk and sipping it out of mason jars, matcha might just be the real deal.
If not for the aesthetics, then for the antioxidants, emotional perception boost, and all-around wellness benefits. Add that to your cart guilt-free.
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