Latest news with #KazuhikoUchida
IOL News
25-04-2025
- Health
- IOL News
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.
Hindustan Times
24-04-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Having matcha tea improves sleep as you age? Here's what a study from Japan found
Matcha tea is a finely ground powder made from specially grown and processed green tea leaves. It was earlier popular in Japan but is now enjoyed worldwide because of its health benefits. A study published in PLOS ONE has given an insight into matcha green tea's effects on cognitive decline in older adults and revealed some promising results. Here's what was found. Also read | Want to 'shrink waistline'? Doctor advises drinking matcha to lose an inch of your belly The yearlong study of older adults with cognitive decline in Japan found that drinking matcha green tea improved participants' emotional perception and sleep quality. The study included Japanese older adults between 60 and 85 years of age. Matcha is rich in antioxidants, particularly catechins, which are believed to help neutralise harmful free radicals and may contribute to overall health. Study author Kazuhiko Uchida and his colleagues set out to examine the effects of matcha capsules, a dietary supplement, on cognitive functioning and sleep quality in older individuals with subjective or mild cognitive decline. The results showed that matcha supplementation improved participants' emotional perception, as measured by tests requiring the identification of facial emotions. Having matcha green tea also showed a trend toward improving sleep quality, although the results were not dramatic. However, matcha consumption did not significantly affect overall cognitive functioning or daily living abilities in the study participants. Participants were recruited from the University of Tsukuba Hospital and the Memory Clinic Toride, both in Japan. To be eligible, participants had to live with a partner who could help manage supplement intake and accompany them to appointments. They also had to have either subjective cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment, have no serious illnesses in the past five years, and not be diagnosed with dementia or taking dementia treatments. The study included 64 participants with subjective cognitive decline and 35 with mild cognitive impairment. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
