Is happiness found in a simple cup of matcha tea? ” It is possible “, according to a Japanese study, if you suffer from stress related to social isolation.
According to an experiment conducted on mice, matcha powder used in traditional Japanese tea shows antidepressant effects when rodents suffer from social isolation stress. On the other hand, no significant effect was seen in the other mice, as explained by Dr. Yuki Kurauchi from Kumamoto University in Japan: “ Matcha tea only reduced immobility time in stress-prone mice, which experienced more stress due to social isolation and showed more depressive behaviors, compared to stress-tolerant mice ».
Matcha powder acts on the neural circuits of dopamine
The Japanese researchers wanted to better understand the detailed mechanism of action of this powder on the brain. Due to the D1 receptors of dopamine (a hormone that plays a role in elevating mood and the feeling of happiness), consumption of this type of tea is said to activate the dopaminergic neural circuits. In more detail, stress-sensitive mice experienced activation of the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens with the brew. These regions are essential for the control of dopamine levels in the brain.
The results were confirmed by administering a dopamine D1 receptor inhibitor to stress-prone mice; this negated the antidepressant effects of matcha. ” These results suggest that matcha tea powder has an antidepressant effect by activating the brain’s dopaminergic system, and that this effect is influenced by the individual’s mental state. summarizes Dr. Yuki Kurauchi.