Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: A senior European Union official hinted that 'Israel' would be held accountable for violating international law in Gaza
Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obeida: The losses incurred by the occupation today in Khan Younis and Jabalia are an extension of a series of top-tier operations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: The invading Israeli force is digging a trench and erecting earthen berms, amid detected activity suggesting preparations to install espionage equipment
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: An Israeli force breaches the "technical fence" in the Wazzani area
Israeli media: 4 Israeli soldiers killed in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Government Media Office: Starved citizens are tempted to head to American-Israeli centers and then are deliberately shot
Gaza Government Media Office: The toll at US-Israeli aid distribution centers is as follows: 110 martyred, 583 wounded, and 9 missing
Gaza Government Media Office: 8 starved civilians were killed and 61 others were injured by the gunfire of Israeli occupation forces and an American security company in Rafah
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Three martyrs, injured in Israeli drone strike on phone charging station west of Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Four martyrs, dozens of injured as IOF open fire on civilians near GHF facility west of Rafah, southern Gaza.

Can Matcha tea powder ease depression?

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Healtline
  • 21 Mar 2023 11:20
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Many consume Matcha tea powder as a healthy alternative to other beverages, but the natural drink could benefit humans more than we think.

  • x
  • The owner of a tea house pours a cup of tea in this picture illustration taken April 25, 2020. (Reuters)
    The owner of a tea house pours a cup of tea in this picture illustration taken April 25, 2020. (Reuters)

A recent study published in Nutrients revealed that Matcha tea powder can help people deal with depression and stress. 

Researchers revealed that traditional Japanese tea can boost one's mood and mental performance by activating what is called dopaminergic neural networks and improving depressive symptoms in mice that have previously experienced stress from social isolation.

However, Japan's Kumamoto University revealed that more mechanistic research is required, which is why the study was done on mice. Researchers reveal that further research could help develop better antidepressants.

Researchers point out that depression is the most widespread mental health condition in the world and the number of people diagnosed remains on the rise. Even though its onset varies, researchers suggest that it is triggered by reduced dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and hormone playing an important role in elevating one’s mood.

According to research, antidepressants counter low dopamine, but time has revealed that many have side effects. In addition, people can also develop resistance to antidepressants, requiring higher doses or changes in medication.

How can Matcha tea powder help with depression?

Traditionally used in tea, matcha comes from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, which are rich in mood-boosting compounds.

According to research, regular matcha consumption has improved anxiety-like behavior in lab mice by activating dopamine function via dopamine D1 receptor signaling.

Matcha and socially isolated mice

Dr. Yuki Kurauchi of Kumamoto University led a team of researchers to investigate the effects of matcha tea powder on depression in socially isolated mice. The team used stress-tolerant BALB/c and stress-susceptible C57BL/6J mice subjected to social isolation stress.

Related News

New study finds link between depression and type 2 diabetes

FDA approves first postpartum depression pill in the US

Their research concluded that by orally administering a matcha tea suspension, levels of depression in the stress-susceptible mice were reduced. This was measured by the mice's performance in tail suspension tests, which are used to observe and evaluate depression in mice. 

“Matcha tea reduced the immobility time only in stress-susceptible mice that experienced greater stress from social isolation and exhibited higher depression-like behavior, in comparison to the stress-tolerant mice," Kurauchi said in a statement.

Read next: Link between depression, heart disease in women: Russian Health

The analysis, after experimenting on the mice's brains, revealed that the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens were activated in the stress-susceptible mice after they consumed matcha. These brain regions form an important part of the dopaminergic circuit and are important to control dopamine levels in the brain. 

Indicated by an increase in the number of cells expressing c-Fos, their activation is an important indicator of neural activity and would boost dopamine levels, uplifting one's mood. 

What did experts have to say? 

Experts were optimistic about the study, according to Healthline, but pointed out that the effect on mice could be different on humans. 

“There is limited information about whether matcha can affect depression in humans and the optimal dose and duration of use of matcha to prevent or treat depression has not been established,” said Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, a medical toxicology physician and medical director at National Capital Poison Center.

A licensed naturopathic doctor specializing in integrative mental health and medically trained in pharmaceuticals, Victoria Chan, told Healthline that matcha has high concentrations of L-theanine, an amino acid that can calm the brain and nervous system. It also reduces the jittery effects of the tea's natural caffeine. 

“The scientific community is constantly learning more about why depression develops,” Chan said.

Read next: Study shows depression linked to low serotonin release: The Guardian

On the other hand, a dermatologist and medical officer for AI healthcare platform Welzo, Dr. Zeeshan Afzal, told Healthline that even though matcha's L-theanine and caffeine can combine to improve brain function, we shouldn't get too enthusiastic yet. 

“While the study done on mice may provide some insights into the potential antidepressant,” Afzal said, “it’s important to note that the results may not necessarily translate to humans. Mice and humans have different physiologies and there are often significant differences in how drugs and treatments affect the two species.”

Afzal said more effective human studies are necessary.

  • depression
  • Tea
  • Antidepressants
  • Matcha
  • health

Most Read

Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam meets with US envoy Morgan Ortagus in Beirut on April 5, 2025 (Dalati Nohra via AP)AP)

Morgan Ortagus to exit US role in Lebanon amid policy shift

  • Politics
  • 1 Jun 2025
A Palestinian woman mourns as she embraces the body of her daughter Mayar Abu Odeh, 8, who was killed in an Israeli army strike on Gaza. at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP)

French port workers block arms shipment to 'Israel' amid Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
It may well be due to the longstanding relationship between MI6 and HTS, via Inter Mediate, that Britain was the first Western country to recognise their assumption of government in Syria. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

How MI6 helped HTS seize Syria

  • Opinion
  • 31 May 2025
Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP)

Boston Consulting Group withdraws from GHF

  • Palestine
  • 3 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Poll
Palestine

Sharp decline in international perception of 'Israel', Netanyahu: Poll

Ukrainian soldiers with the anti-drone KVS G-6, manufactured by Kvertus Technology.Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine/Facebook
US & Canada

Shift in US priorities: Drone fuzes reallocated from Kiev to CENTCOM

US Jews accuse Trump of antisemitism despite his pro-'Israel' stance
US & Canada

US Jews accuse Trump of antisemitism despite his pro-'Israel' stance

Former US President Joe Biden speaks from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Sept. 30, 2024 (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)
US & Canada

Trump orders investigation into Biden’s autopen use, cognitive fitness

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS