Benefits of wasabi: How a spicy paste boosts brain health

When the first sushi restaurants appeared in Canada around the turn of the millennium, few could have expected that Canadians would grow to love Japanese cuisine so much. Today, many of us can't imagine not tasting it occasionally. And given that, most of us come into contact with wasabi—a spicy, green paste used to season raw fish. This Japanese horseradish is the subject of this article, particularly its remarkable health-promoting properties.

What exactly is wasabi? It is Japanese horseradish from the mustard family, naturally found in Asia. Its cultivation is complex and requires following many guidelines, so such places are still rare in Canada. Fortunately, we have observed a positive trend in this direction in recent years. And why should we be happy about this?

The effect of wasabi on the human body turns out to be truly extraordinary. This is due to the high content of sinigrin, which is responsible for the spiciness in horseradish. Scientists have long suspected that this chemical compound has a positive impact, especially on brain function. Now, thanks to research, we know this for sure.

Research on the impact of wasabi on the human brain was published in the journal Nutrients. The authors are scientists from Tohoku University. Their experiment involved examining the effect of wasabi on the minds of seniors. Seventy-two older people were invited, and for two weeks, half of them were given wasabi extract, while the rest received a placebo.

The study's results were unequivocal. Among the seniors who consumed wasabi extract, a significant improvement in concentration and memory was observed. The authors of the study explained that this is due to the positive influence of substances contained in wasabi on the hippocampus—the part of the brain responsible for memories, declarative memory, and spatial memory. The conclusions are clear: wasabi is one of the products that older people should consider!