Is wasabi really the secret memory booster it’s made out to be? Researchers weigh in whether the condiment has an effect on learning, storing and retrieving information
- According to new research, people who ate wasabi experienced an average increase of 18 percent in their episodic memory score
- This level was 14 percent higher than in those who received the placebo in the study
- However, this comes after research revealed that most wasabi is actually horseradish dyed green
Sushi lovers who appreciate adding a little wasabi to their meals might spice up their meal.
According to a study from Tohoku, Japan, wasabi contains a compound that has been proven to give one a memory boost.
Associate Professor Rui Nouchi of Tohoku University's Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer led a team of researchers in a study published by Nutrient that found wasabi leads to a “substantial” increase in episodic memory.
Other researchers in this study include Natasha YS Kawata, Toshiki Saito, Haruka Nouchi and Ryuta Kawashima.
The original study was submitted and published by researchers on June 1, 2022 Nutrient on October 30.
A study from Tohoku, Japan shows that wasabi is an important ingredient to give someone a memory boost
Associate Professor Rui Nouchi of Tohoku University's Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer led a team of researchers in a study published by Nutrient in October 2023
For the randomized study, 72 participants between the ages of 60 and 80 were selected to prove that wasabi would help short- and long-term memory.
The Japanese researchers selected 72 participants between the ages of 60 and 80 for the randomized trial to prove that wasabi would improve short- and long-term memory.
None of the subjects had any pre-existing health problems before the study and participants were divided into two separate groups.
The participants who did not receive the placebo took 100 milligrams of wasabi extract containing the 6-MSITC compound.
The subjects who took the wasabi extract noticed an increased memory during the twelve-week study.
Participants who took the wasabi experienced an average increase of 18 percent in their episodic memory score, up to 14 percent higher than those who received the placebo.
The dramatic memory changes surprised Nouchi and the other researchers.
“The improvement was really substantial,” he said CBS News.
According to the researchers, the 6-MSITC reduced oxidant levels and inflammation in the hippocampus, the part of the brain behind memory function.
However, there is a catch in Nouchi's research that sushi lovers should keep in mind regarding the so-called memory booster.
Wasabi is likely white horseradish dyed green, according to an expert who spoke to the Washington Post in 2014
Wasabi, the delicious sushi topping found in supermarkets and restaurants in the US, is likely white horseradish dyed green, according to an expert who has spoken to US authorities. Washingtonpost in 2014.
The researcher who spoke to the Washington Post even said that “99 percent of wasabi in North America is fake.”
The researcher stated that '95 percent (of wasabi) is also fake in Japan' – a shocking revelation for a plant native to the country.
However, it is important to note that horseradish, which contains small amounts of calcium, potassium and magnesium, is a little different from wasabi.
So wasabi has been confirmed to improve memory, but does it really help memory now that we know it's mainly horseradish?
The Japanese researchers have yet to comment on this information and it is not known whether the horseradish statements were considered in the initial study.