There are many health benefits of white tea. All tea comes from the same kind of plant, known as Camilla sinensis, and different types of teas are made from different parts of the plant. White tea is made from unopened leaf buds and from newly opened leaves. Different types of white tea have different ratios of buds to leaves, with the more expensive brands using a higher ratio of unopened buds.
The Main Benefits of White Tea
One of the main benefits of white tea is that it is the least processed of all of the teas. The only processing of white tea comes from the steaming of the buds to open them before they are dried for packaging. This decreased processing increases the amount of polyphenols, also known as antioxidants, in the tea, which were found in a study in 2000 to protect the body from the damage done to DNA by free radicals. A 2009 study conducted by the School of Life Sciences at Kingston University found that the increased antioxidants also improved skin collagen and elastin. A 2003 study conducted by Case Western University showed that white tea applied topically can decrease DNA damage on the skin.
More Benefits of White Tea
Numerous additional benefits of white tea have been discovered in the recent past and have been documented in scientific studies. A 2001 study conducted by Oregon State University found white tea drinkers had a decreased risk of colon, stomach and prostate cancer. In 2004, a study conducted at Pace University found the tea improved natural immunity with antibacterial and antiviral properties. The same study also showed that those drinking the tea had a decreased amount of dental plaque, which may also be due to trace amounts of fluoride found in the tea.
Additional Benefits of White Tea
Another one of the interesting benefits of white tea is its ability to improve metabolism. While there is only a small amount of caffeine found in the tea itself, chemicals found in the leaves have been found to break down fat cells more easily. While the improved fat breakdown was demonstrated in a 2009 study, it is not yet entirely clear if white tea can be used to help with weight loss as further study needs to be conducted.
While more study is still being conducted, there are clear benefits of white tea. The improvement of skin has been one of the best studied benefits to date, and the tea can clearly help with preventing further damage. Improved metabolism and natural immunity are also benefits to be enjoyed, among the many other benefits of white tea.
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