It has long been known that green tea benefits one’s health, it is even thought to have an effect on cancer and staving off dementia. But the benefits of other teas isn’t as widely discussed or widely known. Moreover, white tea is probably the least known tea in the U.S., since black and green tea are generally preferred. However, white tea also has health benefits that should not be ignored.
What is White Tea
White tea, despite its vast history in Asia, is still one of the most mysterious teas here in the United States. However, its exciting history and health benefits seem to be bringing it into the forefront in the U.S.
White tea is less processed than other teas, making the flavor mild and delicate; this also means its health benefits are more potent than other forms of tea that undergo significant processing, or loose a great deal of nutrients and antioxidants during the heating process (White Tea, N.d). Furthermore, white tea contains less caffeine than other teas, making it a great option for those with caffeine sensitivity, or other reasons for avoiding caffeine. White tea is crafted from the leaves and buds of plants, which is then “steamed, fired, then dried to preserve the disease fighting properties” (Livestrong, 2011).
While green tea has overcome white tea in popularity, it doesn’t mean that white tea doesn’t have its own health benefits; and surprisingly, they seem comparable to those of the popular green tea.
The first major benefit of white tea is the cancer fighting benefit. According to Live strong (2011) an Oregon based study white tea contains high amounts of a specific antioxidant called “catechin,” which was found to inhibit cancer cell growth. This same study concluded that catechin was effective in reducing the risk of “stomach, liver, skin, breast, colon, prostate, lung, esophagus, pancreas and ovarian cancer in animal studies” (Livestong, 2011). Furthermore, a 2004 ScienceDaily article noted that research found white tea extract to be more effective than green tea at “inactivating bacterial viruses.”
Secondly, white tea has been found to be beneficial in reducing the risks of heart disease by dilating blood vessels allowing for the lowering of blood pressure; and smoother, more efficient blood flow throughout the body (Livestrong, 2011). This health benefit was found to be attributed to the same catechin antioxidant that reduced cancer risk, proving the multi-purposes and benefits of products containing antioxidants, and the benefits of white tea, and white tea extract in promoting a healthy lifestyle.
It is also encouraged that people drink white tea as a means of fighting stress and as a diet aid; each of which were also attributed to white tea’s high antioxidant content. And, shockingly enough, natural fluoride content has also been found to be beneficial to the maintenance of strong and healthy teeth (White Tea, N.d)
While the vast and varied benefits of white tea may seem rather far fetched, a number of studies have been conducted using humans, as well as laboratory animals, in order to observe and record the stated health benefits. Furthermore, low caffeine content makes white tea an easy beverage to consume on a daily basis. Just this fact alone makes white tea a better option for individuals seeking to lead a more healthy lifestyle, as excessive amounts of caffeine has been linked to negative health effects and sleeping problems. Even if you drink coffee or soda everyday, white tea still provides a health supplement that will not aid to your daily caffeine intake, and still provide an easy option for health and life quality improvement.
References:
Science Daily (2004). White Tea Beats Green Tea in Fighting Germs. ScienceDaily.
Live strong (2011). Benefits of White Tea.
White Tea (N.d) White Tea
