What is White Tea?

White tea was born as an accident some 5,000 years ago in China. It so happened that while traveling along the countryside, the emperor Shen Nung suddenly felt thirsty, and was provided with boiled water. At that time some leaves of white tea flew into the boiled water giving it a different and nice flavor. The emperor took an instant liking to this particular drink and asked the inhabitants to search for the origin of this particular leaf.

White is considered superior in all aspects, white tea is the product of sun-dried buds of Camellia sinensis plant. The sun-dried buds of the plants have fine, silvery-white strings. These impart a light and sweet flavor to this beverage from this is where the name was given.

SEE ALSO: Let’s Know Something About Green Tea

Aids in weight loss

One of the several benefits of drinking white tea is it helps in weight loss. White tea inhibits the formation of adipocytes that are fats cells. White stimulates the fat burning process known as lipolysis. White tea is also involved low-fat absorption and finally restrains the hunger pang.

Skin care

A study conducted on white tea shows that the high amount of polyphenols exhibits an effective anti-oxidant activity along with the potent anti-aging properties by inhibiting collagenase and elastase activity. Also,  a study conducted at Kingston University, London, white tea has antiseptic and antioxidant properties. Most dermatologists believe that antioxidants protect the skin from the cellular damage caused by free radicals, and keep it healthy.

Oral health

The presence of polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids, help in inhibiting the growth of various bacteria that may cause plaque formation. The fluoride content found in this tea may also be effective in reducing the risk of dental caries or tooth decay.

Anti-cancerous activity

According to the study published in the journal of Cancer Prevention Research, White tea extract increased a specific type of cell death in laboratory cultures of two different types of non-small cell lung cancer cells, indicating that the tea may have an anti-cancer effect. A study published in Malaysian study, white tea has excellent antioxidant and antiproliferative effects against cancer cells. The tea not only destroys the diseased cells but also protects the healthy cells from DNA damage. White is the unprocessed one thus contains potent anti-oxidant activity. White tea contains EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), an effective antioxidant. Topical application of EGCG has been found to protect the skin cells from damage. In one American study, the antioxidant had also shown to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer. A compound called catechins is a type of antioxidant are known for their excellent anti-cancer properties. It has been found that white tea contains the highest concentration of catechins, making it one of the ideal foods for cancer prevention or treatment.

Helps with diabetes

According to the sources, regular consumption of white tea could significantly help diabetes patients. A study conducted on diabetes-induced rats showed that white tea reduced the symptoms of the disease. Diabetes shows the adverse effects on the cerebral cortex, the Cerebral cortex is the part of the brain which is involved in consciousness.  A Portuguese study conducted in 2015 had called the regular consumption of white tea to be a safe and inexpensive strategy to prevent the negative effects of diabetes on the cerebral cortex.

Improves cardiovascular health

One the health benefits of drinking white tea is- Flavonoids found in various food products such as white tea, fruits, and vegetables are associated with decreased risk of the cardiovascular disorders. These flavonoids help to decrease the blood pressure. White tea also helps in treating dyslipidemia, endothelial function, and inhibits low-density lipoprotein oxidation. Consumption of this form of a tea, rich in flavonoids, may reduce the risk of various heart conditions.

Antioxidant Agent

Presence of free radicals in the body is what leads to damaged body organs. It contains polyphenols which help in neutralizing these free radicals, making them less destructive. Results of a study suggest that this tea may increase antioxidant effects of organs as well as plasma. Another study was done to investigate neuroprotective effect of white tea extract on hydrogen peroxide-induced toxicity. The results of this study showed that white tea extracts with its antioxidant properties help in cell neuroprotection. White tea is a good source of catechins, this makes it one good food for improving memory or even slowing memory decline.

Lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases

Compounds in white tea, like the polyphenol EGCG, may lower the risk of developing Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Test-tube and animal studies have shown that EGCG can suppress free radicals, reduce inflammation and reduce other risk factors for both diseases. For example, several test-tube studies have shown that EGCG can prevent proteins from inappropriately folding and clumping together. This is a risk factor for both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Misfolded and clumped proteins can promote inflammation and damage nerves in the brain. There are also several human studies that have linked drinking tea with a lower risk of both diseases. For example, a review of eight studies with over 5,600 people found that people who drank tea had a 15% lower risk of Parkinson’s disease than people who did not drink tea.