10 Benefits of White Tea

You’ve heard about green tea, black tea, oolong, and even red tea… but have you heard of “white tea” and its myriad of health benefits? White tea, unlike most other tea forms, is created from the immature leaves of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), picked right before the buds open. Besides, tea do come in many forms and is the most commonly consumed beverage in the world next to water.

Black and green tea is indeed widely popular in the western world. White tea, on the other hand, is native to China which has gained popularity due to disease-fighting components coupled with low caffeine content. White tea is the least processed of them but with very impressive benefits as listed below.

The name originally came from the fuzzy substance that covers the tea buds, however it can also be a reference to the process used on the leaves. Essentially, the longer the tea is left out to oxidize, the darker it becomes. In the case of white tea, the leaves are steamed and dried immediately after harvesting. This results in a very light, delicate flavor that has none of the bitterness of black tea, or the herb-like aftertaste of green tea. It has weaved in and out of popularity over the centuries, but its description as a “rarity and a luxury” by none other than Chinese Emperor Hui Zong has never waned.

While white tea is still considered a rare type nowadays, it has also regained much of its popularity due to its health benefits. The immature tea buds contain a higher level of catechins than in other types of tea, and it is these catechins that offer most of tea’s antioxidant properties. The minimal processing done on the leaves also means most beneficial compounds are well-preserved.

Here is a rundown of 10 white tea benefits, backed by solid scientific research that would have you brewing your own cup today!

Benefits of White Tea

1. It arrests the development of cancer.

Just like green tea, white tea can be beneficial in preventing cancer, such as lung cancer, due to antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties that induces apoptosis, the process of programmed cell death.

In an experiment, regular white tea intake has also been shown to reduce the instances of “colonic aberrant crypts” in the experimental subjects. These “crypts” are abnormalities in the colon that often act as forerunners of cancer. It was proven that white tea has the ability to disrupt potential carcinogenic molecules. This was done in a 2008 study, and was a sequel to findings that among all the tea types (white, green, black), white tea has the most potent antimutagenic property.

White tea also contains high amounts of the antioxidant catechin. This antioxidant inhibits the growth of cancer cells which also has suppressive activities against breast cancer. Tea catechins can be beneficial in reducing the risk of recurrence for breast cancer survivors.

2. It helps prevent aging.

White tea has cosmetic benefits, too. In a study that compared the water extracts of white, green, and black tea, a team of scientists found that white tea is superior to green tea (and has about the same potency as black tea) when it comes to reducing collagen-breaking enzymes. These enzymes break down parts of the skin, contributing greatly to the wrinkles that mark one’s age.

3. It helps prevent diabetes.

The intake of teas has been helpful in providing assistance to people suffering from diabetic symptoms. It’s been observed to provide relief from excessive thirst, decrease in plasma glucose levels, and increase in insulin activity.

Much has been said about tea being a good way to prevent diabetes. White tea has also proven to be superior in this regard. A study has shown that continuous white tea intake helps restore insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in pre-diabetic test subjects. The same study also noted that white tea helped restore the overall health and activity of the cerebral cortex, one of the first of the vital organs to be adversely affected by diabetes.

4. It protects the heart and the kidney.

Natural antioxidants in teas are known to lessen the progress of thrombosis and atherosclerosis. The antithrombogenic and vasculoprotective underlying mechanisms of white tea guards against the ravages of stroke by promoting strong and healthy coronary function and according to a research that was carried by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, drinking tea is certainly found to be helpful in decreasing the risk of stroke. A reduced risk of coronary heart disease with regular consumption of tea is well established.

Teas generally contain components, such as catechins, that help dilate blood vessels to allow for a reduction in blood pressure and promote ease in the flow of blood throughout the body. The total catechin content of white tea is of comparable quantities to green tea, the highest amount among other teas including black tea.

Other components of white tea, namely the L-theanine and quercetin, also have the special capacity of lowering high blood pressure which aids in reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Aside from catechins, tea also contains polyphenols that have been thought to produce an antioxidant response in the body. The long-term intake of white tea has been proven in one study to help reduce oxidative stress on the kidneys, thereby cutting off several types of kidney diseases at the roots.

5. It promotes cell and bone health.

We know that the cell is the basic building block of life, and when they are harmed, so is the body. White tea’s antioxidant properties have been proven to greatly help in the reduction of oxidative effects in the neural functions of cells. This ensures that the body can communicate effectively and with minimal delay, thus promoting all its processes.

The consumption of tea can also help improve bone density and strength. This can be a relief against the symptoms of osteoporosis considering that white tea is found to be more effective in preservation of bone loss compared to green, black or red tea.

6. It has fat-busting properties.

Tea has also been used as a dietary supplement to help trim fat. White tea is known to contain high levels of antioxidants that can boost your metabolism and help curb appetite. A 2015 study suggests that due to the higher potential of white tea’s antioxidant properties, it is also possible that it has a significant ability to break down fat, thus being especially helpful not just to those who want to trim down in their diet but also those who want to maintain overall health.

Antioxidants found in teas have shown to reduce cholesterol. There is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol, and white tea is known for increasing the good type while reducing the bad. This prevents the hardening of arteries. White tea also contains caffeine which is known to help enhance weight loss by increasing fat oxidation and maintaining energy expenditure.

Conclusions about weight management benefits of white tea indicates that the consumption of the tea can promote the breakdown of fats (lipolysis) in fat cells while preventing new fat cells (adipogenesis) from developing.

7. It helps eliminate mouth bacteria.

Health benefits of white tea include improvements in oral health. Many products now tout green tea extract as an antibacterial solution, but white tea also has similar benefits. In fact, a study showed that white tea is capable of reducing bacterial strains in the mouth, while also showing that white tea has moderate anti-plaque properties.

The presence of components such as tannins, flavonoids and polyphenols helps in inhibiting the growth of the bacteria that contribute to plaque formation. White tea also contains some Fluoride which can be effective in reducing dental carries.

8. It helps in reproductive health.

According to a 2013 study, white tea has the ability to boost the health of the “sertoli cell”, a type of cell that supports and “nurses” the sperm-producing parts of the male reproductive system. This means more potent cells and an overall better reproductive profile.

9. It can help reduce inflammation.

White tea is a natural killer of bacteria. It contains copious antioxidants capable of toning the entire immune system, providing protection against disease-causing microorganisms and offering protection from a wide range of diseases including flu.

In a study that also researched the antioxidant effects of white tea in the human skin, scientists have found that white tea extract also has significant anti-inflammatory properties that could help reduce anything from irritation to outright inflammation.

10. It acts as a sunscreen.

Perhaps among the many health benefits of tea, this one is the least known. According to one study, white tea extract applied topically can be used to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays!

Free radicals when staying out under the sun for long periods, along with poor diet and stress, can damage the skin and cause it to age prematurely.

By scavenging these free radicals, white tea can protect the skin and helps to reverse some of the damage. This suggests that white tea can be useful in promoting healthy and radiant skin.

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