White tea offers immense health benefits. But for a long time, the benefits of white tea were only known to Asians. Today, the West has woken up to the wonderful benefits of white tea, and its healthful goodness is getting known all across the world.
In addition to aiding in weight loss and helping in the treatment of diabetes, white tea is also beneficial in numerous ways. These include improving skin and hair health, treating acne, helping treat cancer, reducing inflammation, improving the health of liver and kidneys, maintaining reproductive health, keeping the heart healthy, enhancing memory, energy and alertness, supporting the treatment of hypothyroidism, and improving oral health. White tea is also believed to be helpful during pregnancy.
But what is so great about white tea? Keep reading!
1. Helps In Weight Loss
2. Aids In The Treatment Of Acne
3. Can Be Beneficial In Pregnancy
4. Helps In The Treatment Of Cancer
5. Improves Hair And Skin Health
6. Can Help In The Treatment Of Diabetes
7. Enhances Energy And Alertness
8. Helps Reduce Inflammation
9. Can Be Beneficial To The Kidneys
10. Improves Liver Health
11. Is Good For The Heart
12. Is Good For The Teeth
13. Improves Reproductive Health
14. For Hypothyroidism
15. Can Improve Memory
Before going ahead and knowing the white tea benefits, first let’s see how it can be prepared.
1. Heat the water till it reaches a few degrees under the boiling point.
2. Steep the tea in the water for about one to five minutes, or till the tea changes color from pale yellow to light orange.
You can consume white tea just like your regular tea, and reap the many benefits it offers. A few of them have been listed below.
Have you ever considered white tea for weight loss? If not, then its a high time you hit it. Obesity is probably the number one ailment in the world today, and people never seem to get tired of searching for a solution to it.
And amongst the many solutions, white tea appears to be a promising one.
In one new German study, it was found that white tea helps in weight loss by burning the existing fat cells and preventing the formation of new ones (1).
White tea is also found to be less processed than its counterparts, and happens to contain more of those ingredients that are responsible for burning fat. In fact, the Chinese had concealed the many benefits of white tea for a long time, and scientists dub it the ultimate health drink.
According to the Harvard Medical School, the catechins found in white tea can also promote weight loss (2). All forms of tea, including white tea, are loaded with antioxidants (3). These can aid in the weight loss process.
Tea catechins are also found to have antiangiogenic properties that may prevent obesity (4).
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Look at the people around you, and chances are that a majority of them have some form of acne. Acne is not a harmful or dangerous issue, but it doesn’t look good anyway.
According to a study conducted at Kingston University, London, white tea has antiseptic and antioxidant properties (5). Most dermatologists believe that antioxidants protect the skin from the cellular damage caused by free radicals, and keep it healthy (6).
You can, ideally, consider drinking white tea for acne treatment. Take one cup of white tea twice a day regularly. The antioxidants in white tea flush out the toxins in your body, whose accumulation could have a negative effect on your skin and result in acne.
You can also use white tea topically by boiling two white tea bags and then allowing the solution to cool down through refrigeration. Soak cotton balls in the solution and rub them on your skin for a few minutes, post which you can wash your face with cold water.
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As already discussed, white tea contains antioxidants. In one Scotland study, it was found that antioxidants offer cell protection from the increased oxidative damage during pregnancy (7).
However, there are a few concerns.
White tea contains caffeine (though less than other teas, except green tea (8), whose intake must be limited during pregnancy. This is because the unborn baby can’t metabolize caffeine like the mother. According to certain research papers, intake of excessive amounts of caffeine can increase the chances of birth defects, miscarriage, and stillbirth (9).
Hence, it is always better to consult your doctor and take their advice regarding the intake of caffeine during pregnancy.
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According to a study published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, white tea might have an anti-cancer effect. In fact, white tea was found to be more effective than green tea in destroying cancer cells in the study (10).
As per another 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 (11).
According to the Oregon State University, white tea is the least processed amongst other teas (12). White tea is a great source of antioxidants and polyphenols, both of which are cancer-fighting compounds (13). It also has been found that tea (especially white tea) has certain positive effects on the metabolism that can block some of the cancer-causing effects.
White tea is also a photoprotective agent, and can be used along with other methods of sun protection to increase the impact (14). White tea contains EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), an effective antioxidant. Topical application of EGCG has been found to protect the skin cells from damage (15). In one American study, the antioxidant had also shown to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer (16).
Catechins, 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 (17), making it one of the ideal foods for cancer prevention or treatment.
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White tea is replete with antioxidants, and according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the anti-inflammatory properties of these antioxidants strengthen the connective tissue and help reduce allergies like dandruff or eczema (18).
Antioxidants can also help treat hair related disorders like hair fall and the like (19). We have already seen that white tea contains EGCG. According to one Korean study, EGCG can enhance hair growth in humans (20). An American study has also proved the efficacy of EGCG in supporting the survival of hair cells (21). Research conducted at Konkuk University, Korea, had named the antioxidant to be one of the useful ingredients in the treatment of scalp seborrheic dermatitis (22).
Skin infections caused by gram-negative bacteria (bacteria that show resistance to multiple drugs) were found to be otherwise treated with the help of EGCG (23).
EGCG is also considered the fountain of youth for skin cells, is it has been found to have benefits for skin conditions like psoriasis, wrinkles, rosacea and wounds (24).
Due to the high phenol content, white tea strengthens elastin and collagen (important proteins found in the connective tissues), thereby making the skin strong and preventing wrinkles (25).
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There is no wonder if you find at least one person in every family to be a diabetic. With changing lifestyles and deteriorating lifestyle habits, diabetes, unfortunately, is only becoming a more common phenomenon.
However, research throws a positive light on white tea, with regard to its ability to treat or even prevent diabetes.
Human trials conducted in a Chinese study showed that regular consumption of white tea could significantly benefit diabetes patients (26). Another study conducted on diabetes-induced rats showed that white tea reduced the symptoms of the disease (27).
Diabetes can also have undesirable effects on the cerebral cortex (the part of the brain that plays a role 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 (28).
Another study conducted in Portugal suggested that the consumption of white tea could be a natural and economical way to counter the harmful effects of prediabetes on male reproductive health (29). However, the study also warrants further research.
The catechins in white tea must be given the credit for the tea’s anti-diabetic properties, as they have been found to play an important role in the treatment or prevention of type 2 diabetes (30).
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As we already know, white tea goes through the least amount of processing, and hence has the highest concentration of L-theanine (31) (an amino acid that boosts alertness and has a calming effect on the mind). White tea contains less amount of caffeine than other teas, and, as a result, is more hydrating – this helps in sustaining energy.
An American study had found that L-theanine, along with a little amount of caffeine, could increase levels of alertness and reduce tiredness (32).
Numerous studies had also shown that the combination of L-theanine with a little amount of caffeine can lower anxiety levels (33). The amino acid can also improve memory and reaction time (34).
L-theanine present in white tea can also reduce mental and physical stress (35). The amino acid is found to increase the production of serotonin and dopamine in the brain (36), which are basically neurotransmitters that elevate your mood and keep you happy and alert.
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The catechins play a mighty role here – they reduce inflammation, and also reduce the risk of diseases linked to chronic inflammation (such as cancer, diabetes, and atherosclerosis) (37), (38).
In one Japanese study, catechins were found to suppress the inflammation of the muscles and accelerated recovery after exercise (39). They were also found to suppress the effects of factors that cause fibrosis (40) (the scarring of connective tissue usually due to injury).
The EGCG found in white teas has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. It treats related ailments like cold and flu, and also kills various bacteria and viruses, including the virus that causes influenza (41). EGCG also fights atherosclerosis that is caused by inflammation due to environmental pollutants (42).
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In a Polish study conducted in 2015, consumption of white tea was linked to the reduction of adverse effects of environmental pollution on the human body, including the kidneys (43).
Another study conducted in Chandigarh, India, showed the role of catechins (because of their antioxidant activity) in offering protection against renal failure (44).
A Chinese study on rats concluded that catechins could prove to be a potential treatment for kidney stones in humans (45).
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The catechins (which are also found in green tea) were found to offer protection against hepatitis (46).
In one Chinese study, tea catechins were found to prevent hepatitis B infection (47). An American study had also substantiated the antiviral effects of catechins that can help in blocking the life cycle of hepatitis B virus (48).
However, excessive intake of catechins was also found to be toxic to the liver (49). Hence, exercise caution or consult your doctor before taking white tea for the liver.
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A Spanish study involved the use of adriamycin, an anticancer agent that can increase oxidative stress in cells. Consumption of white tea for over 12 months was found to reverse the oxidative damage done to the cells in the heart. The heart had also recovered its antioxidant activity, but at the highest dose of white tea (50). White tea was also found to show antioxidant effects on the heart in one study conducted in Greece (51).
White tea was found to contain the most antioxidants compared to other types of tea. The catechins found in white tea had shown to lower cholesterol levels, decrease blood pressure, and improve the functioning of the blood vessels, thereby eventually lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease (52). An American study had also found tea catechins to have a beneficial effect on coronary heart disease (53). The same was concluded in a 2001 study conducted in Netherlands (54).
[ Read: 6 Ways To Keep Your Heart Healthy ]
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White tea contains fluorides, flavonoids, and tannins, all of which could be beneficial to the teeth in various ways. As per a study conducted in India, the fluoride from the tea could be helpful in reducing caries. Tannins inhibit the formation of plaque, and flavonoids prevent the growth of plaque bacteria (55). There is another point to be noted here – white tea does contain tannins, but only in less quantities. Hence, it is not as likely to discolor your teeth as other teas (56) (except for green and herbal teas).
White tea was also found to deactivate the viruses and destroy the bacteria that cause cavities in the teeth (57). In one study, white tea extracts were added to a variety of toothpastes, and according to the findings, the antibacterial and antiviral effects of the toothpastes were enhanced.
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A Portuguese study had concluded that white tea extract could play a role in improving male reproductive health (58).
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Again, it’s the catechins. In one Indian study, the catechins were found to possess antithyroid properties, and taking them was an effective way to prevent hypothyroidism (59).
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White tea is a good source of antioxidants, and one of the best sources of catechins. This makes it one good food for improving memory, or even slowing memory decline.
A study conducted in Portugal had established the role of catechins in protecting the brain from age-related memory decline (60).
According to another study, regular consumption of white tea had helped improve the health of cerebral cortex in pre-diabetic rats, suggesting it could help achieve similar results in humans as well (61).
White tea is one of those foods that can improve your life significantly over time. Make it a part of your diet and stay healthy!
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