The Health Benefits Of White Tea, Part 2
There are many antioxidants, and the antioxidants in white tea are known as catechins. About 25 to 30 percent of the dry weight of a tea leaf is due to catechins, sometimes known as polyphenols. They are present in many plants and foodstuffs, such as vegetables, red wine, chocolate, and coffee. The largest source of catechins in the human diet is tea and coffee. Because so many people drink coffee, which also contains some catechins, it is probably the greatest source of antioxidants in many societies. That does not mean that it is the strongest, as most kinds of tea contain a lot more antioxidants per cup than coffee does.
Health benefits
Catechins have been called super-antioxidants. They neutralize harmful fats and oils, which lowers the cholesterol and blood pressure. They block cancer-triggering mechanisms, inhibit bacteria and viruses, improve digestion and protect against ulcers, strokes and diabetes. The health benefits of catechins have been studied extensively.Inhibit disease
Many studies have focused on the way catechins seem to inhibit and prevent the growth of cancer cells. Many of these studies were conducted with green tea, and since white tea contains even more antioxidants than green tea, white tea would be even more effective.Some studies seem to suggest that tea speeds up the rate of metabolism, meaning that the calories are burned more quickly.
Both green and white tea have antibacterial and antivirical properties. It has been observed that both types of tea may inhibit tooth decay and gum diseases. They may also have anti-inflammatory properties.
The Asian paradox
An interesting effect of tea consumption is is the observation that the population in Eastern Asia smoke a lot, and often have diets high in calories, but that their rates of heart disease and many forms of cancer are much lower than in the West.This effect has been attributed to the great consumption of green tea in the area. In fact, even though it is being drunk in very limited quantities outside of Asia, green tea is the second most popular drink in the world, beaten only by water.
The phenomenon is so clear and pronounced that it is widely known as the Asian Paradox.
Prevent aging
Free radicals in general have been associated with physical aging. The theory is that free radicals attack the cells, specifically the nucleus, which contains the DNA of the organism. If the DNA is damaged, the cell commits suicide or may become cancerous. If one cell dies, the consequences for the organism are not very large. If thousands of cells in the same part of the body die over time, such as in the skin, the result is visible as damage, such as wrinkles.When we know that every cell in the body is attacked by free radicals thousands of times every day, the importance of giving the body enough antioxidants to defend itself with becomes obvious.
Many of the studies of the beneficial effects of drinking tea were done using green tea, not white tea. However, since white tea contains significantly more antioxidants than green tea, and is in a way closer to its natural state, we can safely assume that the beneficial health effects of white tea are even stronger.
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Summary: The antioxidants in white tea are known as catechins. They neutralize free radicals, and may be effective against many forms of cancer, heart disease, and even physical aging. White tea is antibacterial and may speed up the metabolism.