White tea has come into the forefront ever since it was made known that it has more antioxidants than green tea. And while there is truth to this statement, it is not wholly representative of the chemical properties of a white tea. White tea has more polyphenols including theaflavins and flavonoids compared to green tea. However, the amount of catechins is higher in green tea than in white.
Such findings suggest that white teas have the potential to increase the bioavailability of most health-boosting polyphenols required by the human body. However, in vivo studies are presently inconclusive since bioavailability of many of the antioxidants is extensively affected by the factors like the quality and freshness of tea, methods of preparation of the tea, lifestyle choices, and food habits.
White tea in weight loss
In recent years, antioxidants in white tea have aroused a great deal of interest because of their assumed ability to impact cell metabolism and weight loss. Because white tea is a rich source of EGCG – one of the most potent and abundantly available antioxidant compounds (4245 mg per 100 g) that is believed to boost metabolic activity – it is easy to think it has a role in weight loss.
However, these remain poorly investigated claims. While research on the effectiveness of EGCG has been conducted with green tea, the contribution of such antioxidants towards weight loss is uncertain due to the lack of empirical evidence. One in vitro study reported that regular consumption of EGCG reduced body weight gain by as much as 40% in high-fat-fed male mice in comparison to high-fat-fed controls. Although such in vitro studies have demonstrated the ability of EGCG to help prevent weight gain, the effectiveness of white tea in making available such antioxidant compounds have not been scientifically elucidated in in vivo studies.
White tea and skin cancer
Being one of the least processed teas, white tea retains much of the plant’s inherent polyphenols. The antioxidant properties of these polyphenols are believed to suppress UVA-triggered photo-oxidative mechanisms that can cause diseases like skin cancer. Studies have shown benefits of tea polyphenols in preventing oxidative stress due to exposure to UV radiation when used topically.
One in vitro study has established that topical application of EGCG before UVB exposure prevents depletion of antibody antigens while another states that topical application of EGCG before UVB exposure reduces the number of depletion of monocytes and white blood cells.
In light of these observed benefits from the topical application of tea extracts, tea polyphenols are being developed as photoprotective agents. While polyphenols in both white tea and green tea have been found to protect the epidermal cells from UV-induced depletion, given that the concentration of EGCG is more in a white tea, it is believed to prove more acceptable in topical preparations.
Additional white tea benefits
When we talk about drinking white tea, the obvious questions that will crop up in your head might be like these. Is white tea healthy? What is white tea good for or is white tea good for your skin? So, in case you are one of these people wondering what white tea is good for we’ll have you know that the health benefits of white tea are not limited to just weight loss. Here are a few health benefits of white tea that will make this beverage a healthy addition to your everyday diet.
- Antioxidant Agent
- Anti-aging Properties
- Improves Oral Health
- Prevents Cancer
- Controls Diabetes
- Improves Cardiovascular Disorder
The advantages of white tea for your skin are other reasons why many people have become a fan of this healthy beverage.
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