White tea is good for health and can help maintain a youthful complexion.
Author:
Release date:
2010-10-28
According to Phys.org, the next time you fancy a cup of tea, consider reaching for white tea—because recent research shows it not only helps lower the risks of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, but may even reduce wrinkles associated with aging.
Researchers at Kingston University have partnered with the UK-based essential oil brand NYR to test the health benefits of 21 plant and herb extracts. They discovered that all the plants studied offer potential health advantages—but surprisingly, white tea was found to provide even greater benefits to the human body than the others. Professor Declan Norton from Kingston University's Faculty of Life Sciences in southwest London noted that the study highlights white tea's anti-aging properties, as well as its exceptionally high levels of antioxidants, which play a key role in helping to prevent cancer and heart disease.
Norton explained: "Through our experiments, we identified plant juices that can protect skin structural proteins—particularly elastin and collagen. Elastin gives the body its natural elasticity, helping lungs, arteries, ligaments, and skin function properly. Moreover, when you suffer an injury, this protein aids in restoring tissue to its normal state and even prevents sagging skin." Collagen, meanwhile, is found throughout the body’s connective tissues and plays a crucial role in maintaining the skin’s strength and elasticity.
Tea is generally categorized into six major types: green tea, black tea, yellow tea, white tea, oolong tea, and dark tea. As the name suggests, white tea is distinguished by its pale, silvery-white appearance and is relatively rare in most regions. A true specialty of China, white tea is primarily produced in counties such as Fuding, Zhenghe, Songxi, and Jianyang in Fujian Province—and it’s also grown in small quantities on Taiwan Island. The production of white tea dates back roughly 200 years, with Fuding County credited as its birthplace. The region boasts an exceptional variety of tea plants known as "Fuding Da Bai Cha," whose delicate buds and leaves are generously covered with soft, white downy hairs, making them ideal for crafting premium white tea. Initially, these tea leaves were used to create the first batches of white tea. But why does white tea retain its distinctive white color? It’s because only the tenderest buds and young leaves—those with abundant white down on their undersides—are carefully handpicked. During processing, these leaves are neither pan-fired nor rolled; instead, they’re simply air-dried or gently dried over low heat. This meticulous method ensures that the natural white down remains intact on the tea’s surface, giving it that unmistakable, ethereal white hue.
The study findings reveal that white tea inhibits the activity of biochemical enzymes that trigger the breakdown of elastin and collagen—proteins whose degradation contributes to skin wrinkles and, ultimately, aging. These same enzymes and oxidants are also linked to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Professor Norton commented: "These enzymes and oxidants are essential components of normal bodily metabolism. However, for decades, researchers have been grappling with how to effectively suppress their activity during inflammatory states. Surprisingly, in each of our five experiments, we observed that white tea exhibited exceptionally high inhibitory activity—results that truly took us by surprise."
The effects of white tea have left all researchers thoroughly astonished. Norton, one of the country’s most renowned experts on inflammation, remarked: "We’ve only tested it in very small amounts—far less than what you’d typically find in beverages. Yet, early indications suggest that white tea significantly reduces inflammation, a key factor behind conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, certain types of cancer, and even the development of wrinkles." Additionally, an analysis of eight other plants and herbs revealed that they too help inhibit the breakdown of elastin and collagen. Among these, black kelp extract showed the second-strongest anti-degradation effect, followed by cleavers, rose petals, green tea, angelica root, fennel, and pomegranate juice.
Dr. Pauline Haley, NYR’s technical director, said: "This research excites us because it enables us to stay at the forefront of innovation and maintain our leadership in natural skincare. Our decision to incorporate these plants into our company’s products—and to explore their unique benefits for the skin—was the driving force behind this experiment. The research project from Kingston University has been instrumental in helping us develop safe, effective, and cutting-edge products, making them an ideal partner for us."
Related News
2023/08/26
2023/08/16
2023/08/06
Contact Us
Address: Mayang Village, Diandou Town, Fuding City, Fujian Province
Scan to follow our WeChat official account
Scan to access the mobile version
Copyright © Fuding Dongnan Duoqi Tea Industry Co., Ltd. SEO Cityproducts Privacy Policy
Powered by www.300.cn