True teas are made from the Camellia sinensis plant, commonly known as the tea plant, and come in four basic varieties: black, oolong, green and white. All four teas come from the same leaves and buds, but their differences derive from the way they are processed after harvesting. Since white tea is neither oxidized nor roasted before it's dried, it contains more antioxidants than the other types of tea. Antioxidants are chemicals believed to prevent and reverse cellular free radical damage, which may play a role in cancer, cardiovascular disease and other disease processes.
Cancer
Free radicals cause cellular damage that can lead to mutations in cellular DNA or mutagenicity, an early step in the development of cancer. Antioxidants may help to prevent or reverse mutagenicity. Research scientists at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University examined the role of white tea in the prevention of cancer in mice genetically predisposed to intestinal tumors. A control group of mice that received no treatment developed an average of 30 polyps in their colons. Mice treated with white tea developed an average of 13 polyps. Mice treated with a combination of white tea and sulindac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent used in cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention, developed an average of six polyps.
The researchers claimed that experimental animal models show that tea helps prevent skin, lung, esophageal, gastric, hepatic, small intestinal, pancreatic, colon, bladder and breast cancer. Researchers also recommended drinking three large mugs of tea a day to aid in cancer prevention.
Cardiovascular Disease
The antioxidants in tea can help prevent cardiovascular disease by improving blood flow to the heart. According to the University of Michigan's Integrative Medicine program, the antioxidants help to reduce cholesterol levels and act as anti-inflammatory agents. Reducing cholesterol levels can help prevent atherosclerosis, or the buildup of plaque on arterial walls. Atherosclerosis narrows arteries, which can inhibit or halt blood flow to the heart and brain, causing heart attacks and stroke. Inflammation can also contribute to atherosclerosis.
Warnings
All true teas naturally contain caffeine, which can interact with certain medications. Birth control pills can reduce the body's ability to metabolize caffeine, which can allow caffeine to remain in the body longer and caffeine's effect to linger longer. Caffeine can boost aspirin's blood-thinning properties, which could lead to internal bleeding. Tea also contain tannins, which naturally bind to dietary iron, reducing your body's ability to absorb iron in food.
References
- Medhill Reports Chicago: Reading Between the Leaves: Tea's Benefits Balanced by Potential Medical Interactions
- Oregon State University: Is White Tea Better Than Other Teas as a Potential Anticarcinogen?
- Oregon State University: Tea Complements Drugs in Fight Against Colon Cancer
- University of Michigan Integrative Medicine: Healing Foods Pyramid: Tea
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Step 1: The Dangers of High Cholesterol
- American Heart Association: Inflammation, Heart Disease and Stroke: The Role of C-Reactive Protein
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