China and India were among the first known countries to cultivate tea, which has been consumed for many years in Japan and Thailand, as well as India and China. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. Green, black and white tea are packed with antioxidants and deliver numerous health benefits.
Processing
Green, black and white teas all derive from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, but are processed differently. White tea, is steamed and dried, is the least processed of the three and contains the highest amounts of catechins -- a powerful antioxidant. Green tea has a slightly lower amount of catechins than white tea because it is withered and steamed before being dried. Black tea has the lowest amounts of catechins than its counterparts due to its long process of being withered, rolled, fully fermented, pan-fried and then dried, notes Jane Higdon, of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.
Green Tea Benefits
In traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, practitioners have used green tea as a stimulant, to control bleeding and help heal wounds, to help a patient urinate, and to improve heart health. Green tea has also been used to treat gas, regulate the body temperature and blood sugar, aid in digestion and improve thinking. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that the antioxidants in green tea may help prevent atherosclerosis, which occurs when fatty substances, or plaque, deposit on the inner lining of the arterial walls. The tea may help to lower LDL, or bad, cholesterol while raising the HDL, or good, cholesterol. Green tea contains caffeine that stimulates the central nervous system, and tannins that help combat diarrhea. When taken in moderation, green tea may help settle an upset stomach.
Black Tea Benefits
Black tea is quite similar to green tea in that it may prevent arteries from clogging and help improve blood pressure and prevent heart attack and stroke. The only difference between black and green tea is that black tea has more caffeine and is stronger in flavor. One advantage between the two is that black tea retains its flavor for several years.
White Tea Benefits
White tea may have more potential to fight cancer than green tea because of its higher levels of catechins and also may be more effective than green tea at helping to fight bacterial viruses, notes EurekAlert. White tea may also help protect the skin against oxidative stress that causes a breakdown of the cellular strength and function of the skin. It is similar to the way oxidation causes a car to rust.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Green Tea
- NutraSanus: Green Tea Leaf Health Benefits
- American Heart Association: Coffee or tea: enjoy both in moderation for heart benefits
- EurekAlert: Cancer-preventive potential of white tea
- EurekAlert: White tea beats green tea in fighting germs
- EurekAlert: New study shows tea extract protects skin
Member Comments