White tea, made from new leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, has a centuries-old reputation for its anti-aging and stress-relieving properties. In Japan and China, white tea is often blended with dried jasmine blossoms to make a fragrant beverage favored by centenarians. The authors of "The Okinawa Program" note that the benefits of Asian jasmine white teas come from potent antioxidants in the leaves. To enjoy the flavor of this healthful tea, steep leaves for three to 10 minutes. A little bit of jasmine white tea goes a long way, and you can get up to three steeps from each cup or pot.
Facts
White tea comes from the young buds of the Camellia sinensis bush dried immediately after harvest to preserve freshness. Green tea, from more-mature laves, is steamed or fired before drying. Black and oolong teas are fermented and then dried. White, green and black teas all have concentrations of antioxidant polyphenols and flavonoids. Because white tea leaves are processed less than green or black tea leaves, they have the highest concentration of flavonoid-class antioxidant compounds. Jasmine flowers, also dried with minimal processing, have high flavonoid levels, in addition to lignans, another plant compound that fights cancer.
Features
Flavonoids and lignans help prevent the development of cancer cells in the body, and they promote cell repair rates. Dietary antioxidants help the body stop cell damage and increase cellular repair. Jasmine white tea may be potent protection against cancer and immune system damage because it destroys free radicals that damage other cells in the body. The more jasmine white tea you drink, the more protection you get. And white tea is lower in caffeine than black tea, so you can drink more of it on a regular basis.
Benefits
Studies show that people who drink tea have a lower incidence of life-threatening conditions, including heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and stroke. Additional benefits of drinking white tea include protection against tooth and gum decay, osteoporosis and viral infections. To benefit from the antioxidants in tea, you should drink between two and four cups a day, according to the University of Michigan Healing Foods Pyramid. Jasmine tea has been used traditionally for its calming and aphrodisiac effects. Research at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, reported in "Medicus," indicates that the antioxidants in green and white teas help protect your skin against cancer-causing ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Considerations
Jasmine white tea is lower in caffeine than other types of tea, and it is generally safe for most people. Caffeine can interact with medications, and it may interfere with your sleep patterns if you drink too much of it at night. Consult with your healthcare provider about how your prescriptions react with caffeine. If you are sensitive to caffeine, choose jasmine white tea that's been decaffeinated using a natural process to preserve beneficial compounds in the leaves. If you drink large quantities of green tea, you may develop unsafe fluoride levels in your body. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, however, fluoride overload is unlikely if you drink less than 1 liter of tea per day.
References
- "The Okinawa Program"; Bradley J. Willcox, M.D., et al.; 2002
- Medill Reports; Reading Between the Leaves: Tea's Benefits Balanced by Potential Medical Interactions; Dani Friedland and Tara S. Kerpelman; March 2009
- University of Michigan Health System: Healing Foods Pyramid: Tea
- "Medicus"; Sun Tea: UnLeashing an Ancient Remedy for the Future of Skin Protection; Chrissy Kadleck
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University; Tea; Jane Higdon, Ph.D.; January 2005
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