I have read many websites about the benefits of Green Tea and I would say the
Salada website is very informational about both Green and White Tea.
Here is the information about the effects of Green Tea and White Tea:
The flavonoid's in tea, especially the catechins,
appear to be very effective antioxidants and help neutralize free radicals that can lead to cancer. A study at the University of Kansas concluded that the catechin EGCG was more than 100 times as effective as vitamin C at neutralizing free radicals. Several population studies show that people who drink tea have reduced risks of some types of cancer. Generally, people had to drink at least five cups a day to reap the benefit, but more research is needed in this area. Tea also appears to be particularly effective at reducing the damage caused by cigarette smokers. There is also evidence that green tea may inhibit tumor growth.
According to the Tea Association of the USA, some preliminary studies find a correlation of tea consumption and the risk of certain types of cancer, including breast, lung and skin cancers and cancer of the mouth. Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph. D., F.A.C.N, Chief of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University said that
Recent research studies reveal the antioxidants in tea may inhibit the growth of cancer cells and support cardiovascular health." White TeaIt has been found that in past studies using bacteria, white teas were more effective than green tea in inhibiting mutagenicity, ("a result of unrepaired/misrepaired DNA damage and an early step in the process leading to cancer"). White teas contained many of the expected polyphenols, some even found in higher concentrations in white tea than in green tea brewed under the same conditions. Caffeine was also present in higher levels in white tea than in green tea. Source: The Linus Pauling Institute - Oregon State University, March 2003.
Green TeaContinuing research on the beneficial properties of green tea to human health has produced several new findings. Most notable is a study by Japanese scientists of the Saitama Cancer Research Institute relating the delay of cancer onset with the consumption of green tea. The study shows that early stage breast cancer spreads less rapidly in women with a history of drinking five or more cups of green tea a day. As a result, there is a lower recurrence rate and a longer disease-free period.
With the evidence that green tea and EGCG, a catechin found only in green tea, are a natural and readily available inhibitor of TNF-, a gene expression which promotes the growth in cancer cells and in their surrounding tissue, it is possible for researchers to extend this idea to other various human diseases. Since EGCG has also been proven to kill cultured cancer cells without causing harm to surrounding healthy cells,
green tea could be beneficial not only for cancer prevention but also in the therapy and prevention of other diseases.Heart health is an ever rising concern in the United States. Each year over 1.1 million Americans suffer heart attacks, and half a million Americans are diagnosed with heart failure. This is a serious problem that more and more Americans are monitoring. Studies repeatedly show that diet is a large factor in ones heart health. In the past years more and more research is being conducted on the health benefits of tea; most specifically green tea. The most significant of health benefits that are found in tea are directly related to heart health.
Blood Vessel/Endothelium FunctionRecent research has shown that tea may help with blood vessel and endothelial function. The endothelium is a layer of flat cells that line the closed internal spaces of the blood vessels and the heart. Blood vessel and endothelial function allow for proper blood flow throughout the body and indicate how healthy the heart is. Impaired blood vessel functioning can lead to serious diseases such as coronary heart disease. The flavonoids in tea help improve functioning of the blood vessel lining, or the endothelium by allowing the blood vessels to relax, thus having an anti-clotting effect.
Research shows that
blood vessel function improved in individuals that drank four cups of black tea every day. Because all types of tea come from the same plant (camellia sinensis) it is likely that all types of tea could have a similar impact on blood vessel function because of the flavonoids found in tea.
CholesterolTea may also help your heart in lowering cholesterol. Some research shows that tea drinkers overall cholesterol tends to be lower than a non-tea drinkers. Tea drinkers LDL or "bad" cholesterol is on average 10% lower than non-tea drinkers, without lowering the HDL or good cholesterol levels. According to USDA research, individuals who drank 5 cups of black tea per day for three weeks were able to reduce their cholesterol by 6.5%, and more specifically, lower their LDL cholesterol by 11.1%. This can health benefit can also be attributed to the flavonoids in tea. In this instance, the flavonoids may be able to prevent LDL cholesterol from being oxidized. Oxidized LDL can lead to the development of artherosclerosis. By decreasing this LDL cholesterol, the risk of suffering a heart attack decreases.
Heart AttackDrinking tea may help reduce the risk of suffering a heart attack. Because tea is associated with lowered LDL cholesterol and increased blood vessel functioning, the risk factors that could cause a heart attack are in turn decreased. One research study found that participants who consumed at least three cups of tea per day were 11% less likely to suffer a heart attack than non-tea drinkers. Another study showed that individuals that consumed between two and four cups of tea per day had a significantly lower fatality risk after suffering a heart attack. A Harvard University study demonstrated that moderate black tea drinkers (one or more cups a day the year prior to a heart attack) had a 44% lower risk of heart attack when compared to non-tea drinkers. Those who reported being heavy tea drinkers had a 44% lower death rate than non-tea drinkers in the three and a half years following their heart attacks. Moderate tea drinkers had a 28% lower rate of dying when compared with non-tea drinkers.
Cardiovascular DiseaseThe antioxidants in tea (specifically the flavonoids) may be able to help decrease the lipid oxidation in the body. This is good because oxidation of LDL can lead to the development of artherosclorosis. Artherosclerosis is the buildup of plaque that causes many cardiovascular diseases. The antioxidants in tea decrease the oxidation, therefore contributing to a healthy heart. A recent study showed that individuals who consumed between one and two cups of black tea per day were able to cut their risk of developing cardiovascular disease in half.
Tea and Immune SystemEvidence suggests that drinking tea may help the immune system fight viral and bacterial infections. A component in tea, called L-theanine, appears to prepare the immune system to fight invading bacteria, viruses and fungi. A study by Harvard Medical School found that previous non-tea drinkers who began drinking five to six cups of tea per day for two weeks were better able to fight off viruses. Tea contains the vitamins thiamin, riboflavin, B6, vitamin C, and folic acid; as well as the minerals manganese, potassium, zinc, and fluorine.
Tea and Skin HealthSkin aging is the result of free radical damage to cell walls and other cell structures. Sun exposure and cigarette smoking contribute to the production of these free radicals. Antioxidants, on the other hand, are molecules that neutralize these free radicals. One good source for antioxidants any type of tea. A study by the University of Arizona suggested that the more black tea people drank (particularly tea with lemon) the less likely they were to develop squamous cell skin cancer.
Tea and Alzheimer'sIn laboratory tests conducted by a team at the University of Newcastle, it was found that tea could help improve memory and slow the development of Alzheimer's disease. The researchers found that tea, both green and black, inhibited the activity of the enzyme, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which breaks down the chemical messenger or neurotransmitter. Green tea and black tea also hinder the activity of the enzyme butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), which has been discovered in protein deposits found on the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Green tea went a step further in that it obstructed the activity of beta-secretase, which plays a role in the production of protein deposits in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Tea and DiabetesAccording to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, common tea can be an effective weapon in the fight against diabetes because it boosts insulin activity in the body by more than 15-fold. Both black and green teas were shown to increase insulin activity.
Tea and Weight LossSome recent research indicated that drinking green tea may raise metabolic rates. A Swiss study concluded that the catechin EGCG combined with caffeine might raise the metabolic rate by 4%. While more research is needed in this area, nutritionists indicate that drinking tea can help people lose weight because its calorie free and a good source of fluids.
Tea and Bone HealthDrinking tea may help strengthen bones. A study in Taiwan found that those who had consumed tea habitually for 10 years or more had 6% higher bone densities than non-tea drinkers. Several other studies have also found that tea drinkers have stronger bones than non-tea drinkers. It is unclear exactly how tea helps, but the fluoride and flavonoids in tea may both be contributing factors.
Research has suggested that the only thing, so far, with a larger amount of catechins than tea is dark chocolate.
Recent clinical studies examining the effectiveness of green tea supplements were based on the assumption that 14 cups of green tea contain 400 - 600 mg of catechins. At the low end, that would mean each cup contains just over 28 mg per cup, while at the high end, a cup of green tea would have approximately 42 mg of catechins. So, dark chocolate may actually contain more anti-oxidants than green tea.
Source: http://chinesefood.about.com/od/healthbenefits/a/chocolatetea.htm
