White tea could keep you healthy and looking young

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Kingston University’s new research shows it may be wise to switch to white tea.

Next time you’re making a cuppa, new research shows it might be wise to opt for a white tea if you want to reduce your risk of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or even just age-associated wrinkles. Researchers from Kingston University teamed up with Neal’s Yard Remedies to test the health properties of 21 plant and herb extracts. They discovered all of the plants tested had some potential benefits, but were intrigued to find white tea considerably outperformed all of them.

Professor Declan Naughton, from the School of Life Sciences at Kingston University in South West London, said the research showed white tea had anti-ageing potential and high levels of anti-oxidants which could prevent cancer and heart disease. “We’ve carried out tests to identify plant extracts that protected the structural proteins of the skin, specifically elastin and collagen,” he explained. “Elastin supports the body’s natural elasticity which helps lungs, arteries, ligaments and skin to function. It also helps body tissue to repair when you suffer wounds and stops skin from sagging.” Collagen is a protein found in connective tissues in the body and is important for skin, strength and elasticity, he added.

Results showed white tea prevented the activities of the enzymes which breakdown elastin and collagen which can lead to wrinkles that accompany ageing. These enzymes, along with oxidants, are associated with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Professor Naughton said: “These enzymes and oxidants are key components of normal body processes. However, in inflammatory conditions, suppressing the activities of these excess components has been the subject of decades of research. We were surprised to find such high activity for the white tea extracts in all five tests that were conducted.”

The researchers were blown away by exactly how well the white tea had performed. “We were testing very small amounts far less than you would find in a drink,” Professor Naughton, one of the country’s leading specialists on inflammation, said. “The early indicators are that white tea reduces the risk of inflammation which is characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis and some cancers as well as wrinkles.”

Eight of the other plants and herbs analysed also helped protect against the breakdown of both elastin and collagen. After white tea, bladderwrack performed well followed by extracts of cleavers, rose, green tea, angelica, anise and pomegranate.

Dr Pauline Hili, Technical Director for Neal’s Yard Remedies, said: “We are really excited by this research as it helps us to remain innovative and at the cutting edge of natural skin care. Celebrating the plants used in the Neal’s Yard Remedies products and understanding their specific actions on the skin is what it is all about. The Kingston University research program helps us to create safe, highly effective and cutting-edge products so it’s an ideal partnership for us.”

Provided by Kingston University

   

• winthrom - Aug 11, 2009
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  If this is in a respectable journal, I cannot find it.
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• OregonWind - Aug 11, 2009
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  I found this:
  
  http://www.kingst...looking/
  
  This will take you to the page containing the article here described.
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• Ogdred - Aug 11, 2009
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  It's a vaguely described in Vitro study. For all we know, when the stomach acid Ph of 2 encounters the white tea it will dramatically reduce the effect on collegenase and elastinase enzymes. The study is an OK first step, but not all that compelling. You're probably better off using Retinol to fight wrinkles, which at least has been proven to stimulate the growth of new collagen In Vivo. Most of these naturopath journals act like if they can make something happen in a test tube, then it's worth recommending that people shell out big bucks for it because they're working under the assumption that natural is always best. It's rare that you'll see a naturopath (or chiropractic) journal contain a well controlled In Vivo study with placebo comparisons, so it's tough to estimate the veracity of the assumptions. They may well be correct, but they still have a lot of work to do to make a compelling case.
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• Ogdred - Aug 11, 2009
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  Actually I should qualify that statement. The study is fine, a legitimate and well put together first step. It's the article that takes leaps and bounds by suggesting White Tea prevents cancer, aging, etc.
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• VOR - Aug 14, 2009
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  yeah lots of things may be much better delivered past the stomach. I dont think it was too many years ago they started enteric coating certain probiotics. Maybe anything adversely affected by stomach ph should be delivered similarly, including white tea extract, if that is so. And I bet it would be better if it was fresh extract.
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• ThomasS - Aug 16, 2009
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  But is it better than drinking water?
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• nxtr - Aug 18, 2009
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  Should I inject it into my veins for the full effect?
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