Discover the 7 benefits of white tea, a powerful antioxidant

Made from young leaves and buds, white tea is recognized for its benefits. With that in mind, we talked to nutritionist Maiara Souza (CRN 914273), nutritionist from Clínica Geisa Costa (Uberaba/MG), graduated from the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) and master in Health Sciences from the same institution, who spoke more about the benefits, how to make the tea and contraindications. Follow up!

what is white tea

This tea is produced with the infusion of camellia sinensis, a plant also consumed in other teas by Brazilians, and which was popularly spread in China, Japan and India. “White tea is not a mix of teas, but tea made from leaves taken from the camellia sinensis, well known for also being the origin of green tea. The difference is that white tea is made from ‘young’, unfermented leaves camellia sinensis. And they are minimally processed, being cooked and taken to drying”, explained Maiara.

7 benefits of white tea to include it in your daily life

According to Maiara, the benefits of white tea mostly come from the antioxidant capacity, especially the polyphenols – helping to fight free radicals, in addition to other benefits. See below:

• Prevents skin aging: this benefit of white tea is due to the antioxidants present in the drink.
• Lowers bad cholesterol rates: LDL levels, better known as bad cholesterol, show a decrease due to the properties of white tea.
• Helps prevent cardiovascular disease: “It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, as oxidative stress is lower. And there are also less chances of developing cardiovascular diseases, as long as you have good lifestyle habits, such as practicing physical activity, and having a balanced diet, in addition to medical follow-up “, pointed out nutri.
• It reduces the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis: this is mainly because of the anti-inflammatory properties found in white tea.
• Decreases blood triglycerides: consumption of white tea helps to reduce and control blood triglyceride levels by helping to break down fat.
• It helps to reduce the risk of some types of cancer: “it reduces the risk of developing some types of cancer, by preventing mutations in the DNA”, explained Maiara.
• Fights free radicals: helping to prevent neurodegenerative diseases.

Even if consuming white tea provides benefits, it and no other food works miracles, as the nutritionist points out: “It is worth remembering that white tea – or any other food – cannot be designated as specific to solve a problem. For example: consuming tea will solve your cholesterol problem. This thinking is one of the biggest problems in nutrition clinics today, as it reinforces bad eating habits that make many believe that everything can be solved, for example, drinking a liter of a certain tea or eating a certain food”.

how to make white tea

Write down the nutritionist’s recipe! You will need 1 tablespoon of white tea (dry leaf) to 300 ml of water. The step by step is also super simple:

1. Heat the water and, for that, the nutritionist gave a tip: “do you know when the balls start to form at the bottom of the container you are using to boil water? This is the sweet spot. Avoid using the bubbling boiling water so as not to ‘burn’ the tea”;
2. Then put the herb inside and let it infuse for 5 minutes;
3. Strain and consume after 5 minutes. Even if you are going to consume it later, it is important to strain before reserving the drink.

According to Maiara, to make the tea more flavorful, combine it with cinnamon, ginger or even blend it in a blender with ice, mint and lemon for a more refreshing alternative!

Contraindications and precautions with white tea

According to the nutritionist. “No exaggeration is recommended, regardless of how beneficial the product is. It is recommended to drink up to two cups of tea a day. Despite having less caffeine than green tea, it still contains caffeine and is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, people with insomnia, hypertension and gastric ulcer”.

In addition, the nutritionist explains that teas, even though they are liquid, do not count as water intake. Therefore, an increased intake of tea can be harmful to the recommended daily intake of water and, consequently, compromise hydration.

Another observation is not to drink teas with meals rich in calcium, such as milk and dairy products, or rich in iron, such as meat and legumes. That’s because drinking tea and consuming these foods hinder the absorption of minerals.

In addition to white tea, there are also reasons to love green tea, an option with incredible health properties!

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.