White Tea The Obesity Fighter

A new study just concluded that the regular consumption of white tea could prevent obesity and actually encourage weight loss. The study was conducted by researchers from Beiersdorf Ag, a German health food company, was published in the prestigious Journal Nutrition and Metabolism.

"In the industrialized countries, the rising incidence of obesity-associated disorders including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes constitutes a growing problem," said Beiersdorf nutritionist Marc Winnefeld. "We've shown that white tea may be an ideal natural source of slimming substances."

White tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis trees, as does all true tea. The difference is that white tea is minimal processed to prevent damage to the leaves or the fermentation process that all other teas go through. White tea is made from the youngest leaves and also can contain the unopened tea buds, these tea buds contain the downy white hairs that give this truly fantastic tea it's name.

In this study the researchers exposed laboratory-grown human fat cells (adipocytes) to a white tea extract. The genes involved in the this new adipocyte formation had a dramatic decrease in activity and at the same time promoting the existing adipocytes to break down further the fat they contained.

Because white tea is the least processed of the tea, scientists believe that it also contains the highest levels of those health endorsing phytochemicals. Methylxanthines and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) contributed to the effects in this currant study according to the Beiersdorf researchers.

The first evidence of white tea is found among the Ming Dynasty, 1366 to 1644 BC. White tea is actually more popular in Western Countries than in China. Personally it my favorite tea. Just be carefully not to brew it at temperatures above 180 degrees Fahrenheit to keep it from becoming bitter.