It’s not always easy to adopt new healthy habits. Sometimes we read about the benefits of a natural food or remedy and start implementing it. But, over time, it’s easy to become lax. Eventually the new healthy practice fades away. Part of the reason may be that we need reminders about why it’s important to be vigilant in our pursuit of wellness through the use of natural approaches.

Green tea is one example that fits into this category. It’s like a really good friend that lives thousands of miles away. The benefits of tea are always there for the taking, but are often neglected. Fortunately the scientific community continues to scatter reminders throughout medical journals that can help rekindle interest in this extraordinary tonic. It’s no accident that green tea is one of the most popular and historically significant beverages in human history.
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Every once in a awhile I’ll hear someone say that they really want to cut back on their coffee intake. If they mention that to me, I usually tell them one of two things: 1) A lot of recent research points to the overall health-promoting effect of coffee - for most people. 2) If they insist on wanting to cut back on coffee, I usually mention an alternate brew with a lower caffeine content, but with even more health benefits. And I’m not talking about green tea.

Have you ever heard of white tea? It’s not nearly as popular as black or green tea but, I think should be. White tea comes from the same plant as black and green tea. The difference is the white tea undergoes the least amount of processing of the three. It’s generally made with younger leaves and buds and is typically lower in caffeine and contaminants, such as heavy metals and pesticides.

The amount of research conducted on white tea is much less than that of green tea. But the research that has been published looks very promising. Here are a few of the highlights:

• White tea appears to contain higher levels of a group of antioxidants called catechins. Catechins belong to a family of plant chemicals called flavonoids. These naturally occurring chemicals are being investigated for their beneficial effects on various cancers, diabetes, heart disease, weight loss and many other conditions.
• White tea may contain a higher level of an amino acid called theanine. Theanine is commonly used to help promote a state of relaxation and improved mood. Therefore, some people find that white tea gives them a gentler energy boost. More energy, less jitteriness.
• The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University found that white tea extracts may possess more potent cancer fighting activity than green tea extracts. They theorized that the additional processing that green tea undergoes may rob it of some of the healthful properties that remain in white tea.
• Researchers at Pace University found that white teas showed greater anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral activity than green tea.

The other desirable quality of white tea is that it’s the mildest tasting of the tea family. It has a delicate flavor that’s almost an afterthought. This lends itself well to mixing with other ingredients, such as juices, or as a base for a smoothie or even soup. You can always brew it with another type of tea as well - like ginger or peppermint tea, to add a little flavor to the mix.

I don’t mind admitting that I still love my coffee and I stand by my favorite brew. But, I do believe it’s a good idea to try to consume a wide variety of healthful foods and beverages. White tea would be one example of a good addition to most diets as a coffee substitute or otherwise.

Update from 5/8/09: White Tea as a Fat Burner

Be well!

JP