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White Tea Wards Off Colon Cancer White tea, considered the crème de la crème in teas, appears to protect the body from colon cancer, based on animal studies. Numerous other studies have found healthy benefits from drinking black and green teas. Now, scientists at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University in Corvallis found that rats who consumed white tea had significantly fewer pre-cancerous tumors than rats who drank plain water. Both groups of rats were fed substances containing cell changes that are often found on cooked meats. Research has shown that cooking meat at high temperatures, such as grilling or frying, can produce cancer-causing substances on the meat surface. These carcinogenic substances can trigger cell changes, and changes in cells can lead to cell overgrowth, or cancer. White tea appears to contain antioxidants called catechins, which are also found in other teas and protect cells from damage. The more that teas are processed, the more antioxidants they may lose. White tea, which is almost entirely produced in the Fukien Province in China, is reputed to be harvested only two days a year and does not undergo as much processing as other teas. Unlike green tea, which is primarily tea leaves, white tea includes tea leaves and the buds that are quickly steamed and dried and retain a great deal of their freshness. Oolong and black teas often undergo even more processing than green tea. Many health experts and researchers say tea is a healthy alternative to other beverages, such as soda. Tea has been gaining more popularity among Westerners, but it's been a staple of Eastern lifestyles for thousands of years. The white tea research was presented this week at the American Chemical Society annual meeting in San Francisco. --By Katrina Woznicki This Week's Headlines | |||||||
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