White tea may offer powerful anti-aging benefits, a new study suggests.
In lab tests, scientists explored the skin-protecting effects of 21 different extracts of plants and herbs (including burdock root, green tea, and lavender). A number of the studied extracts (such as bladderwrack, green tea, rose, and pomegranate) were found to fight the breakdown of collagen and elastin (a protein that supports skin's elasticity and plays a role in the prevention of sagging). However, white tea outperformed all the other extracts in the study.
According to the study's findings, white tea may stall the activity of enzymes that damage elastin and collagen (and, in turn, contribute to wrinkles and other signs of aging in the skin). It also seems to provide an anti-inflammatory effect, the study's authors note.
Not only helpful for your skin, white tea has been found to aid in the breakdown of fat cells and prevent DNA damage in previous studies.
