White tea may inhibit fat cell formation and may also help break down existing fat cells according to a recent German study published in Nutrition and Metabolism.

Previous research has indicated the high anti-oxidant content of white tea may help inhibit some cancer cells, help lower blood pressure and increase bone strength.

Since white tea is uncured and unoxidized like other teas, it may contain more ingredients that are active on human cells.

Researchers conducted in vitro studies to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying fat metabolism, more specifically the effect of white tea extract on cultured human subcutaneous preadipocytes and adiopocytes (fat cells). They found that white tea extract effectively inhibits adipogenesis (the production of fat) and stimulates lipolysis activity (the destruction of fats).

White tea extract "can be utilized to modulate different levels of the adipocyte life cycle," the study concluded.