Health Benefits of Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea
that is prepared from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, which
is the same plant that’s used to prepare green and black teas. The
differences between various teas usually lie in the procession method.
For example, oolong tea is partially fermented. Furthermore, while green
tea is not oxidized much and black tea is oxidized completely until it
turns black, oolong tea is only partially oxidized – giving rise to the
tea’s color and characteristic taste.
Oolong tea, like all other teas, has a number of health benefits. If you
haven’t tried it before, you’ll make sure you do after you have read
this post!
1. Manages Weight
The polyphenolic compound found in oolong
tea is very effective at controlling the metabolism of fat in the body.
Furthermore, it activates certain enzymes, thereby enhancing the
functions of fat cells in the body, meaning that a daily consumption of
this tea can reduce obesity.
In a study, mice that were given polyphenols in addition to a high-fat
and high-sugar diet still showed a decline in overall body weight and
fat index.
2. Removes Harmful Free Radicals
The polyphenolic compound found in oolong tea is also capable of
removing free radicals from our body as it functions as an antioxidant.
Therefore, consuming daily doses of this tea can help people against the
potential harm these free-moving cells often pose to the body,
including atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, neurodegeneration,
rheumatoid arthritis, and stroke.
3. Treats Skin Conditions
According to scientific experiments,
patients suffering from eczema can benefit from drinking three cups of
oolong tea every day. The beneficial results of this tea can be seen in
less than a week and these patients will show remarkable improvement. In
a 2001 study, 51% of test subjects were found to show positive,
long-lasting results in terms of skin conditions after 6 months of
drinking oolong daily.
4. Improves Bone Health
The antioxidants that are present in oolong tea help to protect teeth
against decay, strengthen bone structure, promote healthy growth, and
prevent osteoporosis. A number of studies have analyzed the long-term
effects of drinking this tea, especially on bone mineral density. They
showed that those who consistently drank black or oolong tea for more
than a decade were less likely to lose their bone mineral density over
that period of time.
It’s also believed that some of the components of this tea actually
stimulate the retention of minerals from other foods that we consume.
5. Control diabetes
Oolong tea is used as an herbal brew for
treating type-2 diabetic disorders and as an addition to other
supplementary drugs for treating the disease. It helps to regulate the
amount of blood sugar and insulin in the bloodstream, so the dangerous
dips and spikes that can be dangerous for diabetics are reduced. A 2003
study showed that when combined with regular hyperglycemic drugs, oolong
tea further balanced the blood sugar levels and prevented sudden
decreases in almost all the test subjects.
6. Prevents Cancer
It’s well-known that tea drinkers have a lower risk of skin cancer.
Furthermore, the polyphenolic compound in oolong tea promotes apoptosis
in the case of cancerous cell growth in the stomach. This polyphenolic
extract also acts as a chemo-preventive instrument against the
development of other cancers, too. The compounds stifle the activation
of carcinogenic cells, trap genotoxic agents before they can become
effective, and prevent the formation of N-nitroso compounds.
7. Manages Stress
In a study conducted at the Osaka Institute
for health in Japan, mice that consumed oolong tea showed a remarkable
improvement in their stress levels by 10-18%. The natural polyphenols in
oolong tea were cited as the reason why. Furthermore, the L-Theanine
found in tea leaves is an amino acid that blocks L-glutamic acid to
glutamate receptors in the brain. This causes cortical neuron
excitement, which leads to increased cognitive activity and neural
stress responses.
8. Improves Mental Health
Health benefits of oolong tea include improved mental performance and
alertness. A regular intake of caffeine-rich oolong tea may help to
improve mental performance and maintain alertness throughout the day.