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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Source: organicfacts
Images: depositphotos
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