Some of the health benefits of oolong tea include its healing ability to reduce chronic health conditions such as heart diseases, inflammatory disorders, reduces high cholesterol, promote bone structure, good skin and oral health.
Oolong tea has fruity flavor and pleasant aroma. It is originated in China about 400 years back. It does has caffeine, yet you will feel relaxed drink.
To increase the health benefits of oolong tea, mix it with black tea and green tea. Oolong tea is ranked one of the most healthiest tea, as it comes under semi-green fermented tea. However its leaves get partially oxidized when the tea leaves start to change their color.
Oolong Tea Nutrition Facts
This tea is extremely rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals such as calcium, manganese, copper, carotin, selenium, potassium, and vitamin A, B, C, E, and vitamin K.
Additionally, it also contains folic acid, niacinamide, and other detoxifying alkaloids.
As, oolong tea is developed in semi-fermented processing, this tea provides numerous antioxidants like polyphenolic compounds and more valuable healing benefits.
Oolong tea also contains caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine (similar to caffeine), which on consumption, may stimulate the nervous system.
Health Benefits Of Oolong Tea
Useful in Weight management
Study has confirmed that the polyphenolic compound found in oolong tea is very effective in controlling the metabolism of fat in the body and helps in reducing obesity.
It helps to activates certain enzymes, which increases the functions of fat cells in the body.
With daily consumption of oolong tea, one can reduce obesity.
In one study, mice were given polyphenols and were feed high-fat and high-sugar diet. Yet, still they showed a decline in overall body weight and fat index.
Some earlier studies actually showed that the caffeine content was an active ingredient for weight loss, but it now appears to be mainly due to the polyphenols. Apparently, the active components in oolong tea helps to reduce fat.
Fights harmful free radicals
The polyphenolic compound in oolong tea is rich in antioxidants, which helps to remove free radicals from our body.
Therefore, consuming daily doses of oolong tea can help people against the potential harm effects of these free-moving which cause major health diseases, including cancer, atherosclerosis, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, neurodegeneration, and diabetes.
Promote Mental health
Daily intake of oolong tea helps to improve mental performance and alertness.
As, this tea is caffeine-rich, it may help in improving mental performance and maintaining alertness throughout the day.
Cancer prevention
The polyphenolic compound present in oolong tea promotes apoptosis in case of cancerous cell growth in the stomach. This polyphenolic extract also acts as a chemo-preventive instrument against the development of other cancers as well.
The compounds stifle the activation of carcinogenic cells, prevent the formation of N-nitroso compounds, and trap genotoxic agents before they can become effective.
Stress management
A detail study conducted on experimental mice has proven that with regular intake of oolong tea, the stress levels reduces by 10 to 18 %.
The natural polyphenols in oolong tea were found to be natural a stress-buster.
Also, the L-theanine found in tea leaves, which is an amino acid helps to blocks L-glutamic acid to glutamate receptors in the brain.
This normally causes cortical neuron excitement, which then leads to an increased cognitive activity and neural stress responses. Since this amino acid binds to those sites, excitation doesn’t occur, and stress decreases because you are able to keep your mind at rest.
Improves Bone Health
The antioxidants found in oolong tea helps to protect teeth against decay, strengthen the bone structure, prevent osteoporosis, and promote normal, healthy growth of the human body.
There are number of studies that has shown that the long-term effects of drinking this tea, particularly manages bone mineral density (BMD) well.
They showed that people who consistently drank black or oolong tea for more than 10 years were less likely to lose their bone mineral density over that span of time. It is thought that some of the components in this tea actually stimulate the retention of minerals from other foods that we consume.
Prevents Ovarian Cancer
Oolong tea is rich in anti-cancer properties. Regular intake can help to significantly lower the risk of developing ovarian cancer in women.
Controls Diabetes
Oolong tea can be 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 in blood sugar can be reduced.
A 2003 study has shown that when oolong tea is combined with regular hyperglycemic drugs, it helps to balance the blood sugar levels and prevented sudden drops in almost all of the test subjects.
Atopic Dermatitis treatment
It is believed that the polyphenols present in oolong tea also work as anti-allergenic compounds, thereby relieving irritation and chronic skin problems like atopic dermatitis.
Skin Care
According to scientific experiments, patients diagnosed with eczema can benefit from drinking 3 cups of oolong tea throughout the day.
The beneficial results of this tea can be seen in less than a week and these patients will show remarkable improvement in recovering from skin problems.
In a 2001 study, 54% of test subjects were found to show positive, long-lasting results in terms of skin conditions after 6 months of daily intake of oolong tea.
Caution
Remember that oolong tea is high in caffeine, which is not the healthiest thing about this beneficial tea.
Caffeine affects people differently and some of the side effects of excess caffeine are anxiety, headache, sleeplessness, diarrhea, heartburn, irregular heartbeat, and confusion.
Avoid intake of too much caffeine in serious diseases like diabetes, heart conditions, anxiety disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, and high blood pressure.
Also, drinking too much oolong tea can actually excrete calcium from the body, may lead to calcium deficiency. So, people with calcium deficiency problems like osteoporosis,should be careful. Use it as a preventive step rather then treatment.
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