by Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN
Probably not into inexperienced tea? Whereas many individuals discover it scrumptious, some aren’t a fan. If that’s you, no worries, there’s a tea that may simply be your cup of tea — oolong tea.
Oolong tea comes from the identical Camellia sinensis leaves as inexperienced and black tea. Not like inexperienced (unfermented) and black (absolutely fermented) teas, oolong sits comfortably in between. Its coloration varies from inexperienced to darkish brown, relying on its growing old course of. As for the style? It’s gentle and flowery however not as aromatic as inexperienced tea.
Though oolong makes up solely about 2% of worldwide tea manufacturing, it’s value exploring.
On this article, we’ll dive deeper into the well being advantages of oolong tea that will help you higher perceive if it’s one thing you wish to add into your day by day drink rotation.
Disclaimer: This text is for informational functions solely and isn’t meant to deal with or diagnose any situation. It’s endorsed that you just communicate along with your physician earlier than making any modifications to your vitamin.
What’s Oolong Tea?
Means again within the Ming dynasty, monks dwelling on China’s Songluo Mountain stumbled upon a scrumptious trick. By permitting tea leaves to partially oxidize earlier than pan-firing, they created a wealthy, aromatic tea — and that’s how Oolong tea bought its identify. This tasty tea gained speedy fame, even getting Emperor Hongwu’s stamp as an Imperial favourite. At this time, it’s a beloved Chinese language tea worldwide.
Oolong tea is a well-liked alternative in China and Taiwan, the place tea is a giant a part of tradition and socializing. Conferences between associates and enterprise companions usually revolve round tea. Whereas all true tea comes from the identical plant, the magic occurs throughout harvesting and processing. Oolong is semi-fermented, in contrast to black tea, which is absolutely fermented.
Tea additionally varies in antioxidants. Inexperienced tea boasts plenty of catechins, whereas black tea holds theaflavins and thearubigins. Oolong tea stands within the center for antioxidants.
In terms of caffeine, inexperienced and oolong tea share related quantities — round 10 to 60 milligrams per 8-ounce cup. Espresso, only for comparability, packs 70 to 130 mg in the identical measurement.
Are you having fun with plain brewed tea? It’s like sipping on zero-calorie goodness — no fats, carbs, or protein.
7 Well being Advantages of Oolong Tea
Under are some methods oolong tea will be helpful to your well being:
1. Helps in weight reduction
Oolong tea does greater than fulfill your style buds. It revs up your metabolism, giving your fat-burning a lift as a result of its lively polyphenols. These little powerhouses even act as blockers for fat-forming enzymes.
So, if shedding weight is in your thoughts, oolong tea is usually a strong ally, simply keep in mind to skip the refined sugar and synthetic sweeteners.
2. Coronary heart well being
The polyphenols present in oolong tea do greater than you may suppose. They kick-start an enzyme that breaks down triglycerides, a particular fats that circulates in your blood. These triglycerides play a job in thickening artery partitions, rising the possibilities of coronary heart ailments like stroke and coronary heart assaults.
That’s not all — research level out that oolong tea may help decrease levels of cholesterol, too. Excessive ldl cholesterol is one other threat issue for coronary heart points. So, sipping on oolong tea may simply be a heart-smart alternative.
3. Mind well being
In response to a evaluation of analysis, Oolong tea has a key issue referred to as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). This identical compound can be a star in inexperienced tea and is answerable for a bunch of its perks. Amongst these, it’s recognized to help in defending in opposition to reminiscence loss and cognitive decline.
So, for those who’re looking for a reminiscence increase, oolong tea may simply maintain among the solutions.
4. Improves intestine microbiome
When the fragile steadiness of intestine micro organism goes awry, it will probably set the stage for numerous well being points, together with inflammatory bowel ailments, allergy symptoms, metabolic problems, and even liver issues.
Oolong tea steps in as a possible hero, aiming to revive this steadiness by selling the expansion of helpful micro organism. This may be notably helpful, particularly when consuming a high-fat weight loss program.
5. Might stop most cancers threat
Specialists in Taiwan studied the connection between tea consumption and the probability of head, neck, or throat most cancers.
Whereas every day by day cup of oolong tea was linked to a 4 % decrease threat, this consequence didn’t maintain robust significance. As compared, every cup of day by day inexperienced tea translated to a extra noticeable 6 % decrease threat of head and neck most cancers.
In one other examine involving Chinese language girls, the dots related in another way. This time, sipping on inexperienced, black, or oolong tea was tied to a lowered threat of ovarian most cancers.
6. Promotes wholesome hair
Harnessing its spectacular antioxidant content material, oolong tea can probably act as a protect in opposition to hair loss when used as a rinse from the brewed leaves. However its magic doesn’t cease there, it’s additionally a possible recipe for thicker and glossier hair.
7. Improves oral well being
An in vitro examine highlighted oolong tea’s potential, it got here near the effectiveness of chlorhexidine mouthwash in eliminating Streptococcus mutans, the pesky micro organism answerable for cavities.
One other examine identified that oolong tea might help in cultivating a sturdy salivary microbiome. It really works by boosting the presence of useful micro organism.