by Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN
Not actually into inexperienced tea? While many individuals discover it scrumptious, some aren’t a fan. If that’s you, no worries, there’s a tea which may simply be your cup of tea — oolong tea.
Oolong tea comes from the identical Camellia sinensis leaves as inexperienced and black tea. Unlike inexperienced (unfermented) and black (absolutely fermented) teas, oolong sits comfortably in between. Its shade varies from inexperienced to darkish brown, relying on its getting older course of. As for the style? It’s gentle and flowery however not as aromatic as inexperienced tea.
Although oolong makes up solely about 2% of worldwide tea manufacturing, it’s value exploring.
In this text, we’ll dive deeper into the well being advantages of oolong tea that can assist you higher perceive if it’s one thing you need to add into your each day drink rotation.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational functions solely and isn’t meant to deal with or diagnose any situation. It is beneficial that you simply converse along with your physician earlier than making any modifications to your diet.
What is Oolong Tea?
Way again within the Ming dynasty, monks residing 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. Today, it’s a beloved Chinese tea worldwide.
Oolong tea is a well-liked selection in China and Taiwan, the place tea is a giant a part of tradition and socializing. Meetings between buddies and enterprise companions usually revolve round tea. While 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. Green tea boasts numerous catechins, whereas black tea holds theaflavins and thearubigins. Oolong tea stands within the center for antioxidants.
When it involves caffeine, inexperienced and oolong tea share related quantities — round 10 to 60 milligrams per 8-ounce cup. Coffee, 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 Health Benefits of Oolong Tea
Below are some methods oolong tea could be useful 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 consequence 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 stable ally, simply bear in mind to skip the refined sugar and synthetic sweeteners.
2. Heart well being
The polyphenols present in oolong tea do greater than you may assume. They kick-start an enzyme that breaks down triglycerides, a selected fats that circulates in your blood. These triglycerides play a job in thickening artery partitions, growing the probabilities of coronary heart illnesses like stroke and coronary heart assaults.
That’s not all — research level out that oolong tea can assist decrease levels of cholesterol, too. High ldl cholesterol is one other threat issue for coronary heart points. So, sipping on oolong tea may simply be a heart-smart selection.
3. Brain well being
According to a overview of analysis, Oolong tea has a key issue generally known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). This identical compound can also be a star in inexperienced tea and is accountable for a bunch of its perks. Among these, it’s recognized to assist in defending towards reminiscence loss and cognitive decline.
So, if you happen to’re in search of a reminiscence enhance, oolong tea may simply maintain among the solutions.
4. Improves intestine microbiome
When the fragile stability of intestine micro organism goes awry, it could set the stage for numerous well being points, together with inflammatory bowel illnesses, allergic reactions, metabolic issues, and even liver issues.
Oolong tea steps in as a possible hero, aiming to revive this stability by selling the expansion of useful micro organism. This could be significantly helpful, particularly when consuming a high-fat food plan.
5. May stop most cancers threat
Experts in Taiwan studied the connection between tea consumption and the probability of head, neck, or throat most cancers.
While every each day cup of oolong tea was linked to a 4 % decrease threat, this consequence didn’t maintain robust significance. In comparability, every cup of each day inexperienced tea translated to a extra noticeable 6 % decrease threat of head and neck most cancers.
In one other (*7*)examine involving Chinese ladies, the dots related in a different way. This time, sipping on inexperienced, black, or oolong tea was tied to a decreased threat of ovarian most cancers.
6. Promotes healthy hair
Harnessing its spectacular antioxidant content material, oolong tea can doubtlessly act as a protect towards hair loss when used as a rinse from the brewed leaves. But 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 accountable for cavities.
Another examine identified that oolong tea may assist in cultivating a sturdy salivary microbiome. It works by boosting the presence of useful micro organism.