Oolong Tea: Health Benefits
There are a lot of skeptics disputing the effectivity of tea, saying that everything said about it is all just hype and advertising – oolong tea, in particular, is not exempted from those attacks. There was a clamor for scientific studies for oolong tea, just to see (and maybe justify) if the claim that it benefits the health is true.
A brief background: Oolong tea comes from the mother of all tea plants, the Camellia sinensis, originally found in Wuyi Mountain of the Fujian province of China, a country known for its association to herbs and tea. There are many versions of how this came about, but the most popular is the one where a tea grower accidentally allowed a batch of tea leaves to oxidize more than usual. So as not to let the tea go to waste, he decided to brew himself a pot and discovered that the brew was stimulating and exceptionally flavorful – hence, the birth of the oolong tea.
Since it is considered of Chinese origin and despite the questions and doubts of some sectors of society, oolong tea has been tagged as a health tea. How so, you ask?
Let us count the ways:
Oolong tea has antioxidants that helps slow down the signs of aging and strengthens our body’s immune system
When our body cells use oxygen, it also inevitably produces free radicals which cause damage to healthy cells. Antioxidants are substances which specifically seek out free radicals to prevent them from causing further damage. It also repairs the damage done by these dastardly destroyers. These are substances are also linked to wrinkles and dark spots – sure signs of skin aging. Oolong tea is said to be an immune system booster, which makes us easily resistant to the common cough and cold.
Medical conditions that develop if these free radicals are left unchecked are (but not confined to) the following: diabetes, heart disease, cancer and macular degeneration (vision loss) among others. A study in 2003 showed that the top two teas blessed with antioxidants are green tea and oolong tea.
It lowers cholesterol after a month of drinking the tea regularly. A study in 2004 found that oolong tea increases plasma adiponectin levels (associated directly with obesity, coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus). Regular tea drinkers also maintain a normal blood pressure reading. It is therefore safe to conclude that based on medical facts, oolong tea is definitely good for the heart.
Oolong tea promotes weight loss
Oolong tea increases the body’s metabolism, burns fat and helps in block the body’s dietary fat absorption. The skeptic’s main doubt is whether to believe the claims of some growers and sellers that it can help you lose 2 pounds a week. Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence to prove that claim. The medical community though, believes that it does help you lose weight, so let’s leave it at that.
Oolong tea improves digestion
Oolong tea is known as a cleanser, a substance that helps to flush out unwanted toxins and waste in the body. It also helps the digestive system by breaking down fats and acids that are unnecessary.
Oolong tea enhances cognitive functions
Containing caffeine, this helps in mental alertness, is a stimulant for the nervous system, and improves memory function. Plus, it’s completely safe, without the side effects of too much coffee intake. (It also keeps you awake when you need to be.)
Oolong helps prevent tooth decay
In 1993, a study found that oolong tea prevents or at least keeps to a minimum the enzyme activities of the bacteria streptococci (the bacteria that cause dental plaque, which eventually leads to cavities). It is also said to prevent the growth of bacteria which causes bad breath.
Oolong tea may seem like a regular tea, but it isn’t. This is packed with nutritious substances that are a superior supplement to the regular food we eat daily.