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Why Oolong Tea Should Be Your Newest Favorite Tea
Oolong is a traditional Chinese tea that falls between green and black, but with some very unique differences. Oolong tea is semi-oxidized, producing a flavor profile of both the dark oxidized flavors of a black tea along with the grassy green tea flavors at the same time.
In addition to this unique flavor profile, Oolong is famous for having a wider array of health benefits than most teas, including weight loss, heart health, diabetes prevention, and even bone and teeth health. This is because it is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Let’s explore how Oolong tea can improve your quality of life.
- Oolong Tea benefits for improving mood and de-stressing
L-theanine, an amino acid found in white, green and Oolong tea can improve your mood and help you to de-stress. Drinking a cup of Oolong tea will give you mental clarity and a quick energy boost while relaxing you at the same time. Studies show that it lowers your blood pressure and makes you feel calmer when you’re under stress, such as while studying and trying to write an essay on time and deliver confidently. You feel more relaxed because it stimulates your brain’s alpha waves. It also increases your alertness because it contains some caffeine but without giving you the jitters you get from drinking too much coffee. The whole ritual of brewing a cup and sitting to drink it will calm you down and make your more confident in everything you do.
- Oolong Tea heart health benefits
One of the most exciting benefits is that drinking oolong tea may boost the health of your heart. Studies report that people who drink Oolong tea regularly have lower cholesterol than those who never drink this tea or drink other types instead. This makes sense because Oolong tea has been shown to lower LDL “bad” cholesterol while increasing HDL “good” cholesterol levels in the body. This combination helps lessen plaque buildup in arteries while providing other cardiovascular benefits.
- Oolong Tea weight loss benefits
Oolong tea can also help you lose weight and keep it off for good. Studies show that drinking Oolong helps your body burn fat, which will lead to a leaner physique and may even prevent further weight gain in the future. One study shows that Oolong tea lowers total cholesterol and raises HDL (the good stuff), which is key for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system to support long-term fitness goals. Drinking oolong tea regularly makes you feel full faster, curbing your desire to overindulge. This may result in decreased calorie consumption and increased weight loss results.
- Oolong Tea anti-cancer benefits
Various studies have been done on cancer and oolong tea. Its abundance of antioxidants means it could help to fight against and prevent certain cancers. There is some evidence of Oolong tea having antitumor effects on cancers like bladder cancer, breast cancer, lung carcinoma, and melanoma. It may also help to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. More research still needs to be done for results to be conclusive but studies done so far are promising.
- Oolong Tea eczema benefits
Drinking oolong tea regularly can prevent against certain skin conditions like psoriasis and dermatitis. Because this tea has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the redness associated with these irritating skin conditions, many people report relief after drinking it regularly. It can lower their overall discomfort levels in combination with other treatments like lotions or prescribed drugs. It can be beneficial in treating cases of eczema that occur together with sensitivities or allergies. The antioxidants suppress allergic reactions and make the skin look healthier.
- Oolong Tea teeth and bone health benefits
Oolong is one of the only teas that contain fluoride, which helps keep your teeth healthy and strong. There is even some evidence that rinsing your mouth with the tea may stop plaque from forming. Oolong tea also contains calcium and magnesium which are known for their benefits for bone health. Drinking the tea contributes to improved bone mineral density and is beneficial for bone health. Healthy bones mean less risk of developing osteoporosis or fractures which can be a significant problem for older adults.
- Oolong Tea brain benefits
Drinking Oolong tea on a regular basis may in to protect you from developing neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. According to studies, this is due to its high content of EGCGs and L-theanine which helps to fight free radicals. The polyphenols in Oolong tea also evidently stop plaque proteins from attacking brain cells. You would need to drink about three cups a day to experience the benefits to your brain.
- Oolong Tea gut health benefits
When the bacteria in your gut are out of balance, it can cause many health problems such metabolic disorders, allergies and inflammatory bowel diseases. Oolong tea may help to improve the balance of bacteria in the gut and create a healthy gut environment where microflora can thrive . A positive gut health environment is important to boost immunity and much more. It also decreases the risks of digestive issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome, and promotes liver health. It can also reduce allergies.
- Oolong Tea sleep benefits
The fact that Oolong tea contains both GABA and L-theanine may help to promote better sleep. In much the same way as tryptophan, a cup of Oolong tea will encourage your mind and body to relax. Your sleep will be deeper and last longer. As it does contain caffeine, it may not be the best choice as a bedtime drink but drinking it in the afternoon will contribute to better sleep overall.
- Oolong Diabetes risk benefits
The high amount of polyphenols and antioxidants in Oolong tea may help to stabilize blood sugar levels in the body. This could decrease the risks of developing type 2 diabetes. Oolong tea’s ability to help you maintain a healthy weight is another factor that could reduce the risk. Evidence from studies about this tends to be mixed so further study is needed for results to be conclusive.
Oolong Tea Caffeine Content
Oolong tea contains a moderate amount of caffeine, which can have a variety of benefits, including increased endurance, focus, and energy levels. Oolong also has Theanine, a compound that has been shown to reduce stress and help you feel more mentally relaxed.
Both compounds work together to give you an overall higher level of functioning while helping your mind relax at the same time. This may provide people with mental clarity and better concentration to get things done quickly and efficiently without feeling frazzled or overwhelmed. In fact, some studies show that drinking oolong tea may actually help fight mental decline associated with aging.
Can I Drink Oolong Tea Every day?
If you’re an adult, oolong tea is possibly safe for you to drink daily, provided that you consume it in moderate amounts. Moderate amounts, in this case, mean drinking up to around four cups daily.
Drinking Oolong tea in high amounts may not be safe for you because of the caffeine content. The side effects that may come from too much consumption of Oolong tea can vary from mild to severe side effects, which may come with symptoms like;
- Headache
- Sleep problems
- Irritability
- Heartburn
- Seizures (convulsions)
- Confusion
- Nervousness
- Vomiting
- Irregular heartbeat
- Ringing in the ears
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea and
- Tremors
Other than these, you may also develop a dependence on Oolong tea. Developing dependence on this tea if you have been drinking it in large amounts would mean that you will need to consume such large amounts daily to get the desired effects you’ve been getting after heavy consumption of Oolong tea.
All this does not mean that oolong tea is unsafe for consumption. The key is to reasonably treat it as any regular drink and stay within the limit. If you are allergic to caffeine creams, you may need to check with your doctor first before trying oolong tea.
So, is oolong tea still healthy?
Oolong tea contains antioxidants that help prevent damage to our cells and DNA. Antioxidants in Oolong tea may also help protect against certain types of cancer.
It is a better option than black tea because it lacks theaflavin, an antioxidant that has been linked to liver problems in large amounts. Black tea has more caffeine content compared to other forms of teas, while oolong tea falls between green and black tea regarding caffeine content.
This means that Oolong tea provides you with all its good properties without exposing you to too much caffeine at once. Drinking Oolong once or twice daily should be fine. Also, drinking any tea in moderation is best.
If you want to enjoy Oolong tea benefits, aim for one cup of healthy oolong tea per day. Enjoy it iced or hot, sweetened with honey or plain, anytime you like. You can also add green tea leaves to your Oolong to get the most out of both kinds of teas. There are different varieties and tasting notes when it comes to Oolong tea, so feel free to try more than one kind to find the right type that suits your taste buds perfectly. It’s worthwhile because not only is this drink nutritious, but it tastes delicious too!
Takeaway
Drinking oolong tea in moderation with about two to four cups daily can provide us with several health benefits. It does not have too much caffeine content, while it has more antioxidant properties than green tea and fewer side effects than black tea.
