Made from the Camellia sinensis plant, the traditional Chinese tea Oolong tea, unlike black or green tea undergoes a period of oxidation longer then green tea and less than black tea. The results is a tea that is full of nutrients and bioactive compounds, including fluoride, antioxidants, and flavonoids.
Here are the 10 reasons why you should drink Oolong tea.
Oolong tea improves mental performance
Since oolong Tea contains caffeine it can be a boost for your mental performance. This means it could help your cognition and alertness.
Oolong Tea boosts memory
Beside the cognition benefits, oolong tea if drank regularly can help improve your memory in the long term. This is since this tea inhibits the activity of acetylcholinesterase. This is an enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters that are known to decrease in those with Alzheimer’s disease.
Oolong tea maintains heart health
Your heart health can benefit if you drinking oolong tea. In fact, you could reduce your risk of a heart attack by around 11% if you drink three cups a day. Still, this tea also reduces levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), which are the bad cholesterol.
Oolong tea prevents tooth decay
A cup of oolong tea contains fluoride and antioxidants that can help promote healthy teeth. There are also antibacterial properties that may aid in preventing cavities and decreasing the acidity of saliva, which can wear down enamel.
Oolong tea promotes healthy skin
Skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis can be painful or uncomfortable, but oolong tea may provide some relief. One study found that oolong tea, along with green tea, reduced allergic dermatitis reactions. Some saw positive effects as soon as one week after drinking one serving daily.
Oolong tea helps with weight loss
Like green tea, oolong tea has catechins, the main active compounds, which promotes fat loss, thereby improving metabolism. As a bonus, oolong tea is much safer than a large number of weight loss supplements.
Oolong tea has anticancer properties
Both oolong and green tea have strong antioxidant properties, which may help protect your body against free radical damage that can cause cancer. The polyphenols may also help prevent or decrease the rate of cancer cell division.
Oolong tea can reduces risk of rheumatoid arthritis
Oolong tea’s antioxidants and other health benefits may help prevent rheumatoid arthritis. According to some research, drinking about three cups a day of oolong tea resulted in a decreased risk of this form of arthritis compared to those who never drank tea.
Oolong tea stabilizes blood sugar
Maintaining blood sugar is one of the biggest challenges many people with diabetes face. Oolong tea has been found by some studies to help stabilize blood sugar in those with this disease.
Oolong tea fights off bacteria
Oolong tea has antiseptic and antibacterial properties, which can help your body fight off bad bacteria. Oolong tea even has antibacterial effects against Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, and other types of bacteria.
Some side effects of oolong tea
In general, oolong tea is safe to drink on a regular basis, although some might have problems since it contains caffeine. Caffeine can interact with medications like amphetamines. Women who are pregnant should also avoid caffeine, therefore should not drink this tea. If you have any heart conditions, including irregular heartbeat, ask your doctor before increasing your caffeine intake. Plus, the caffeine can also make anxiety disorders more severe.
The bottom line
Oolong tea is an affordable, delicious way to potentially improve your health on a consistent basis. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns or underlying health conditions that may be affected by the tea, and monitor your body’s response to the increase in caffeine. Start with just one cup a tea and slowly increase the amount over time.
