Benefits of Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is a type of tea which originated in China. This tea is obtained from the Camellia sinensis plant and is green-black in color. Oolong tea falls somewhere between green and black tea, as it is not as sweet as black tea but does not taste like the grass flavored green tea either. There are many different types of Oolong tea, although the Taiwanese Oolong tea is one of the most well-known types. Many people are today aware of the various green tea benefits, but very few people are aware of the benefits of Oolong tea. So, let us take a look at the various benefits of drinking Oolong tea.

Antioxidant Effect
One of the biggest advantages of drinking Oolong tea is that, this tea is packed with antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that help to fight off free radicals, which tend to damage healthy cells. Thus, these help to act as protective agents for the heart and other organs. Although the antioxidant effect of this tea is far lesser than that of green tea, it still works wonders to combat free radicals. This is one of the most well-known Oolong tea benefits.

Healthy Skin
Did you know that Oolong tea is great if you want to have that glow back on your face? One of the benefits is that it prevents skin damage and also hyperpigmentation, and thus, works great for people that have sagging or sun damaged skin. It also helps to alleviate symptoms related to skin disorders, like dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, etc.

Weight Loss
Did you know that Oolong tea and weight loss are closely related? Well, this is one area where Oolong tea beats green tea hands down when it comes to the Oolong tea vs green tea debate. Oolong tea tends to burn fat by increasing the metabolic rate in the body. It acts as a natural fat burner and also prevents the accumulation of fat in the belly region. Oolong tea itself is practically free of calories and so, regular consumption of this tea, in place of soda and drinks, will definitely further help in weight loss. It is said that the mild Oolong tea caffeine content also helps to act as a stimulant and so, increases the metabolic rate and burns more fat.

Lowering Cholesterol
Another health benefit of Oolong tea is that it reduces the level of cholesterol in the body. This is because Oolong tea is high in its polyphenol content which helps to fight cholesterol and prevents hardening of arteries. It is said that polyphenols help in activating enzymes that hydrolyze the circulating LDL (bad cholesterol), thus, bringing its levels down. Thus, it promotes the heart health and the health of the overall circulatory system.

Prevention of Diabetes
One of the Oolong tea facts is that this tea helps to prevent the dreaded disease that is known to be a silent killer - diabetes. Oolong tea helps in bringing down and stabilizing blood sugar levels, thus, helping to bring diabetes in control.

Other Benefits
There are a few more health benefits, like boosting the immune system, keeping the blood pressure in check, promoting strong and cavity free teeth, etc.

Although this tea works great for the body, you need to keep in mind not to drink too much of it, as there are a few side effects, like hypokalemia, beriberi, etc. However, these side effects are only seen when a person consumes too much of this tea. So, to avail of the numerous benefits of Oolong tea, a good and healthy lifestyle, along with moderate intake, is the key.