After water, tea is the second most consumed drink in the world. It’s of different types – white, green, black, and oolong. Though all are harvested from the Camellia sinensis plant, the difference lies in how the tea leaves are processed. Oolong tea undergoes carefully manipulated processing. This not just enhances its flavour but manifolds the oolong tea benefits. Read through to know more about oolong tea.
About Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant which is native to China and Southeast Asia. It is a semi-oxidized variety of tea. While preparing green tea, the leaves are immediately heated upon harvesting. This halts the oxidation process and allows the tea leaves to retain their bright green colour. On the other end of the spectrum is black tea wherein the leaves are rolled and exposed to air to allow them to oxidise. Upon drying and oxidation, the leaves turn black-brown.
However, oolong tea settles just in the middle. Its fermentation or oxidation process ranges between 10-80%. This depends upon the production style of the tea master. While the lesser oxidised oolong tea tastes more like fresh green tea, the more oxidised variant tastes like malty black tea.
Hence, depending upon which level the oolong tea is oxidised to, its colour, aroma and flavour vary. Interestingly, all levels of oolong tea confer amazing health benefits. Listed below are the oolong tea benefits.
Oolong Tea Nutritional Value
Black, green and oolong tea – all come from the same plant, the Camellia sinensis. Hence the nutritional value of oolong tea is quite similar to that of black and green tea. But because the oolong tea is slightly more fermented than the green tea and a little less fermented than the black tea, it accounts for all the difference, if any.
Every one cup (236 ml) of brewed oolong tea confers:
- Calories – 0
- Carbohydrates – 0 gm
- Fats – 0 gm
- Cholesterol – 0 gm
- Fibre – 0 gm
But what makes oolong tea healthy is its rich micronutrient content. Oolong tea contains
- Fluoride
- Manganese
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Niacin
- Sodium
The high amounts of antioxidants and plant-based compounds are primarily responsible for oolong tea benefits. Oolong tea also contains high amounts of caffeine.
Oolong Tea Benefits
Several health benefits are associated with drinking oolong tea. These include:
1. Reduces Inflammation
Oolong tea is an excellent source of polyphenols, plant-based compounds that have a high antioxidant value. Some of the most commonly found polyphenols in oolong tea are theaflavins, thearubigins, and EGCG. These compounds have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce chronic inflammation. They also boost the immune health that strengthens the body against a range of diseases and allergic reactions.
2. Protects Against Heart Disease
Oolong tea contains high amounts of polyphenols. These trigger the production of the enzyme that helps break down triglycerides, the fat in the blood that leads to the thickening of artery walls which increases the pressure on the heart. This is directly linked to the increased risk of stroke and heart attack.
3. Improves Gut Health
Oolong tea exhibits antiseptic properties. This restricts the growth of bad bacteria in the gut which boosts the health and quality of the gut microbiome. Moreover, oolong tea has an alkaline effect. This reduces acid reflux and thwarts the formation of ulcers that spread due to an inflamed gut. Research suggests that polyphenols present in oolong tea can regulate intestinal flora. This contributes directly to the improvement of intestinal health.
4. Cuts Down Risk Of Allergies
Gut health is directly linked to low immunity and an increased risk of allergies. Drinking oolong tea benefits gut health by reducing the count of bad bacteria, which improves immunity, and lowers the risk of developing diseases and allergies. Research suggests that drinking oolong tea can help to re-diversify the gut microbiome, improving overall health.
5. Reduces Risk Of Diabetes
The polyphenol content in oolong tea helps delay the absorption of glucose. This reduces insulin resistance and lowers blood sugar levels. As both high blood sugar and insulin resistance are risk factors for diabetes, drinking oolong tea can reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
6. Aids Weight Management
The plant compounds in oolong tea boost metabolism. As the body’s metabolism rate increases, the body burns calories more quickly. This helps decrease body fat. Thus, the oolong tea benefits make it a perfect fit for weight loss diets. Research shows that fat burning by oolong tea increases by up to 3.4%. Furthermore, oolong tea is a zero-calorie drink. Thus, the tea itself adds no calories to the daily diet.
7. Supports Cognitive Health
Oolong tea packs high amounts of L-theanine, an amino acid known to improve mental functioning. Regular intake of oolong tea helps improve brain activity, promotes better sleep, and reduces stress and anxiety. Moreover, oolong tea’s antioxidant content has brain-protective properties which help in fighting neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, it reduces the risk of developing neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
8. Improves Mental Alertness
Caffeine is an important compound found in oolong tea. It contains up to 60 mg of caffeine per 250 ml serving of oolong tea. Caffeine is a natural stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It works by blocking the receptors of adenosine, a sleep-promoting neurotransmitter, thus increasing excitement levels in the brain. This helps increase mental alertness and performance as it helps you feel more energetic and active.
9. Reduces Cancer Risk
Oolong tea contains high amounts of antioxidants. These fight the free radicals in the body and reduce oxidative stress. A high level of oxidative stress enhances DNA mutations. This increases the damage caused to DNA, leading to a higher risk of developing cancer. Research shows that oolong tea benefits are more pronounced in reducing the risk of head and neck and throat cancer.
10. Improves Dental Health
Oolong tea leaves contain fluoride, the ionised form of the element fluorine. Fluoride is called nature’s cavity fighter as it protects the tooth enamel from the action of acids. Thus, oolong tea’s high fluoride content makes the tooth enamel acid-resistant. This protects the teeth from cavities and related damage.
11. Promotes Skin Health
Oolong tea contains lots of antioxidants and plant-based compounds. These possess anti-inflammatory properties which reduce itching and inflammation associated with eczema and other skin disorders. The antioxidants in oolong tea fight free radicals and reduce oxidative stress. This reduces signs of ageing like wrinkles, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation. Oolong tea is also a great remedy for the treatment of acne and blemishes when applied topically on the skin. This makes the skin youthful and radiant.
The polyphenols present in oolong tea protect the skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. As oolong tea boosts gut health, it reduces the risk of allergic skin reactions.
12. Increases Bone Strength
Calcium and phosphorus are essential minerals for the bones. They promote bone strength. However, certain medical conditions, age-related decline and mineral deficiencies lead to loss of minerals from the bones, increasing the risk of bone fractures. Oolong tea is rich in Fluoride. The minerals help remineralize the bones by replacing calcium and phosphorus. This strengthens the bones and reduces the risk of bone fractures.
Oolong Tea Side Effects
Oolong tea benefits the body in several ways. But overconsumption of the beverage can have side effects. These include:
- Oolong tea contains caffeine. Too much caffeine per day can interfere with a healthy sleep pattern. It also increases the risk of headaches, increased heart rate and irritability.
- Too much oolong tea can affect the absorption of iron into the blood. This can lead to anaemia and related health conditions.
Oolong Tea Precautions
Oolong tea must be consumed in moderation. Health experts recommend drinking a maximum of four cups of oolong tea daily.
However, drinking oolong tea is not recommended in the following groups of people:
- Pregnant women
- Breastfeeding mothers
- Young children
- People with anxiety disorders
- People with bleeding disorders
- People with heart problems
- People with diabetes
- People suffering from diarrhoea
- People diagnosed with glaucoma
- People with high blood pressure
Conclusion
Tea is a popular beverage that is consumed across the globe. While black and green teas are the more popular versions, oolong tea is a lesser-known variety. But its unique processing style of oolong tea rolls out a healthy and tasty beverage. Oolong tea offers several health benefits. Oolong tea weight loss benefits are linked to its zero-calorie feature. Its high antioxidant properties fight free radicals. Thus, oolong tea benefits can be seen in reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Oolong tea revitalises the skin and boosts teeth and bone health. But high caffeine content in oolong tea can pose serious side effects. Therefore, oolong tea must be consumed in moderation with no more than four cups per day.
