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The Healing Benefits of Oolong Tea
by Emily Brown King
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Overview
The Healing Benefits of Oolong Tea
Oolong tea has long been popular in China and Japan. It first started being produced about 400 years ago, at the end of the Ming Dynasty at Mt. Wu Yi Shan in Fujian Province. This rich, flavorful tea has gained popularity in the U.S. in recent years because of its health benefits.
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Polyphenols
Different kinds of teas have been known to contain chemicals that are beneficial to human health. The chemicals that are most prevalent in oolong tea are called polyphenols. It is the polyphenols that create the flavor of the tea and contribute all the various benefits. Tannin in particular is a polyphenol that has a lot of health benefits.
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Free Radicals
Free radicals are substances that are created in the body to ward off harmful elements. However, they are also produced from stress, chemical hazards and other potentially dangerous things. The body is also exposed to free radicals that are produced by external factors. They can have a very damaging effect on the skin and cause other diseases and even cancer. Antioxidants are the substances that neutralize free radicals and keep them from harming us. A scientific study performed by Kenichi Yanagimoto showed that oolong tea blocked oxidation (the process that causes free radicals) by 50 percent over a period of 15 days (see the link to amazing-green-tea.com in "Additional Resources," below). The findings are vague but certainly exciting.
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Weight Loss
Just like green tea, oolong tea has a reputation for aiding in weight loss. Some scientists claim that it raises metabolism and burns fat (see the link to amazing-green-tea.com in "Additional Resources," below).
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Heart Health
The findings of several studies suggest that oolong tea has a beneficial effect on hearth health. A study done at the University of Tokushima showed that the fat excreted from the body was doubled after drinking oolong tea (amazing-green-tea.com). It also appears to reduce cholesterol with regular consumption. Oolong tea may also reduce the risk of obesity, type two diabetes and coronary artery disease.
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Skin
Some patients with eczema may benefit from drinking oolong tea. There is a type of eczema called recalcitrant eczema that can't be treated with the usual medications. In a study, about 63 percent of patients who drank a certain amount of oolong tea per day were relieved of some of the symptoms of this skin disorder (amazing-green-tea.com).
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Diabetes
In addition to their current treatments and medications, type two diabetes patients may benefit from drinking oolong tea. It reduces plasma glucose and fructosamine in the body, reducing some symptoms of the disease (amazing-green-tea.com).
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Oral Health
Streptococci is a bacteria that can form plaque on the teeth. Oolong tea has shown the ability to stop the activity of this bacteria, thus preventing some plaque buildup (amazing-green-tea.com).
