Tea has been used as a beverage in China since 2,000 B.C.E., and it is consumed more than any other drink on the planet, aside from water. According to Megan Metropulos of Medical News Today, the four main types of tea are black, green, white, and oolong. Globally, only about 2% of all tea produced and consumed accounts for Oolong tea, but experts say that it is well worth discovering. It incorporates the qualities of both dark and green teas, giving it a number of claimed health benefits. Consuming oolong tea, for example, may promote weight loss and stress management.
Megan Metropulos further stated that all four varieties are derived from the Camellia sinensis plant. Since they do not come from the Camellia sinensis plant, herbal teas are not considered true tea. Oolong tea accounts for only 2% of total tea consumption worldwide. Although it is less popular, oolong tea has a number of health benefits. Continue reading to learn more about oolong tea and its health benefits. Consumption of Oolong tea is very popular among Chinese and Taiwanese. Tea drinking is an important part of Asian culture and social gatherings. Friends and business associates frequently get together over tea. Caffeine levels in oolong and green tea are comparable, ranging from 10 to 60 milligrams (mg) per 8-ounce cup. In comparison, an 8-ounce cup of coffee contains approximately 70 to 130 mg of caffeine.
The amount and type of antioxidants in tea can also vary. In terms of antioxidant content, oolong tea falls somewhere in the middle. The unsweetened brewed tea is a calorie-free beverage. There is no fat, carbohydrate, or protein in it. A cup of brewed oolong tea contains trace amounts of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, according to Jessica DiGiacinto of Healthline. She also emphasized that the main antioxidants such as theaflavins, thearubigins, and EGCG are found in oolong tea, which is known as tea polyphenols. Many of its health benefits are attributed to these. Oolong tea also contains L-theanine, an amino acid that has been shown to improve relaxation and cognitive performance. According to a study conducted by Nevin Sanlier and colleagues, tea has been shown to help protect against diabetes and diabetes complications in general, possibly by easing insulin resistance and decreasing inflammation, among other mechanisms. Oolong tea's polyphenol antioxidants may help maintain normal blood sugar levels and lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, the evidence is conflicting, and more research is required.
Tea antioxidants may also improve heart health if consumed on a regular basis. As a result, several studies of regular tea drinkers show lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and a lower risk of heart disease. Several studies have also looked specifically at oolong tea. In one study of over 76,000 Japanese adults, men who drank 8 ounces (240 mL) or more of oolong tea per day had a 61 percent lower risk of heart disease. However, keep in mind that oolong tea contains caffeine, which may slightly raise blood pressure, or hypertension, in some people.
Weight loss and tea consumption have long been linked, and many studies show a relation between the bioactive compounds in tea and weight loss or obesity prevention. According to a study conducted by Dylan O'Neill Rothenberg and colleagues, while it was previously thought that tea's antioxidant activity was solely responsible for its ability to reduce body fat, researchers are now suggesting that tea's ability to enhance enzyme inhibition, and antioxidant interactions with gut microbiota, in particular, may actually be what's driving the weight loss capability.
Indeed, Oolong tea is not as well known or popular as green or black tea, but it is said to have similar health benefits. These include heart, brain, bone, and dental health advantages. Furthermore, oolong tea may help lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, protect you from certain types of cancer, and provide support if you're trying to lose weight. It also contains less caffeine per cup than coffee, making it an excellent choice for caffeine-sensitive individuals.
ZDN DMO II Marie-Claire Gaas, RND
References:
1. What are the health benefits of Oolong tea?
Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — Written by Megan Metropulos, MS, RDN on September 6, 2017
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319276#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
2. What is Oolong Tea and What Benefits Does It Have?
Written by Jessica DiGiacinto and Alina Petre, MS, RD (NL) on July 23, 2021 — Medically reviewed by Sade Meeks, MS, RD, Nutrition
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/oolong-tea-benefits
3. Health benefits linked to drinking tea (September 1, 2014)
https://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/health-benefits-linked-to-drinking-tea
4. Tea consumption and disease correlations
Nevin Sanliera, Buşra Basar, Gokcen Mehmet Altuğ
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924224417307379
5. A Review on the Weight-Loss Effects of Oxidized Tea Polyphenols
Dylan O’Neill Rothenberg, Caibi Zhou, and Lingyun Zhang
