Health Benefits Of Oolong Tea

Although it has been around for nearly 400 years, oolong tea has remained relatively unknown in most parts of the world. This type of tea is gaining popularity, however, as its many health benefits are becoming known. Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea that is made with a unique process of semi-fermentation. Naturally low in caffeine, this tea falls somewhere between green tea and black tea in terms of antioxidant levels and benefits. Numerous studies in the last decade have proven its ability to eliminate free radicals, improve heart health and even treat eczema.

 Oolong tea contains a wide range of antioxidants, including catechins, thearubigin, and theaflavin, all of which are shown to help eliminate free radicals in the human body. Free radicals have been linked to signs of skin aging like wrinkles and age spots, as well as certain diseases and cancer. Because free radicals are found in everything from air to sunlight, it's impossible to stop them from entering the body. Antioxidant-rich food and drink, however, can help eliminate these harmful radicals before they cause harm. While green tea is the most potent tea with the highest concentration of antioxidants, oolong tea is a close second. The oolong variety has the ability to block 50% of all oxidation over a 15-day period.

 Oolong tea has many proven heart benefits as well. A 2007 study showed its ability to lower triglyceride levels in the blood by about 80%. A study in 2001, on the other hand, demonstrated that oolong tea can reduce cholesterol levels within one month of regular consumption. In addition, oolong tea can increase plasma adiponectin levels. Low levels are usually associated with diabetes, obesity and coronary artery disease. This study demonstrated that drinking oolong tea regularly may slow the progression of atherosclerosis in those diagnosed with coronary artery disease.

 Individuals with eczema may also benefit from drinking oolong tea every day. Green tea has well-known anti-allergen properties, but few realize that oolong tea offers many of the same benefits. A study was conducted at Shiga University showing that drinking oolong tea daily can clear up recalcitrant atopic dermatitis (AD), a form of eczema that does not respond to traditional treatment options. Many participants in this study found results within one week, although the majority had noticeable skin improvement within four weeks.

 Oolong tea may even help individuals with type 2 diabetes maintain control of their disease. A small study in 2003 involved around thirty participants with type 2 diabetes that took prescribed hyperglycemic medication. Half of the participants drank 1.5L of oolong tea daily, while the other half drank water. The group that drank tea daily for a full month showed drastically lower levels of both plasma glucose and fructosamine. This study demonstrated that oolong tea can work with prescription medications to help individuals with diabetes maintain healthy levels of glucose in their blood.

 A study in 2004 showed oolong tea's ability to lower blood pressure as well. This study followed participants for a full year and found that those who drank green and oolong tea had lower blood pressure overall. Those that drank at least half a cup of tea daily had a 46% reduced risk of developing high blood pressure, while those that drank more than 2 cups daily had a 65% lower risk.

 Finally, a study in 1993 showed that oolong tea can even inhibit the growth of streptococci, a bacteria that causes dental plaque. Nakahara's study looked at green, oolong and black tea and found that oolong tea has the greatest ability to inhibit bacterial enzyme activity. The benefits of oolong tea are well documented and show that regular consumption of this form of tea can contribute to a more healthy lifestyle. Teas such as this have the ability to protect the body from free radicals and improve many harmful health conditions, even those that don't respond to other forms of treatment.