We are aware that you may have come here, trying to gain clarity, in a quest to prove yourself right in front of a friend or your husband and looking for a specific answer. Unfortunately or fortunately, the answer to the question of Oolong Tea raising your normal blood pressure is a No, but also a slight Yes. Wait, stay with us here! The explanation weighs different reasonings presented by the researchers. The simple answer lies in the saying that excess of everything is bad. But all we need is a lovely cup of tea to wake us up to the fact that “where there is tea, there is hope.” We shall discuss the benefits and concerns of consuming this tea for you here today which will supplement in making matters clear for you surely.
What is Oolong Tea?
Let us first begin by introducing you to what Oolong tea is. The real deal behind this tea is a herb found in nature scientifically known by the name of Camellia sinensis. If the name ‘Oolong tea’ sounds somewhat new to you, worry not. You might be familiar with it already, just by a different name. It is also referred to by the name of Chinese tea, Black Dragon tea, Wulong tea, Dragon Noir, Brown tea, and a few more.
Fact check here
this plant is the very same one that is used in making Black tea or Green tea. Interesting right! Oolong tea comes about as an amalgamation of leaves, buds, and stems of this very plant. What sets this tea apart from the other two is only the difference in its processing. Black tea involves fermenting the contents of the plant completely, Green tea is used without any processing while this dear Oolong tea is only fermented partially. The color and distinctive flavor of oolong tea are due to this partial oxidation. The color of the leaves, however, varies between manufacturers and can range from green to dark brown.
Nutritional Components
Oolong tea is full of minerals, beneficial antioxidants, and minerals that come to play when a cup of it is brewed and consumed. One of the highlighted ingredients is Caffeine, around 36mg/cup. A companion that has been by our side since day 1, and what even is a tea without caffeine? Many of the health benefits of oolong tea can be traced to antioxidants such as polyphenol, namely Theaflavins, Thearubigins, and EGCG, but it is also a rich source of Manganese, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Fluoride as well as Niacin along with the amino acid Theanine.
Health Benefits
Drinking a warm cup of freshly brewed Oolong tea comes with a big sip of wonderful health benefits for your body as a result of its constituents that we have already listed above for you. As mentioned earlier, the amino acid Theanine is known for its ability to calm and relax the body. This tea is said to help prevent the development of Diabetes by 16%, as the presence of antioxidants aid in lowering and maintaining sugar levels and insulin in the blood. It can also assist you in your weight loss journey by raising your metabolism and decreasing the amount of fat your body absorbs after consuming a meal, while also activating enzymes that aid in using up stored fat to convert into energy. If you happen to struggle with the dullness of mind, look no further and let Oolong tea come to your rescue. It helps sharpen your cognitions and even restricts the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Expect to have your mood uplifted with every sip. Other advantages include defense against cancers, strengthening of teeth and bones, etc. What do you gather from this information? Well, directly or indirectly, a vital impact of this tea is on your heart’s health, the engine of your body. We shall elaborate more on this in the following headings.
Heart Health and Blood Pressure?
We’re sure you are not new to the term ‘blood pressure, but let’s do a quick recap – as the name suggests, it is the force exerted by blood on the walls of your blood vessels, as it’s pumped by the heart to make rounds along the body. BP-related ailments have become so common in this time and age that almost every individual knows at least one person dealing with it. As it is directly related to the core of our body, running the entire system, it is no brainer that the subsequent effects spread far and beyond to other organs of our body. If you are not giving your symptoms due attention and care, it can wreak havoc with severe conditions including stroke, kidney dysfunction while even holding the potential of proving fatal as in the case of heart failure. Several medical treatments are available of course, but a natural derivative such as Oolong tea can be brought to action to maintain your heart’s health, as touched upon earlier, and you can steer clear of going down this bumpy road.
Oolong tea and Blood Pressure
Taking the discussion further, traditional medicines and consumables are very beneficial for our bodies and although limited scientific research is often done about the subject, the personal experiences of people and generationally relayed information can not be simply ignored and denied. After all, these modern medicines are derived from nature, and their therapeutic elements are initially discovered through the same agents. For decades, a connection between tea consumption and consequent reduction in blood pressure has been proposed in general health care in Chinese populations. As we progress, lately an elevated interest has been noted in researchers towards the compound called Flavanoids which is associated with benefits against heart diseases, and also found in Oolong tea.
Results of a recent study are striking! The risk of developing hypertension or high blood pressure was reduced 46% for those who drank about half-cup of Oolong tea every day than those who didn’t. Even more interesting is that the probability lowered to 65% among those who consumed more than 2.5 cups of it for a year. If you’re not a habitual drinker of this tea, we’ll take this as your sign that you must enjoy more of it because studies suggest a risk of developing high BP decreases as daily tea intake grows. The tea not only maintains a normal blood pressure reading but works to lower your cholesterol levels and thus your risk of cardiovascular diseases.
However, the flip side of drinking this Chinese tea is to stay mindful of the caffeine content. Although the proportion of it is minimal in comparison to that of your favorite beverage, coffee, it should not mean that you gulp a jug of it down your throats each day. The cumulative quantity may play with your body’s system and in fact, cause a slight episode of hypertension.
Take Away Message
The Oolong tea is packed with beneficial content and making it a part of your daily routine can do wonders for you. It helps maintain a good balance of health while you enjoy the taste of this drink. Concerning the effect on your blood pressure, it helps maintain it and if you suffer from Hypertension, drinking a fresh brew of this tea will aid you in lowering it. Stay mindful, keep your brain sharp and let it take you on a beautiful adventure.
