Whenever it comes to suppressing appetite or reducing weight, the first thing that comes to everybody’s mind is fasting and exercise. Why don’t people think about tea?
Over the last few years, green tea has become quite popular among people who are trying to burn their body fat. But has anyone thought about trying other teas that might prove to be more effective? I bet not because many of us don’t even know the other teas!
Well, let me introduce to you Oolong tea which is proven to be effective for suppressing your hunger and burning your weight. Yes, you read that right!
Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea that is made from leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis plant. It is also known as ‘Wu long’ tea or black-dragon tea because of its origin. Different tea types including green tea, black tea, or oolong tea come from the same plant–Camellia sinensis. But the leaves are processed in distinct ways and are oxidized to different levels, so each tea is a bit different. Oolong tea is a partially oxidized tea; it does not contain as much caffeine as black tea (which is completely oxidized), neither it is like green tea which is least oxidized. You can also call it a fermented version of green tea. It has a unique aroma with a distinguishing taste. Like green tea, oolong tea contains different nutrients that help in increasing your metabolic rate. But unlike green tea, oolong tea offers many benefits besides reducing weight.
Here’s why you should drink oolong tea without having to worry about the side effects.
Worried about Appetite? Not a problem
While reducing weight, one tries to control hunger and cut back on food intake. Oolong tea contains different antioxidants mainly polyphenols and flavonoids. The flavonoid known as catechin is present in oolong tea which helps in breaking the body fat by effectively increasing the metabolic rate of your body. The oolong tea reduces the craving for food by having a considerate effect on catecholamines. The antioxidants in the oolong tea block the enzymes from working and hence help you in controlling your appetite.
Research studies have shown that oolong tea promotes weight loss by improving fat burning and increasing metabolism. A study consisting of around 100 overweight people drank oolong tea every day for about six weeks. The results showed that consumption of oolong tea had helped them in reducing body fats as well as overall weight.
Fat store, No more!
Like any other tea, caffeine is the main ingredient of oolong tea. But the level of caffeine differs depending upon the oxidation. Besides minerals and vitamins, the presence of different antioxidants makes the tea special. The caffeine that is present in tea makes it possible to burn fats by increasing metabolic rates. In a small group of study metabolic rates were assessed by giving people water or oolong tea. The research duration consisted of three days and results showed that oolong tea significantly increased the energy outflow by burning more fats as compared to that of water.
While many of us succeed in controlling our overall body weight, still most of us struggle when it comes to shedding belly fats. Oolong tea not only burns the stored fats in the belly but also blocks the fat absorption from food intake. It does this by passing the fats directly through the body without digesting them. As a result, our body tries to melt the stored fat which ultimately reduces the belly fat.
Sleep without stress!
People who are trying to reduce their weight often develop sleep problems. It might sound strange but there is a reason behind this. People who are fighting obesity by diet and exercise come at a point in their weight loss journey when their body refuses to shed further pounds. This leads to anxiety as well as stress which often makes it hard for them to fall asleep. When the research was carried out regarding the oolong tea and its effects on metabolic rates, it was also found that oolong tea helped in reducing stress levels. To be precise, the study showed an 18% decrease in anxiety and stress levels. The results also showed that there was a prominent change in the sleep patterns of the group under research.
Since this research, oolong tea is also recommended to people having sleep disorders. The polyphenol antioxidants and theanine present in oolong tea induce a good night’s sleep by enhancing levels of serotonin. Serotonin impacts our whole body, and it is the key hormone that is responsible for feelings of positivity and stabilizing our mood. So drinking oolong tea has many benefits and promoting peaceful sleep is one of them.
Want to stay healthy? Switch to Oolong tea
Oolong tea is known for its proven health benefits. Unlike other teas, oolong tea helps in lowering blood pressures. The antioxidants present in oolong tea also help in controlling the digestive enzyme activity which in turn controls blood sugar levels making oolong tea beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes. It is also found that oolong tea has anti-cancer effects as it inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Drinking oolong tea regularly also results in healthier skin and hair loss prevention.
Know the side-effects: don’t over consume!
Two to three cups of oolong tea per day, half to one hour before exercise is recommended for a healthy individual. Taking anything in excessive amounts can be dangerous for the body so one should not over-consume. Oolong tea, like any other tea, contains caffeine and might lead to caffeine poisoning. It contains calcium and fluorides which are good for bone health but if taken in excessive amounts, these fluorides will have harmful effects on bone strength.
While more research needs to be carried out on the effects of oolong tea, the existing findings and various health benefits show that oolong is potentially beneficial for curbing appetite and reducing weight. Besides, what is the harm in trying as it tastes exceptionally well?
