Why not green tea? Why not black tea? Why are you drinking oolong tea in the first place? We mean to say, there must be a very good reason why you are sticking with a rather less known tea variant. Oolong tea has a lot of benefits associated with it, which one is it that you are after? Are you drinking this stuff to shed some extra pounds? Or is it because you want your immunity to be boosted to a level where bacteria are scared of attacking your body? Does a tooth hurt, because oolong tea is a great drink to sip for averting and preventing tooth damage? Well, whatever your reason for sipping this tea might be, you have to understand that this is not an ordinary cup of tea you are having. There are some moments and occasions when drinking oolong tea can do more harm than good. In this discussion, we figure out for you whether you should oolong tea before or after a meal?
Why drinking oolong tea before meals is not a great idea?
We don’t like beating around the bush, so here is the short answer. No, it is not a great idea to drink oolong tea before a meal. The logic here is that drinking this stuff on an empty stomach can lead to serious side effects, especially if you are doing this regularly. You see, when you are drinking oolong tea on an empty stomach, you are inviting the caffeine content in this tea to affect your body and mind in a very strong manner. The interaction can leave the drinker feeling jittery, and that would be the least of your worries! If you are not cautious, you will become a victim of nausea and anxiety permanently. Want to know why it is happening in the first place? Well, when you haven’t eaten anything, there doesn’t exist an optimal balance, the perfect buffer between calories and carbohydrates in your stomach. This is the simplest explanation for all the effects that you might feel after sipping oolong tea on an empty stomach. Other possible downsides of drinking oolong tea on an empty stomach include a reduced appetite, as well as a dramatic change in the ability to taste.
Why should you drink oolong tea after meals?
It is ideal to drink oolong tea after a meal. Unfortunately, this is only a short answer, some complications can arise if you don’t do the deed the right way. Now, when we eat aftermeals, we don’t mean to say that you can drink oolong tea straight away after a meal. Nope, you will have to wait for at least thirty minutes before you can enjoy oolong tea. Again, there is a logic behind this recommendation, we ain’t just ranting here! Read carefully what we are about to tell you in the following lines.
You see, oolong tea is partially oxidized to preserve its antioxidants. And the oxidized version of oolong tea is enriched with a higher concentration of tannin, which can reduce the overall rate of protein absorption. Ask yourself, is it worth drinking something if it lowers your protein uptake? Hence, from the fear of reduced protein absorption, we don’t recommend drinking oolong tea straight away after a meal.
On the other hand, waiting for thirty minutes can make oolong the healthiest drink you might have sipped in a while. This time is enough for food to be digested properly, the macromolecules like protein are already beginning to be assimilated into your system. And to be perfectly honest with you, by this time, you are craving for something anyways. So why not sip a cup of something that has so many health benefits associated with it!
The safe range
2-3 cups, and not any more than that in one day. We hate to break it to you, but if you are not careful about the amounts you are drinking, you will suffer from the side effects of over-drinking oolong tea. These include nervousness, jittery feelings, headaches, and in worst cases, kidney stones.
Tips that can help you in the long run!
In this section of the discussion, we are going to share with you, the secret wisdom that you have been looking for, all this time! We thought it best to compile our tips in the form of a list so that there are no ambiguities in understanding what we are trying to tell you. They are as magical as the oolong tea itself!
1- If your objective is to lose some pounds, then we will advise you to drink the tea regularly. Skipping or taking breaks is not a great idea, the desired results will be delayed, which will not be great for optics either.
2- Don’t fall for the tricky iced oolong tea that is commonly sold in shops. It is not great for weight loss as compared to the warm oolong tea you can whip up in five minutes in your kitchen.
3- If you feel things are a little boring, you can add cinnamon or lemon juice to your cup of tea. Not only does this add more flavor to your drink, but the stimulatory effects of oolong tea also get multiplied by two, especially in the case of lemon juice.
4- There are many brands of oolong tea in the market, make sure you do your research before you go shopping for it.
Summary
Do you know what makes our blood boil? People wash their stomachs with something as nice as oolong tea during a meal. Can you believe it? We mean to say, it is borderline criminal! Not only do these folks wreck all the potential benefits of oolong tea by drinking it in such a horrific manner, they just spoil the whole aura associated with this fine Chinese drink as well. Well, we hope that you will set a much better example to be followed, now that you are all aware of the decorum for drinking this delicacy. On that optimistic note, we bid you farewell from this discussion.
