What are the benefits of oolong tea

Oolong tea has benefits such as refreshing and stimulating the mind, promoting digestion, assisting in weight control, improving cardiovascular health, and antioxidant properties. Oolong tea is a semi fermented tea that contains active ingredients such as tea polyphenols, caffeine, and theanine. Moderate consumption has multiple health benefits.

1. Refreshing

The caffeine in oolong tea can stimulate the central nervous system, help alleviate fatigue, and improve attention. Theanine has a soothing effect on the nerves, and when combined with caffeine, it can produce a mild and long-lasting refreshing effect, avoiding the tension caused by pure caffeine intake. Suitable for drinking when you need to concentrate on work and study.

2. Promoting digestion

Oolong tea contains tannic acid that can stimulate gastric juice secretion. Drinking it after meals can help break down oil and promote gastrointestinal motility. Its weak alkaline characteristics can neutralize some stomach acid and alleviate stomach discomfort. But patients with fasting or gastric ulcers should avoid excessive drinking to avoid stimulating the gastric mucosa.

3. Auxiliary weight control

Oolong tea polyphenols can inhibit lipolytic enzyme activity and reduce intestinal absorption of fat. Research has shown that it can increase basal metabolic rate by 3-10% and promote energy expenditure. Combining exercise can enhance the fat burning effect, but it should be noted that drinking tea alone cannot replace dietary control and exercise.

4. Cardiovascular Protection

The theaflavins in oolong tea can reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and improve endothelial function. Long term consumption can reduce systolic blood pressure by 3-5 mmHg and lower the risk of arteriosclerosis. It is recommended that hypertensive patients choose light tea to avoid strong tea causing increased heart rate.

5. Antioxidant

Oolong tea has a tea polyphenol content between green tea and black tea. Components such as EGCG can scavenge free radicals and alleviate oxidative stress damage. Its antioxidant activity has a certain effect on preventing skin aging and reducing DNA damage, but the effect is weaker than professional antioxidant supplements.

It is recommended to drink 2-3 cups of light oolong tea (with a tea content of 3-5g) daily to avoid affecting sleep before bedtime. For those with stomach cold constitution, a small amount of ginger can be used. For those with diabetes, sugar should not be added. When purchasing, choose original leaf tea without additives to avoid microplastics that may be present in the tea bag. Long term drinkers should pay attention to supplementing iron to prevent tea polyphenols from affecting the absorption of non heme iron.