Can oolong tea help with weight loss?
Can oolong tea help with weight loss? The short answer is : yes! Interested in the long answer?
Here it comes.
Is oolong tea good for weight loss?
What makes oolong tea so special, is the way in which it's prepared. After being plucked, oolong tea is dried under the Sun. Thanks to this, it is partially oxidized unlike black tea (fully oxidized) and green tea (not oxidized).
Thanks to this process, unlike green tea, Oolong tea keeps most of its antioxidant properties.
The antioxidants help to scavenge the harmful free oxygen radicals. It is important because free oxygen radicals can lead to weight gain by disrupting normal cell function and metabolism.
Oolong tea accelerates metabolism
Having studied more than 100 obese men who drank oolong tea for six weeks a recent study concluded that 70% of them lost at least 1kg and 22% - more than 3kg.
The study concludes that oolong tea could decrease body fat content and reduce body weight through improving fat metabolism. Moreover, chronic consumption of oolong tea may prevent against obesity.
Oolong tea increases energy expenditure
A study conducted in 2000 confirmed that oolong tea increased energy expenditure compared to other drinks which means it can directly lead to weight loss, in line with the ancient Chinese beliefs.
Fat oxidation was also 12% higher for the study participants who drank oolong tea, compared to water or caffeinated drinks.
Oolong tea helps lose belly fat
Research has shown that oolong tea promotes the burning of belly fat. In one study, oolong te drinkers lost twice more midsection fat than other participants.
Oolong tea helps digestion
Oolong tea has a healing effect on the digestive tract. This is possible because it is mildly antiseptic, and helps to prevent the appearance of bad bacteria in the gut. In addition to that, oolong tea helps reduce acid reflux thanks to its alkalizing effect.
Oolong tea is calory-free!
Last but not least, if consumed without sugar / honey or other additives, oolong has zero calories. It is one more way in which oolong consumption can help lose weight.
Best of all - oolong tea is also delicious. The Chinese have got it right - oolong tea is probably the most relaxing and pleasant way of losing weight.
If you're not sure if the pure oolong taste is the right fit for you, there are many delicious blends with oolong such as an oolong earl grey tea.
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