People struggling with their weight might be able to turn to one warm, Chinese beverage. There is some evidence that Oolong tea could help people shed pounds, and protect against serious disease.
For five years, researchers studied obesity and various dietary ways to fight the battle of the bulge. They discovered that the high levels of "polyphenols" in oolong tea contribute to weight loss. These are natural chemicals that act as antioxidants, with the ability to lower the amount of fat in the blood. Basically, the beverage helps with metabolism of fat, which controls obesity. This helps drop cholesterol levels and body weight at the same time.
Scientists have proven that tea appears to help with shedding pounds loss, and they particularly recommend the oolong variety as a food cure.
There are three types of tea made from tea leaves: black; green; and oolong. Oolong is somewhere in the middle of the two better-known beverages, as it is semi-fermented. It contains less caffeine than either black tea or coffee. Oolong tea is commonly dished out in restaurants in China, and it's no coincidence that the Chinese believe it exerts a strong effect in the body.
Basically, they believe that it stimulates the digestive systems and is a very healthy beverage in general. Drinking oolong tea could help promote longevity and strong health. Oolong tea has been studied for its antioxidant properties and its ability to protect the body from obesity, cancer, and heart disease.
In 2001, a study in the "Journal of Nutrition" tried to investigate what made this beverage so healthy. They looked at a dozen U.S. men who kept eating a typical diet - except that they included oolong tea each day in varying doses. Of the results collected, the most significant was that men drinking tea had significantly higher fat oxidation and a faster rate of metabolism. Both directly promote weight loss, and this is some of the strongest evidence to support the link.
Still, the relationship between oolong tea and weight loss needs to be clarified. A couple of other interesting things have been discovered. A study of rodents, for example, found that a chemical in oolong tea leaves called "chafuroside" seems to be an effective protective agent against colon cancer.
As it stands now, there is a lot of suggestive evidence about oolong tea, and it certainly doesn't hurt to find out if it works for you.
Source:
The Doctors Health Press
http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/weight-loss-articles/shedding-pounds-with-this-special-tea
Shedding Pounds with This Special Tea
