[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he amazing oolong tea is somewhere in between green and black tea. All three tea types are gotten from the leaves, buds and stems of the same Camellia sinensis plant. The difference is in the way they are processed. While black tea is fully fermented, green tea is unfermented. The oolong tea, however, is partially fermented.
The use of oolong tea has been traced back to 400 years ago when it became popular amongst the Chinese. Although there are many types of tea, oolong is arguably the most beneficial. In fact, it is very popular for its health benefits. It has been used to treat, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, skin diseases and heart diseases, But oolong tea has many other surprising benefits as well. Here are the top five on my list:
1. High Nutritional Value
Apart from antioxidants, oolong tea contains various essential minerals and vitamins. Some of these include carotene, calcium, manganese, potassium, Vitamins A,B,C,E, K and so on. If you want to stay nourished, drink a good quantity of oolong tea every day.
What’s more? It also contains folic acid, niacinamide and other detoxifying alkaloids. Because it contains caffeine, it can help stimulate the nervous system.
2. Effective Stress Buster
The rich in polyphenol oolong tea has proven to be an effective stress blaster
A research study in Japan revealed that stressed up mice experienced a significant (10 – 18%)reduction in stress levels after they consumed oolong tea.
Apart from the natural polyphenols, oolong tea contains the L-theanine which is an amino acid. This amino acid hinders L-glutamic acid from reaching glutamate receptors in the brain. This reduces cognitive activity and neural stress responses so that the body can relax and rest.
So whether you’re battling stress in the workplace or at home, drinking oolong tea is a good way to take a break and calm your nerves.
3. Improves Oral Hygiene
One of the most amazing benefits of oolong tea is its ability to strengthen the bones and teeth. No one wants to deal with tooth decay.
Research has shown that people who consistently drank oolong tea were less likely to lose any bone mineral density.
if you want to promote the overall growth of the body or to maintain white and healthy dentition, drinking oolong tea is a simple way to achieve these benefits.
4. For Healthy and Beautiful Skin
For most of us, maintain smooth and healthy skin is a goal we have consistently striven to reach. Drinking oolong tea is one way to get closer to this goal. This wonderful tea has been proven to improve the overall health of the skin.
A research showed that patients who drank oolong tea showed remarkable improvement in their skin as eczema they once suffered from began to clear within a week.
The natural polyphenol in oolong tea also functions as an anti-allergenic compound which cures atopic dermatitis. If you want to cure mild irritation and chronic skin health issues, oolong tea is a good natural remedy that can help you keep your skin healthy and beautiful.
5. Improves Mental Performance
Oolong tea is rich in caffeine. This guarantees that a daily intake of oolong tea and improve mental alertness and overall mental performance. Most people want to sharpen their thinking skills.
Whether you’re studying for an exam or trying to boost creativity and productivity, drinking oolong tea is a great way to start your day.
Be careful not to drink too much of this amazing tea as it is very high in caffeine. Some of the side effects of high caffeine include headaches, restlessness, insomnia, diarrhoea, indigestion, and irregular heartbeat.
Chioma Iwunze-Ibiam writes creative non-fiction and prose fiction. Her works have appeared in Romance Meets Life, Flash Fiction Press, MTLS, Saraba Magazine, Sentinel Magazine and others. Her first novel, Finding Love Again, was published by Ankara Press. She owns and manages Creative Writing News.
