Oolong tea is well-known for
its unique taste and enormous health benefits to our body. As green tea, oolong
has high amount of polyphenols, alkaloids, saponins, polysaccharides and
L-theanines. These polyphenols contribute to oolong's antioxidant activity and
free radical scavenging abilities. Besides, caffeine and polyphenols are
bioactive component to anti-obesity properties of oolong tea. It is also used
to prevent tooth decay, osteoporosis, relax your mind. In this post I would
like to sketch 5 main health benefits, side effects and some tips for choosing
and brewing oolong tea.
5 Oolong Tea Health Benefits
- Natural anti-oxidant properties
Free radicals are the natural
byproduct of the process of oxidation. If free radicals are not neutralized it
can cause damage to human proteins, lipid, DNA and lead to fatal diseases. To
protect our self, our body uses an inherent antioxidant defense to scavenge and
treat free radicals. However this system cannot prevent all the damage caused
by free radical. We can strengthen our antioxidant defense by using food with
rich sources of organic polyphenols. Polyphenols like vitamin C, vitamin E,
carotenoids, flavonoids, catechins have antioxidant activity.
Oolong tea has rich sources of
polyphenols as epigallocatechin (EGC), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and
epicatechin -3-gallate (ECG). EGC and EGCG have been proved to play an
important role in the scavenging ability of oolong tea. EGC and EGCG might
against the diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) and superoxide radicals.
Moreover other low molecular weight polyphenols in oolong tea also support DPPH
scavenging activity
2. Natural weight loss supplement
In the early of 1990’s
scientist found that oolong tea can support and reduce body weight. Scientists
have proved that polyphenols and caffeine in oolong tea can block lipid
absorption and promoted fat oxidation.
As that oolong tea is used widely as natural supplement to treat obesity
hardening and high cholesterol. In my other post I will spend more time to
discuss about anti-obesity benefit of oolong tea.
3. Natural Remedy to Clear Acne
Oolong tea is proved to enhance
and give you a dramatic skin effect. This benefit might come from the
anti-allergic properties of the oolong tea polyphenols. In 2001, Shiga
University of Medical Science in Japan found that oolong tea can enhance the skin
treatment in patients with recalcitrant atopic (AD). In a study, 118 patients
with AD drank oolong tea for 6 months. The patients were asked to maintain
their dermatological treatment during the study. Patients were instructed to drink 10 gram of
dried oolong tea steeped in 5 minutes with 1000 ml of boiling water. The tea
amount is divided in 3 equal serving and was drunk daily after 3 regular meals.
In first weeks, the beneficial effect was first notice after 1 or 2 weeks of
treatment. A good respond to treatment was still observed in 64 patients of 6
months. Base on this research daily drinking oolong tea might help us to prevent acne. Oolong tea might clear acne and gives us brighter skin too.
4. Oolong Tea support Healthy Teeth
You can easy find some
toothpaste or oral care products which contain green tea or tea inside.
Experimental evidence suggests that EGCG, ECG and other catechins can be
anti-plaque agents. Catechins in tea can prevent our teeth from the attachment
of oral streptococcal pathogens. ECG and EGCG bind bacterial cellular proteins
and decrease its hydrophobicity. And then prevent their further development.
According to a study of the Dept. of Dentistry at Japan's Osaka University
regular consumption of oolong tea can help to reduce plaque deposit and tooth
decay.
5. Natural anxiety remedies
Fragrant compounds in plant,
forest have been proved to be able enhance the GABAA response
receptors in our brain. People using fragrant for treating anxiety disorders,
sleep disturbances, muscle spasms and seizure disorders. Oolong tea contains
the fragrant compounds such as geraniol, linalool and benzyl alcohol. In the
research of Yamaguchi University, Japanese scientists used oolong fragrant to regulate
the GABAA levels in the brain. Oolong tea is proved to sharpen
thinking skills by improve mental alertness by increasing GABAA
level in brain. Besides, oolong tea fragrant might be able to handle the stress
and reduce the headache. As that having a fresh cup of oolong tea can help us
relax and keep our mind balance.
Tips for brewing oolong tea
The leaves of oolong tea should not be
damaged and look reasonably whole once they are infused and unfold. After
making the tea, the leaves should be tender, pliable and look fresh. The leaves
should not be chewy, old and thick. If it looks like that it might be picked lately.
You can brew oolong tea for three to
five times with the same leaves. The best tea should be able to keep its rich
flavor through multiple infusions. Besides, good oolong tea will not become
bitter for a long aftertaste. With lots of people the third or fourth steeping
oolong tea usually the best. With me my favorite is the second time brewing as the
second brewing taste is not so strong or not so soft.
You can brew oolong tea for three to five times with the same leaves. The best tea should be able to keep its rich flavor through multiple infusions. Besides, good oolong tea will not become bitter for a long aftertaste. With lots of people the third or fourth steeping oolong tea usually the best. With me my favorite is the second time brewing as the second brewing taste is not so strong or not so soft.
How to brew oolong tea?
In a traditional way, people will brew
3 grams of tea (2 teaspoons) per cup with 200 ml of water. The water
temperature about 205°F (93 to 96°C) water (not boiling) and steeped 3–10
minutes.
You can maximize the scavenging
ability of oolong tea by changing brewing time and water temperature. A study
of Guangzhou and Clemson University found that the best time to brew oolong tea
is 3 minutes with boiling water (100°C). Oolong tea will have the highest
activities of scavenging DPPH and superoxide radicals.
You can maximize the scavenging ability of oolong tea by changing brewing time and water temperature. A study of Guangzhou and Clemson University found that the best time to brew oolong tea is 3 minutes with boiling water (100°C). Oolong tea will have the highest activities of scavenging DPPH and superoxide radicals.
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