Oolong Tea has been around for many, many years, but only recently has the western culture begun to take notice of its wonderful properties. It is made from the camellia sinensis plant, as are all true teas, however to become oolong tea, it must go through a process different than black or green tea. It's taste is similar to green tea, yet it is darker in color and lacks some of the distinctive flavor of green tea.
The health properties of oolong tea are quite similar to those of green tea, which makes sense considering they come from the same plant. Oolong tea may help reduce cholesterol, burn fats, aid improvement of heart conditions, ease digestive disorders, strengthen the immune system, strengthen bones and fight tooth decay.
Oolong tea is rich in antioxidants, which fight free-radicals that cause aging and weakness in many areas of the body. It is rich in quercetin which has its own set of health benefits (read the previous article regarding the benefits of quercetin) which is great to dilate the blood vessels and provide improved blood flow. In this manner, it is quite helpful in heart health. It is also high in potassium, an electrolyte that is crucial for brain and nerve function. It can increase the body's metabolism rate and helps control the production of sugars in the blood stream. This activity, plus the fat burning energies of oolong tea make it a great option for weightloss.
Oolong tea, like green tea, has naturally occurring amounts of caffeine. This is not quite the same as adding caffeine to a product. Of course, caffeine being present means there is an increased amount of energy obtained from a cup of tea and the potential for increasing heart rate is there, although the caffeine is far less than a cup of coffee and even less than a cup of green tea.
Enjoy a cup of oolong tea hot or cold, prior to workouts, or in the evening to hold off sweet cravings. No matter your reason, your taste buds and your body can appreciate a cup of oolong!
This and more info can be found at:
http://www.teabenefits.com/oolong-tea-benefits.html
http://www.teasetc.com/tea/article.asp?ID=1
http://whatisoolongtea.com/oolong-tea-benefits
