The Health-Boosting Benefits of Oolong Tea

Tea is one of the most favorite and widely consumed beverages around the world. Oolong tea constitutes only 2% of the world's total tea consumption, but its health benefits are worth discovering. All three types of teas, including green, black and oolong teas originate from the same plant named Camellia sinensis. The only difference between all these types of teas lies in the way they are being processed. All types of teas contain certain enzymes, which undergo a chemical process called oxidization. The process of oxidization causes the green tea leaves to turn into deep black color. Green tea has a green color because it goes through a lesser amount of oxidization, whereas black tea is oxidized until it turns deep black.

What is Oolong Tea?

Oolong tea goes through a partial oxidization process, giving it a color between black and green. The partial oxidization of oolong tea provides it with a unique taste, color, and health-supporting characteristics. Oolong tea is a staple beverage in China, Taiwan, and other Asian countries. Historically, its use dates back to thousands of years ago. It contains antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that offer many benefits to the mind, body ad skin. Because of its many benefits, oolong tea has become famous in other parts of the world in recent decades. It has an airy, floral, and sweet flavor because of partial processing.

Oolong Tea Health Benefits 

Here are the health benefits of oolong tea, making it a must-have in your daily tea routine:

• Helps Improve Gut Health

Many of us face gut health issues now and then. It can be caused by many reasons, including high-sugar diet, weight gain or loss, sleep disturbances, medications, and underlying diseases. Generally, people depend on probiotics to maintain and improve their gut health. Oolong tea is a healthy alternative chemical-based probiotics because it has antiseptic and antioxidant properties. It boosts gut health by prohibiting the growth of bad bacteria in your gut ad soothes intestinal issues. Its alkalizing ability relieves acid reflux, calms inflammation, and alleviates stomach pain.

• Fights Health-Damaging Effects of Free Radicals

Free radicals are independent and unstable atoms present in your body. They have a missing electron in their shell. To become whole again and complete their shell, they exert oxidative-stress on your body, damaging the growth of healthy cells. The oxidative-stress inhibits the growth of healthy cells and accelerates the aging process and develops age-related diseases. By consuming antioxidants, you can fight the damaging effects of free radicals on your body. Oolong tea contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants and offer many benefits to the body and skin.

• Promotes Relaxation

Stress and mental fatigue have become in today's fast-paced world. The demanding social commitments, workload, and busy lifestyle have contributed to our increase stress levels. After a long and tiring day at work, your mind and body long for relaxation to charge up for the next day. Oolong tea relaxes the mind and body with its healthy and soothing constituents. It contains theanine in its chemical compositions, which calms the mind, relieves stress, and enhances mental alertness. Theanine is an amino acid.  It is known to increase levels of serotonin and dopamine chemicals in the brain. These chemicals influence mood, sleep, and emotions by modulating the production of cortisol in the body, helping you to deal with stress.

• Improves Skin's Heath

Oolong tea has antioxidants that improve the skin's health, appearance, and complexion. It is soothing for acne-prone, irritated, dry, and itchy skin conditions because of its cleansing properties. The antioxidants in oolong tea also fight free radicals in the body, promoting clearer, brighter, and smoother skin. It also helps fade the appearance of blemishes, scars, and discoloration.

Moreover, the polyphenols in oolong tea are healthy and calmative for skin; it helps fight the damaging effects of UV rays.  It has trace minerals potassium, magnesium, and potassium in its composition. These minerals are highly alkaline and are known as natural pH adjusters in the cosmetics industry. They balance the skin's pH level and strengthen its outer layer to fight against environmental toxins and bacteria. Furthermore, the mineral content in oolong tea keeps the skin hydrated, soothes dryness, and leaves it looking glowing and youthful.

Oolong tea also contains a high aunt vitamin C, which is known to boost collagen production. Collagen is our skin's natural protein, which keeps the skin healthy, supple, and elastic. As we get older, the collagen production in our skin decreases to some extent with passing year. Vitamin C plays a vital role in the synthesis of collagen enzymes, and it is present on our skin's outermost layers. Vitamin C deficiency leads to dryness, inflammation, irritation, and itchiness on the skin. Furthermore, the lack of vitamin C levels accelerates the skin's aging process in the form of wrinkles and fine lines. Drinking oolong tea provides vitamin C to your body, supporting your skin's health in various ways.

• Helps with Weight Loss

Oolong tea helps with weight loss by boosting your metabolism system. The antioxidants in oolong tea are known to block enzymes that help you to detoxify the stored fats in a buildup in your body for energy.  Moreover, due to caffeine in oolong tea, it helps enhance your energy levels, charge up your brain, and aid in physical activities. The improved energy enables a person to perform better at gym and exercises, resulting in weight loss. As it has antioxidants, it speeds up your metabolism, which also helps you to lose weight, and your workout sessions start to pay off for your hard work.