Oolong Tea: 11 Health Benefits & How to Make

Oolong tea is a semi-fermented drink that can help support weight loss, heart health, and blood sugar regulation. It may also help prevent cancer.

Oolong tea has a smooth and refreshing flavor with a fruity and floral aroma. Its medicinal properties come from the flavonoids it contains, including catechins, theaflavins, and thearubigins.

Because it contains caffeine, it is recommended to drink oolong tea during the day. Oolong tea can be purchased in supermarkets or health food stores.

This content is solely for informative purposes and should not replace a medical consultation. Do not interrupt your current treatment without seeking medical guidance.
two cups of oolong tea

Health benefits

The many health benefits of oolong tea include:

1. Promoting weight loss

According to many scientific studies, oolong tea can contribute to weight loss by increasing production of adiponectin.

This hormone, produced by fat cells, regulates the metabolism, stimulating fat burning and reducing inflammation in the body. 

Another way oolong tea contributes to fat loss is by inhibiting the action of lipase, helping to prevent fat absorption in the gut and increasing elimination of fat in the stool.

It is important to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise in order to get the most weight loss benefits out of drinking oolong tea.

Also recommended: Weight Loss Drinks: 6 Recipes with Natural Ingredients tuasaude.com/en/weight-loss-drinks

2. Preventing cardiovascular disease

Oolong tea contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help stimulate oxidation of fatty acids and reduce levels of "bad" (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. 

In this way, oolong tea may help prevent cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack. 

Also recommended: How to Lower Cholesterol: 8 Natural Tips tuasaude.com/en/how-to-lower-cholesterol

3. Helping prevent cancer

Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, oolong tea may help in the prevention of cancer by protecting against cellular damage caused by free radicals and combating oxidative stress.

In addition, some studies indicate that oolong tea has the ability to prevent or reduce the frequency of cell-damaging genetic mutations and neutralize or reduce the effects of genotoxins, which are substances that damage a cell's genetic material and can increase the risk for cancer.

4. Regulating blood sugar levels

Oolong tea can help regulate blood sugar levels because it increases levels of adiponectin in the body, which in turn improves glucose metabolism by increasing insulin sensitivity.

For this reason, oolong tea may be an excellent option for people with prediabetes or diabetes, especially when it is combined with a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Make sure to talk to your doctor before adding oolong tea to your diet.

Also recommended: Prediabetes Diet: What to Eat & Avoid (with 3-Day Meal Plan) tuasaude.com/en/prediabetes-diet

5. Fighting bacteria

Some studies suggest that oolong tea has antimicrobial properties that can help fight certain bacteria, including:

  • Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium found in the oral cavity that can contribute to the formation of cavities;
  • Escherichia coli, which can cause gastrointestinal (GI) infections, such as gastroenteritis;
  • Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium normally found on the skin that can cause wound infections or lead to sepsis, especially when the immune system is compromised;

Oolong tea can also help combat Salmonella, which is another cause of GI infections. 

6. Preventing premature aging

Oolong tea has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help combat oxidative stress, protecting skin cells from free radicals and preventing or slowing down the process of premature aging. 

Also recommended: Antioxidants: Health Benefits, Food List & Supplements tuasaude.com/en/antioxidants

7. Increasing alertness and concentration

Due to the caffeine and L-theanine it contains, oolong tea can stimulate the release of dopamine and norepinephrine, which are neurotransmitters related to attention and mood.

In this way, oolong tea may help increase alertness and concentration, memory, information processing, and cognition. 

8. Improving mood

Oolong tea may help improve mood because it is rich in caffeine and L-theanine, which help increase levels of dopamine in the brain, a neurotransmitter related to mood regulation.

In a similar way, oolong tea can also help combat symptoms of anxiety. 

Check out other natural remedies for anxiety.

9. Strengthening the immune system

Oolong tea is rich in flavonoids that possess antioxidant effects that strengthen the immune system, helping to prevent and fight off infections.

10. Improving bone health

Oolong tea can help increase bone density, leading to healthier teeth and bones. It can also help prevent fractures, especially in menopausal women.

11. Maintaining oral health

Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, oolong tea can help maintain good oral health, reducing the formation of bacterial plaques that can lead to gingivitis.

Oolong tea can also help prevent cavities due to its antibacterial effects against Streptococcus mutans.

Medicinal properties

Oolong tea contains a variety of medicinal properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, antigenotoxic, anti-obesity, anti-hypertensive, antidiabetic, anti-aging, antibacterial, anti-allergic, and cardioprotective properties.

These properties come from the bioactive compounds found in oolong tea, such as polyphenols, catechins, theaflavins, and thearubigins.

While oolong tea has many health benefits, it should not be used as a substitute for other medical treatments and should only be used under the supervision of a doctor or herbal medicine specialist. 

How to make

Oolong tea is made using the dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.

Ingredients:

  • 2.5 g oolong tea leaves;
  • 8 oz (240 mL) boiling water.

Instructions:

Place the dried tea leaves in a mug and add 8 oz (240 mL) of boiling water. Let steep for 5 minutes, strain, and drink warm. 

How much to drink

There are currently no studies indicating how much oolong tea is safe to drink, or for how long.

However, oolong tea contains around 63 mg of caffeine per 8 oz cup.

The amount of caffeine that is considered safe to consume is 400 mg per day. Based on this, it is best to avoid drinking more than six 8 oz cups of oolong tea per day. 

Side effects

Side effects from oolong tea are related to its caffeine content, and may include headache, insomnia, anxiety, and palpitations.

Contraindications to use

Oolong tea is contraindicated in children, as well as in people who are pregnant or lactating. This is because there are not sufficient studies demonstrating its safety in these populations.

In addition, people taking medications for diabetes should always talk to their doctor before consuming oolong tea, as it can reduce levels of glucose in the blood, leading to hypoglycemia.