The Wu diet -- better known as the Wu-Yi Tea diet -- is a weight-loss plan that supporters say can help you lose weight by regularly drinking Chinese Wu-Yi tea. The diet program incorporates basic health and nutrition recommendations and is thought to help dieters lose up to 30 pounds if the guidelines are followed carefully. Although the plan features some advantages, many critics believe the lack of solid research on the effectiveness of Wu-Yi tea is a major disadvantage.
Wu-Yi Tea
Wu-Yi tea belongs to the oolong family of Chinese teas that are native to the Wu-Yi mountains in the Fujian province of China. According to the Diets in Review site, Wu-Yi tea has been used medicinally in the Chinese culture for generations.The site reports Wu-Yi tea contains high amounts of polymerized polyphenols, compounds that are believed to stimulate fat-burning enzymes. The Discover Diets site also reports Wu-Yi tea contains a high concentration of antioxidants -- the compounds believed to protect against cell damage by eliminating free radicals in the body -- and is thought to help promote nervous and immune system health and function.
Diet Aspects
There are three basic aspects to the Wu-Yi tea diet: drinking two cups of Wu-Yi tea daily, eating a sensible, low-fat diet that incorporates plenty of produce, whole grains and lean protein and following a moderate exercise plan. When following the diet, you should not eat any food after 7:30 p.m. In addition, you should drink at least eight glasses of water daily. The exercise recommended while on the program is primarily 30 minutes, three times a week, of an aerobic exercise like swimming, brisk walking or cycling.
Research
Discover Diets reports a study conducted at the University of Japan determined drinking oolong tea -- the same type of tea as Wu-Yi tea -- was more effective at stimulating weight loss than drinking green teas that have been touted as effective weight-loss aids. Another study, published in the "Medical Investigation Official Journal," reported women who drank Wu-Yi tea following a meal experienced a 6 percent increase in their base energy expenditure -- their metabolism -- over women who did not drink the tea.
Advantages
Wu-Yi tea contains less caffeine than coffee and is said by proponents of the diet to be better for your health than green tea. The high amount of caffeine in the tea may actually be a benefit since, according to the Diet Choices site, caffeine is believed to help boost metabolism and act as a mild hunger suppressant.The tea contains no calories, and the diet plan as a whole encourages regular exercise and healthy nutrition choices.
Disadvantages
Critics of the diet say it isn't the Wu-Yi tea but the recommendations for regular exercise and a lower-calorie, low-fat diet that yield the weight loss dieters following the program have experienced. RNCentral.com says Wu-Yi tea has no weight-loss properties and is no different from grocery-store oolong tea. While some research exists to back up supporters' claims about the tea, not enough clinical studies have been conducted. The program does not offer meal plans or recipes for dieters who may need help making better food choices; additionally, people who are sensitive to the effects of caffeine or who may choose not to consume caffeine may not be able to follow the Wu-Yi tea diet. Many online sites that sell Wu-Yi tea are confusing, with prices and ingredient lists difficult to locate; in some cases, the prices can be prohibitively high. Discover Diets also warns many companies falsely sell inauthentic tea as Wu-Yi tea.
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