Oolong tea is derived from the camellia sinensis plant and undergoes partial processing. It contains high levels of polyphenols, which are antioxidants that are responsible for most of its health effects. Research suggests that oolong tea can provide a wide range of benefits, from lowering glucose levels to reducing the risk of hypertension.
Lowers Glucose Levels
Oolong tea might have positive effects on glucose levels in type 2 diabetics, according to lead researcher Kazuaki Hosoda and colleagues from the University of Tokushima in Japan. Scientists examined the impact of oolong tea on glucose levels in type 2 diabetics. Subjects randomly received oolong tea or water for 30 days. Glucose levels were measured before and after the treatment. At the end of the study, which was published in the March 2003 issue of the journal "Diabetes Care," scientists observed that the oolong tea significantly lowered glucose levels, whereas the water group experienced no change in blood-sugar levels.
Improves Recalcitrant Atopic Dermatitis
Researchers from Shiga University of Medical Science in Japan investigated the effects of oolong tea on recalcitrant atopic dermatitis, a skin disorder that causes skin lesions. Subjects with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis drank oolong tea three times a day before meals for six months. At the end of the treatment, scientists found that participants experienced improvements in their conditions. Researchers stated that oolong tea's high levels of polyphenols might be responsible for the results of the study, according to findings reported in the January 2001 issue of the journal "Archives of Dermatology."
Reduces Risk for Hypertension
Oolong tea might help reduce the risk of developing hypertension, a disease that is a risk factor for other medical conditions such as heart disease and stroke, according to researchers from National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan. Scientists discovered that habitual tea drinkers of green and oolong tea were significantly less likely to develop hypertension compared to non-habitual tea drinkers, according to research reported in the July 2004 issue of the journal "Archives of Internal Medicine."
Member Comments