Oolong, or wu long tea, is harvested from the same plant as other teas, but its leaves are plucked whole, and not crushed, as is done when green or black tea is harvested. Only two percent of teas are processed into oolong and, even though it comes from the same plant, it has been found to increase metabolism and block fat absorption, aiding weight loss efforts even more so than green tea. Oolong is not a miracle weight-loss cure, but it may be a strong weapon to add to your diet arsenal.
Weight Loss with Oolong Tea
Step 1
Add 300 mL of boiling fresh water to a 3 g bag of oolong tea leaves. Allow tea to steep for 20 minutes. Drink five times daily to replicate a study published in "The American Society for Nutritional Science" in which participants drank oolong tea and increased energy expenditure -- burned more calories -- while burning more fat.
Step 2
Emulate other Asian diet characteristics besides just drinking tea. Base your meals on vegetables and use tofu to replace the meat in stir-fries and other dishes. Eat fish several times per week. Replace fattening desserts with fruit. Avoid saturated and trans fats, processed foods and sugary drinks. These changes can easily produce a calorie deficit of 500 per day, creating weight loss of one pound per week while also reducing your risk of cancer.
Step 3
Add exercise for a greater metabolic boost. Minimum exercise guidelines for adults suggest thirty minutes per day, most days of the week, at a moderate intensity or greater. Also do an additional two days of strength training every week. Cardiovascular training burns fat and calories and strengthening your muscles will increase your metabolism, allowing you to shed weight even faster.
Step 4
Restrict calories. Avoid adding sugar to your oolong tea, which adds calories. Instead, add lemon for an extra dose of vitamin C, which according to research published in "Journal of American College of Nutrition," helps increase your fat-burning potential by 30 percent.
Step 5
Eat more protein. Meals that include protein make you feel fuller, longer and increase your metabolism, according to the study by Arizona State University. Eating your protein in the form of peanuts may prove especially helpful, as it can help reduce the glycemic affect of food on your body.
Step 6
Maintain a balanced diet. Drink oolong tea along with a well-rounded, healthy eating plan. If you plan to make any changes to your diet, discuss this with your doctor first.
Tips and Warnings
- Participants in a study by Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center burned an additional 67 per day, or about three percent more than those who drank caffeinated water. This calorie expenditure alone will produce a weight loss of approximately 7 lbs. per year if all other factors remain the same.
- Caffeine is not related to any major health risks, but if you experience caffeine sensitivity, you may experience jitters or sleeplessness. Avoid drinking tea later in the day if this is the case.
Things You'll Need
- Oolong tea leaves
- Fresh, boiling water
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Physical Activity for Everyone
- Amazing Green Tea: Oolong Tea Weight Loss
- Teas Etc: Oolong Tea and Weight Loss
- "Journal of American College of Nutrition"; Stategies for Healthy Weight Loss; CS Johnston; June 2005
- United States Department of Agriculture: Brewing Up the Latest Tea Research; Sept. 2003
- "The American Society for Nutritional Sciences"; Oolong Tea Increases Metabolic Rate and Fat Oxidation in Men; William Rumpler, et al.; Nov. 2001
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