When it comes to losing weight and being just darn good for you, tea is at the top of my list. Both green tea and oolong tea are great for weight loss. I try to have a pitcher of one or the other in my refrigerator at all times! Instead of reaching for the coffee, now I have a glass of iced tea with lemon. I pack a thermos of iced tea and make this my drink of choice throughout the day. It definitely helps – I can feel a difference when I drink it.
Both green and oolong are ancient teas dating back 4,000 years in traditional Chinese medicine. They both come from the same plant…the camellia sinensis. The difference lies in the way the leaves are processed. This is also the art of tea making.
There are different types of green teas. The difference lies in the oxidation of the leaves. Green tea leaves are only partially fermented, hence, the grassy flavor. Green tea is much lower in caffeine than black tea, and extremely rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent free radicals from damaging healthy cells. It also contains catechin polyphenols, flavonoids, theanine, and tannins.
Theanine is an amino acid that is very calming and protects you against daily stress. Flavonids are found in the pigment of the leaves and are known to guard against infection. Polyphenols protect the body from heart disease and cancer.
Studies show Asian men living in the Far East have much lower heart disease and cancer rates, although they smoke heavily. They drink a lot of tea in China. It also helps keep them trim. Green Tea enhances the metabolism – helping your body burn calories quicker.
Oolong tea, sometimes known as wu long, also helps your metabolism. It is hyped as the “weight loss tea” for this reason, but in truth, it is exactly the same as green tea. Remember, they are made from the same plant. And they both are filling, low calorie teas you can have on a daily basis that will improve your health. Oolong tea is often scented with jasmine flowers and contains less caffeine than green tea. Although both teas enhance metabolism, you still need to eat a clean diet and exercise regularly to see the benefits of weight loss. My theory is, you need to drink a lot of water to lose weight, you might as well flavor it to make it the best it can be! Oolong and green tea taste great with a squeeze of fresh lemon on ice! Here’s to your health!
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