Reduce Heart Disease, Strokes, and
Cancer by Drinking Oolong Tea
By Kevin Woodward
There is a Chinese proverb - A daily cup
of tea or more, keeps you out of the pharmacy.
As you will shortly see, there is a lot of
truth in this proverb. So, what is oolong
tea? It is related to green tea and black
tea -- they are all produced from the same
plant. Green tea is made from the dried leaves,
whereas black tea is made by fermentation
of the leaves. Oolong tea is made by partly
fermenting the leaves prior to drying.
Triglycerides and cholesterol are two
important fatty substances in the bloodstream.
These are essential for many things in
your body but cholesterol also builds
up on the wall of the arteries, causing
them to narrow and restrict blood flow.
This can lead to several problems including
coronary thrombosis (a heart attack) and
strokes, so high cholesterol levels are
not a good thing. Studies in several countries
have found many kinds of tea have some
effect in reducing cholesterol in blood
fats, though oolong seems to get the best
results. It is thought that the polyphenols
in tea inhibit the absorption of cholesterol
in the digestive tract, thus decreasing
the cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.
There is also evidence that they may decrease
the blood's tendency to form thrombi,
or unwanted blood clots.
Obesity is an increasing problem these
days, it is well documented that overweight
people are more likely to suffer heart
problems. In the hustle-bustle of modern
living, it is easy to resort to a junk
diet. This is bad news for your body because
it hangs on to the extra fat and lacks
many of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
that are vital for your well-being. The
Chinese claim that tea can actually help
reduce the amount of fat in the tissues.
Oolong tea seems to get the most publicity
here, although any tea probably has some
benefits. Chinese sources cite numerous
cases of people who have lost weight while
regularly drinking two or three cups of
oolong a day. Oolong mixed with other
herbal ingredients is the basis for a
number of teas marketed especially for
slimming. A Chinese ad for Slimming Tea
claims that drinking it for three months
can help you drop up to 15 pounds off
your weight. I am not convinced that tea
alone can achieve this but it seems that
it can contribute as tactic in your weight-loss
strategy.
Much research is being carried out on
the role of tea drinking in preventing
cancer. For example, out of 25 papers
related to health presented at the Hangzhou
Symposium, almost one third reported on
cancer research. Research has found that
oolong has some effect against cancer
because it inhibits the formation or action
of cancer-causing substances. It seems
to be the epigallo catechin gallate (EGCC)
that reduces the occurrence of uncontrolled
DNA replication. Vitamin E is regarded
as an excellent antioxidant; EGCC is supposedly
200 times more effective for neutralizing
free radicals in the body. Another way
oolong tea may help fight cancer is through
preventing cell mutation. The antioxidant
properties of the polyphenols in oolong
tea may inhibit mutation of the DNA in
healthy cells, which can cause them to
become cancer cells.
Cured meats often contain nitrates which
can be converted to nitrosamines in the
digestive process. Nitrosamines are known
to be carcinogenic. Tea may block the
action of nitrosamines which can cause
cancer, said Dr. Han Chi, an associate
professor at the Institute of Nutrition
and Food Hygiene under the Chinese Academy
of Preventative Medicine. In a test of
145 types of tea, she and her colleagues
rated green tea highest, with a blocking
rate of 90 percent. Oolong and black tea
followed in that order as the fermentation
process destroys the EGCC. The partial
fermentation of the leaves during the
production of oolong tea reduces the EGCC
level by approximately fifteen percent.
Long ago in China, tea was an ingredient
in immortality potions favored by the
Taoists. Still today, perhaps as an echo
of those beliefs, claims are made that
tea drinking helps one to live to a ripe
old age. While it is no magic fountain
of youth, some of its benefits can be
said to contribute to longevity (stimulation
of bodily functions, strengthening the
immune system, reducing the chance of
heart disease and improving stomach functions).
The fluoride in tea can strengthen bones
and help ward off osteoporosis in the
same way that it strengthens dental enamel.
When pregnant or nursing only small amounts
of oolong tea should be used, it can also
interfere with MAO inhibitors and blood
thinning medication. Also the consumption
of oolong tea may interfere with the absorption
of medicines. This article is intended
to be for information about the nutritional
benefits of oolong tea only and should
not be regarded as medical advice in its
own right. You should seek the assistance
of a qualified physician if you require
medical advice on any condition mentioned
in this article.
Kevin Woodward looks after the In Nature
web site at http://www.in-nature.com/teas/
which offers top quality Chinese teas
and herbs for sale securely online. Memberships
are available which entitles you to discounts
on the products and a free health consultation,
the latter is based on traditional Chinese
medicine.
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