When you think of enjoying a cup of tea, which variety comes to mind — green, black, white? Chances are, oolong tea isn’t at the top of your list, but, it should be. It’s no secret that tea provides your body with nutrients and offers a whole host of health benefits. Oolong tea is no exception.
It’s packed with antioxidants called polyphenols, including theaflavins, thearubigins and Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). In addition to helping with weight management, assisting in free radical elimination, boosting brain function and promoting strong bones and a healthy heart, research shows that oolong tea may offer another serious benefit.
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According to a recent study published in the journal Anticancer Research, oolong tea extract may help stave off breast cancer. Researchers analyzed breast cancer rates and breast cancer deaths across China, and found that regions in China known for high oolong tea consumption showed lower rates, on average, of breast cancer. The study also showed that oolong tea was able to help stop the growth of breast cancer cells, and oolong tea extract was found to obstruct cancer cell DNA, which helped to inhibit the growth and progression of tumors.
While black tea is known for its own set of health benefits, researchers found it to have little effect on breast cancer cells. When they tested green tea, however, they found it exhibited a similar pattern to oolong tea in inhibiting breast cancer cell growth, proliferation and tumor progression.
Oolong tea may not be as widely talked about as green tea, but maybe it should be. The health benefits mentioned above should be enough to convince you to try this tea. Just make sure to get oolong from a reliable manufacturer and drink it in moderation, especially if you're sensitive to caffeine. You can brew oolong by steeping loose tea leaves or you can simply buy oolong tea bags. Just make sure to avoid tea bags made with plastic, such as nylon, thermoplastic, PVC or polypropylene, which can leach unwanted and potentially harmful chemicals into your beverage.