I’m sure you’ve heard of Wu Long tea – the new weight-loss miracle. Well, the truth of the matter is that wu long tea is neither “new" nor “miraculous." It’s been around for centuries and while it DOES have some weight loss properties wu long tea can be considered a dieting aid, but not the magic cure for obesity.
Wu Long tea is also known as “oolong" or “wulong." The different spellings result from the various ways the Chinese language can be written using the English (or more properly the “Roman") alphabet. The Chinese pronunciation of this tea sounds like “oo long."
Wu Long tea was first produced in the 15th century in China’s Fujian province. It is a semi-oxidized tea, meaning that the tea leaves are allowed to partially oxidize after they are picked. Black tea is a fully oxidized tea and green tea is un-oxidized, so wu long tea has characteristics of both green and black tea.
In the 18th century people from Fujian province crossed the Taiwan Straight to settle on the island of Taiwan and brought with them their techniques for producing wu long tea. Taiwan proved to have ideal conditions for growing tea and now some of the finest wu long tea in the world comes from Taiwan.
Wu Long Tea and Dieting
Wu Long tea has recently come into the spotlight as a weight loss drink. Some unscrupulous vendors have pounced on this publicity and promoted wu long tea as a “magic diet aid" that will shed extra pounds effortlessly.
As always, the truth is a little less dramatic. Scientific studies have shown that drinking wu long tea can raise the metabolism, and this in turn can burn extra calories. The effect is relatively slight - a 2003 Japanese study found that energy expenditure increased by 10% for a period of 2 hours after drinking wu long tea.
The metabolic increase is due to “polymerized polyphenols" which are more abundant in wu long tea than other types of tea. Wu long tea can also suppress lipid metabolism which has the effect of suppressing fatty accumulation and body weight increases. Another Japanese study concludes that long-term consumption of wu long tea is beneficial for the suppression of diet induced obesity.
Asian Diet
Wu Long tea is popular is many Asian countries, and some have made a link between the slim Asian physique and wu long tea consumption. While wu long tea undoubtedly plays a part in keeping Asians slim, a bigger part by far is the traditional Asian diet. The typical Asian diet is plant-based as opposed to the meat-protein diet of Western countries.
Asians typically have fewer chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Asians also have longer life spans than Westerners. Diet certainly plays an important role in these differences.
Anyone who is seriously interested in losing weight and maintaining long term health is advised to take a take a close look at what keeps Asians slim and healthy. Wu long tea is part of that diet, but it also includes an abundance of plant foods, low fat consumption, low dairy food consumption, a moderate amount of fish and a small amount of poultry and eggs.
The traditional Asian diet is very low in red meat. As Western influences spread through Asia and more red meat is consumed there is a corresponding increase in “Western" disease such as coronary heart disease and some cancers.
Include Wu Long Tea in Your Diet
Anyone wanting to lose weight will benefit from daily consumption of wu long tea, but there is much more to it than that. Permanent weight loss can only be accomplished by permanent lifestyle changes. This means eating healthy foods and getting plenty of exercise. Wu long tea (which, by the way, is a delicious drink) can play an important part in that healthy lifestyle.
Losing Weight With Tea
There is a long list of dieting options available. There are exercise programs, exercise machines, dietary supplements, dietary food and drinks, diet pills - there are even soaps which claim to help you lose pounds while you bathe.
One other available option to shed off those unwanted pounds is to go herbal.
Herbal weight loss products have been in great demand for people who want to lose weight the natural way. However, when you take herbal supplements to lose weight, you would have to wait for a longer time for the results because of the more subtle effects of medicines which came from plants and natural herbs.
Here are some herbal weight loss options that you might want to consider:
1. Herbal weight loss products
There are a lot of herbal weight loss products available in the market now. You can check out the Internet and you will find a lot of herbal weight loss pills and products.
Be careful, however, as there are some products which claim to be safe and natural because they are herbal, but some actually have side effects because of non-extensive research on the effects of these products.
Here are some ingredients and chemicals which make up some herbal weight loss products that you should watch out for, as they might have harmful effects to your health:
- Senna. This is an herbal laxative. Senna is a main ingredient in weight loss teas, and it works by stimulation the colon. The downside effect of this herb is dehydration. It can also lead to colon problems and can become addictive. Some people, when addicted, are unable to perform bowel movements without it, so watch out.
- Chromium picolinate. This is a synthetic compound found in herbal weight loss products. Chromium is a nutrient which helps regulate blood-sugar level. However, this ingredient, when taken in high doses, may cause damage in the chromosomes. It can also lead to dehydration.
- St. John's wort. This supplement increases the production of a chemical in the brain. If not used properly, it may cause eye and skin sensitivity, mild gastrointestinal distress, fatigue and itching.
Although a lot of herbal products claim to be safe and natural, it is better to scrutinize the ingredients and research about the effects of the product itself before going for these herbal dietary pills.
2. Organic food.
In Wichita, Kansas, organic food has found its way to more homes and restaurants. Organic food devotees believe that consuming organic goodies help their bodies as well as the environment.
A person who buys organically raised eggs and vegetables claim to be healthier, and they are not spending money on doctors and prescriptions as these keep them healthier and away from the hospital. This could also be an option for weight watchers, as organic food is known to be kinder to your weight than chemically-processed food products.
3. Green Tea.
Studies show that intake of green tea, or green tea extracts burns extra calories. Also, green tea with caffeine can increase fat burning by up to 40% thereby reducing fat.
This is one good option for those who want to lose weight. In a study done, people who took green tea were found to lose 2 to 3 times more weight than those who did not drink green tea.
These results show that green tea is a natural product for the treatment of obesity. Thus, it also makes for a healthier dietary option, not to mention the good effects that it has on the body as compared to caffeine. A cup of tea gives an emmediate energy lift without the side effects of caffeine.
3. Caffeine.
Coffee provides an energy boost to increase fat burning. Caffeine also provides a likelihood to be active, which in turn increases your rate of calorie burn.
4. Immortality Herb
This herb, whose scientific name is Gymnostemna Pentaphyllum, is known to have the following benefits:
- increases healthy blood flow - reduces artery blocks - aids healthy blood pressure - increases the rate of fat burning
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
There are pills and food supplements whose main ingredient is apple cider vinegar. Here are the benefits of taking this herbal option:
- weight loss - improved cholesterol level - improved high blood pressure - helps prevent rheumatoid arthritis
Both Paul Dickson & Jarred Sadler are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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