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8th February 2009
Wu-long Tea, Fat Burning and Weight Loss:
Fact or Fiction?
Zeb Williams
Would you love to dive into the fat-burning power of green tea, but just can't seem to acquire the taste for it? Are you drinking it even though you're not enjoying it?
Granted, green tea isn't everyone's . . . well, cup of tea, pardon the pun! But many find themselves turning to it today simply because it has such an incredible reputation as a fat burner and a weight loss aid.
But let me suggest that if you really prefer the taste of black tea, then try a hybrid between the two. It's called wu-long tea. You may know it better by its more popular name "oolong" tea. But if you don't, prepare to meet a beverage that may just knock that green tea from your kitchen cabinet shelves.
For starters wu-long tea is supposed to have one and a half times the fat burning power of its cousin green tea. Skeptical? I don't blame you, but consider the skepticism the introduction of another ancient Chinese health secret met when it was introduced in this country . . .
Nearly 30 years ago, few of us knew about acupuncture. And those of us who did . . . well we considered it to be ancient foolishness more than ancient wisdom. But by the 21st century, even conventional medical doctors are convinced of it's amazing powers to at least provide temporary relief without the side effects of harsh medications.
The point of this illustration? Even though few of us have heard of wu-long tea, it might prove beneficial to at least look into the supposed benefits of this Oriental drink.
Indeed, wu-long tea seems to be another well-kept health secret. This culture has been drinking it for thousands of years. And not just for pleasure. Oriental tradition says to turn to wu-long tea if you have a headache or are depressed. Tradition even says that this special tea may even help lower your risk for heart attack. Wu-long tea, according to preliminary research, also may possess anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory properties. Some research even indicates that drinking this tea regularly may also reduce your chances of developing cancer.
All of this research, it must be emphasized is still in its preliminary stages. More studies need to be performed on wu-long tea before any of these benefits can be verified. But at this point, it does appear pretty clear that wu-long tea does have some positive effect on your weight loss as well as your body's ability to increase its fat burning mechanism. This is done, according to some professionals, through the natural process of lipolysis. It's really just the technical term for describing the mechanism for the breaking down of fat that's already being stored in your fat cells.
Not only that but between "legend" and research, it appears that wu-long tea can actually help to block the dietary absorption of fat. Asian tradition has this tea being served with greasy foods. And now a study, conducted by the University of Tokushima in Japan, knows scientifically.
While admittedly a small study, that still needs to stand up to more scrutiny, 12 young Japanese adults took part in this trial. The 17-day study was broken down into two parts. The first was a 10-day "washout," which effectively cleansed the systems of as much fat as possible.
Following this, the scientists divided the participants into two groups: one group drank wu-long tea for seven days, the other drank a placebo. Fat excretion registered nearly twice the amount for those who drank the tea.
Now, should you run out at start drinking wu-long tea like mad? Probably not yet. But, this information is good to know in case you have a choice. You'll know that wu-long, like its cousin green tea, does contain some health-giving benefits.
And in an age where it seems everything is "bad" for you, it's good to know that green tea and wu-long tea may hold some ancient Chinese secret to fat burning and weight loss. Tea, anyone?
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