Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea that has been partially oxidized, which contributes to its fruity aroma and flavor.
"Many people in the United States stick to green or white tea exclusively because they believe those varieties offer the most health benefits, but oolong has similar antioxidant properties," Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., says.
Several studies show that the classic tea can help promote weight loss by improving metabolic function. One study found that drinking the tea every day potentially helped reduce body weight and body fat in obese people.
Another study concluded that drinking oolong tea increased energy expenditure by 2.9% in men who drank the tea during a three-day period, which is roughly the same as burning 281 calories per day.
Dr. Weil also notes that there are studies that support that oolong tea promotes fat oxidation as well.
"The researchers found that the energy expenditure of the volunteers was higher after drinking full-strength tea or caffeinated colored water and that their subjects burned 67 more calories per day when they drank tea instead of an equal amount of plain water. Also, the volunteers’ fat oxidation was 12 percent higher after they drank tea," he says.
Though having a cup of oolong tea won't make abs magically appear, experts say that it can help boost your metabolism and give you the energy needed to burn the necessary calories for weight loss!
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