What Is Oolong Tea Good For?

Black, green and oolong teas come from the plant Camellia sinensis. Before being roasted and dried, oolong tea leaves are bruised and left to oxidize, or turn brown from air exposure. They oxidize longer than green but shorter than black tea leaves.

Oolong Specs

• Oolong tea contains flavonoids, compounds with antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and antioxidant activities, among others, in levels that are comparable to black tea. The Linus Pauling Institute has compiled a list of foods that are high in flavonols, one type of flavonoid. Black tea contains between 5 to 158mg per 3.5 ounces.

  Oolong tea contains about the amount of caffeine found in green tea -- approximately 9-50mg in 8 ounces. The same amount of coffee contains 72-130mg and black tea contains 42-72mg (see reference 3, caffeine section).

  Oolong also contains the amount of fluoride (.1-.2 mg per 8 ounces) recommended for the prevention of cavities (see reference 3, fluoride section).

Uses

• Researchers today, such as physiologist William Rumpler, are interested in whether oolong tea can control body weight. Rumpler's study, "Oolong Tea Increases Metabolic Rate and Fat Oxidation in Men," however, was only conducted on a small group of participants, reducing the study's accuracy. Still, this preliminary research has indicated that oolong tea can help people -- men in particular -- burn more calories.

Safety Precautions

• Excessive consumption of oolong tea has been linked to two cases to hypokalemia, a potentially life-threatening potassium deficiency, in elderly people.

  People with a caffeine hypersensitivity or allergy should ask their doctor before drinking oolong or green tea. Oolong tea contains less caffeine than coffee or black tea but can still be dangerous for people with an allergy or sensitivity to it.