The Dangers of Wu Long Tea

Wu long tea is a traditional Chinese tea also known as oolong tea. Oolong is a hybrid between green and black tea and is widely used in Asian countries such as China and Japan. The tea has become popular among westerners lately because of the belief that it makes you lose weight. Wu long tea may make you lose weight rapidly, but there may be certain dangers to consuming this tea.

Wu Long Tea and Weight Loss

• People who want fast results use Wu long tea to lose weight. The tea increases metabolism, therefore burning excessive fat in your body. In a study conducted by University of Tokushima in Japan, energy expenditure of humans increased when they consumed oolong tea. The tea might suppress your appetite and you may not eat. Not eating could cause you to lack your daily nutrition and vitamins. Also, Wu long tea may be hazardous to your stomach intestines, since the tea sometimes causes acidity in your stomach.

Wu Long Tea and Caffeine

• If you aren't used to consuming caffeine, Wu long tea may affect you negatively. Wu long tea is semi-fermented, which means that it contains less caffeine than both black tea and green tea. However, the tea still contains caffeine, and it could be dangerous to people who have caffeine intolerance. If your heart starts beating faster and you feel nauseous and restless, it may be because your body is intolerent to caffeine.

Wu Long Tea and Thiamine Deficiency

• Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is an important nutrition for our body. According to the National Institutes of Health, drinking tea may reduce the vitamin B in your body, resulting in thiamine deficiency. This could cause a condition called beriberi.

Wu Long Tea Used With Medicine

• Wu long tea used with certain medications may result in negative side effects. Consult your doctor before taking your medicine with oolong tea.