2009 Diet Of The Year

Weight Loss and Health benefits of Wu-Yi Tea

For centuries, Asians have sworn upon and savored wu-yi tea for the numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities the tea offers. Named for the mountainous region of China where it is harvested, Mt. Wuyi Shan, this type of tea is more familiarly known as oolong or wu long, and today, it is gathering more and more attention as a natural way to effectively lose weight.

The intricate fermenting procedure of creating this type of tea gives it different, yet distinctive flavor, and like fine wine, wu-yi will also vary in aroma and fullness. Described as robust, and not much unlike coffee with its rich, roasted flavor, this type of tea has of late been touted by many as a natural, safe solution to weight loss.

Wu-Yi Tea - Natural Benefits of Wu Yi Tea

A substance found in wu-yi known as polyphenol is also found in green and black teas, but in a lower concentration. Polyphenol stimulates a biological process called lipolysis, which simply means the break down of fat cells. The polyphenol causes this by activating certain enzymes that work to dissolve triglycerides (fats) in the body, which in turn, raises the resting metabolic rate actually making it easier to lose weight and control excess pounds.

Participants involved in clinical case studies regarding wu-yi and its weight loss properties lost an average of 10-15 pounds of weight by drinking three to four cups of wu-yi per day. Of course, the actual amount of weight lost will also depend on the types of food you eat and how much, as well as your level of physical activity. However, results do continue to show the tea seems to speed up the weight loss process when drank on a regular basis.

In one particular study, three groups of 120 Japanese women were asked to drink either water, green tea, or wu yi tea after their meals for six weeks. At the end of the study, the women who drank wu-yi reportedly elevated their energy expenditure, or raised their metabolism, by as much as 10%, whereas the green tea group increased their expenditure by only 4%. The group who drank water experienced no increase at all.

Read more...