There are many types of tea on the market including green tea and oolong tea. Between green tea vs oolong tea, which one? morehealthy? Come on, we explore the answer in the following article.
Green tea and oolong tea come from the same plant, i.e. Camellia sinensis. The difference between the two lies in how long the tea leaves are processed. Different stages of tea leaf processing will produce different types of tea. Darker or red oolong teas take longer to process than green teas, but less time than pu-er teas.
Although different in color and aroma, green tea and oolong tea both have many benefits for the body.
Benefits of Green Tea for Health
Green tea is rich in polyphenol antioxidants and EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate). These two substances are thought to be able to protect body cells from damage and reduce the formation of free radicals in the body.
Although it still needs further study, there are many studies that state that green tea can provide health benefits, including:
- Slows bone breakdown and maintains bone strength and health.
- Reducing the risk of cancer, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer.
- Protects brain health, and reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
- Maintain memory and concentration.
- Strengthens the immune system and is good for reducing inflammation in autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Lowers blood sugar levels in the blood, improves insulin performance, and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Lowers bad LDL cholesterol levels.
- Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, such as stroke, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
To get the maximum benefits above, it is recommended that you drink 3-5 cups of green tea per day. If taken in excess, green tea can reduce the body's ability to absorb iron from food.
Benefits of Oolong Tea for Health
Just like green tea, oolong tea also has a high antioxidant content. That is why, oolong tea has many health benefits, including:
- Helps improve and maintain the power of concentration. This is thanks to the caffeine content in oolong tea.
- Gives a relaxing effect. This is thanks to the content theanine on oolong tea.
- Reducing the risk of cancer.
- Reduce and maintain weight, so it is good for people who are overweight or obese.
- Reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
- Maintain blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Helps increase bone mineral density, strengthens teeth, and reduces dental plaque formation.
- Suspected to relieve eczema symptoms.
You can consume oolong tea about 2-3 cups per day to get some of the benefits of oolong tea.
Choose Green Tea or Oolong Tea?
Whatever your choice in the duel of green tea vs oolong tea, both types of tea are equally healthy for the body. However, some of the benefits mentioned above still require further research to determine how effective green tea and oolong tea are for health.
In addition, the difference between green tea and oolong tea is in the taste and aroma. If you prefer tea with a mild aroma and taste, green tea can be an option. If you like a tea that is flavorful and has a slightly stronger or bitter taste, then oolong tea can be a try.
Another difference is in the caffeine content. Green tea has a lower caffeine content, while oolong tea has a higher caffeine content. This effect can make it difficult for you to fall asleep after drinking oolong tea.
