For nearly five centuries, many Asian people have relied upon the numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities of wu-yi tea. 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 gaining more and more attention as a natural way to effectively lose weight.

The complex fermenting process 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 recently been touted by many as a natural, safe answer to weight loss.

The Natural Fat Burning Qualities 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.

According to case studies regarding the tea and its fat burning properties, participants were able to lose an average of 10 to 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 after their meals for six weeks. At the end of the study, the women who drank wu-yi reportedly increased 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.

Wu-yi tea is most effective for burning fat in its natural form, without any unnecessary ingredients or additives, as the natural components of the tea itself are all that's needed to reap the benefits.

Some Other Health Benefits

Besides naturally burning fat, speeding metabolism and aiding with weight loss, wu-yi tea also provides many other valuable health benefits that have been clinically researched and documented. In addition to protecting the body's cells from certain types of cancer, the tea has also been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack, as well as strengthen the bones, and protect the teeth from plaque and decay.

With several hundred years of use dating back through many ancient Chinese cultures, the positive health benefits are hard to dispute as more and more people discover the connection between weight loss, good health, and drinking wu-yi tea.