When is the Best Time to Drink Oolong Tea for Weight Loss Goals

When is the Best Time to Drink Oolong Tea for Weight Loss

Oolong tea is well known for its weight loss benefits, but when is the best time to drink it if you want to lose weight? The timing of when you consume oolong tea can make a difference in how effective it is for weight loss.

How Oolong Tea Helps With Weight Loss

Oolong tea contains antioxidants called polyphenols, including a compound known as EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate). EGCG has been shown in research studies to boost metabolism and increase fat burning.

This helps promote weight loss in both direct and indirect ways. It burns fat directly by ramping up fat oxidation. It also provides an energetic, alert feeling which encourages more physical activity rather than lounging around.

Best Time to Drink Oolong Tea for Weight Loss Goals

Keeping those weight loss mechanisms in mind, the ideal time to consume oolong tea is:

• 1-2 hours before or after a meal
• Early morning before breakfast
• In the mid afternoon between lunch and dinner

Drinking oolong 1-2 hours away from meals means it won't interfere with the absorption of nutrients from your food. Yet the metabolism and fat burning activation benefits will still be in effect.

Morning Oolong Tea for Weight Loss

Drinking oolong tea first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is great for a few reasons if you want to lose weight:

1. It ignites thermogenesis - your body has to burn more calories and tap into fat overnight to heat itself up.
2. It energizes you before breakfast - giving you momentum to start the day actively right off the bat.

Oolong tea upon waking essentially 'warms up' your metabolism so it's already in fat burning mode even before eating breakfast.

Mid Afternoon Oolong Tea Pick-Me-Up

The mid afternoon is another opportune time for oolong tea if you want to drop pounds. Why?

1. It prevents energy crashes later in the day which derail healthy eating and tempt junk food binges.
2. Re-activates fat burning to chip away at any new fat stored from lunch.

Oolong gives you an energy boost without any crash compared to coffee. It bridges the gap between lunch and dinner, tideing you over while keeping weight loss mechanisms flowing.

How Much Oolong Tea to Drink Daily

To stimulate meaningful weight loss with oolong tea, you'll want to drink 2-3 cups per day ideally spaced out at strategic times as mentioned earlier.

Each cup should be 8 oz brewed with hot, not boiling, water. Steeping oolong tea for 3-5 minutes extracts the most beneficial antioxidants without releasing excessive bitterness from oversteeping.

Potential Side Effects of Too Much Oolong Tea

Are there any disadvantages to drinking oolong tea? Consuming more than the recommended daily amount can cause:

• Nausea or upset stomach when drank excessively concentrated or on a completely empty stomach first thing in morning.
• Difficulty sleeping if drinking late in the day too close to bedtime - the energizing effects plus caffeine content may interfere with sleep.
• Headaches in caffeine sensitive individuals.

Moderation is key, with no more than 3-4 cups spaced properly throughout your day being ideal. More isn't necessarily better when it comes to oolong tea for losing weight.

Best Types of Oolong Tea for Weight Loss

All true oolong tea varieties will help spur fat burning thanks to EGCG and other catechins. But certain types may have slightly more potent properties tailored to weight management goals:

Wuyi Oolong Tea

Wuyi oolong comes from the Wuyi mountain region in China's Fujian province. It has a distinctive mineral-rich taste from the rocky soil and natural spring water used during processing.

Wuyi oolong contains antioxidants that boost adiponectin - a protein hormone that regulates glucose and breaks down fat cells. Your body naturally has lower adiponectin as you gain weight.

Dan Cong Oolong Tea

Dan Cong is another oolong tea from China prized for its ability to reduce fat tissue, lower triglycerides, and improve 'bad' LDL cholesterol levels in the blood.

The polyphenol antioxidants from Dan Cong shrink existing fat cells and supress the formation of new ones. Fat storage around organs (visceral fat) shows significant decreases from drinking Dan Cong tea daily.

Formosa Oolong Tea

Grown in Taiwan, Formosa oolong has an orchid-like fragrance and light mineral taste. The tighter oxidation processing gives Formosa oolong very high concentrations of EGCG compared to other oolong varieties.

Along with boosting fat oxidation, the antioxidants in Formosa oolong are thought to inhibit the pancreatic enzymes needed to digest fat. Your body excretes a portion of fat consumed rather than absorbing it.

Other Teas That Aid Weight Loss

While oolong tea holds the spotlight for accelerating weight loss, a few other teas also pack fat-fighting effects:

Green Tea

Green tea undergoes very little oxidation during processing, giving the highest EGCG levels that rev up fat burning.

Pu-erh Tea

Aged pu-erh tea shrinks existing fat cells, while suppressing new ones from forming later after drinking.

White Tea

The bud and first leaves picked for white tea have higher catechin antioxidants that reduce fat cell size and growth.

For best weight loss results, rotate oolong tea with other tea types during the week. This gives your body's fat burning mechanisms multi-angled stimulation from varying tea antioxidants.

The Takeaway

Drinking 2-3 cups of oolong tea at strategic times around 1-2 hours away from meals provides optimal weight loss activation. Have an energizing cup upon waking, again in the mid afternoon, and one after dinner before bed (at least 2 hours beforehand). The polyphenols prime more effective fat burning 24/7.

Not all oolong varieties are created equal. Seek out specialty Chinese oolongs like Wuyi, Dan Cong, or Formosa. Their plant antioxidants show greater specificity for boosting fat metabolism compared to generic grocery store oolong.

Rotate daily between oolong and other teas like green, white, or pu-erh to give your weight loss a multi-angled boost from varying catechins and polyphenols working through different mechanisms.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.