Okuma Wu-Long Tea Review – Is It Worth The Money?
Weight loss teas have grown tremendously in popularity over the last few years, and it’s easy to see why. What could be better than shedding weight simply by sipping tea without having to make any major lifestyle changes?
But these teas are also controversial, with many people claiming they are just another diet trend that doesn’t lead to long-term results.
The Okuma Wu-Long Tea company states, “Our tea products help to rev up metabolism, boost the immune system, slow down the aging process, fight acne, lower cholesterol, regulate insulin spikes, fight diseases and cancer, boost energy levels and promote healthy teeth and bones.”
We sought to learn more about Okuma Wu-Long Tea and see if it lives up to its claims. Is Okuma Wu-Long Tea safe, and does it really help you lose weight?
Let’s jump in.
Okuma Wu-Long Tea At A Glance
Short on time? Here is a quick overview, along with the pros and cons of Okuma Wu-Long Tea.
Key Features
- The company claims it has double the calorie-burning effects of green tea
- Contains antioxidants
- Certified organic
- Grown in the high altitudes in the WuYi Mountains of China by highly trained tea farmers
- Contains caffeine
- Contains no pesticides, fillers, artificial flavorings and colors, corn, sugar, soy, and no genetically modified organisms
Pros
- May support weight loss goals due to high amounts of antioxidants (catechins and polyphenols)
- Contains caffeine which can boost your metabolism, mental alertness, mood, and exercise performance
Cons
- Higher price point than most teas
- Excessive caffeine consumption can cause digestive issues, anxiety, heart palpitations, and insomnia in some people
- Misleading marketing tactics
Why Consider Okuma Wu-Long Tea?
Antioxidants
Okuma Wu-Long Tea’s website notes that “Our products contain high amounts of catechins and polyphenols (antioxidants), which help to keep your body healthy and fight free radicals, which cause aging and disease in the body.”
This is absolutely true. Antioxidants are excellent for your long-term health and prevent inflammation which can lead to numerous health problems. Catechins can fight inflammatory bowel disease [1] and polyphenols can help heal depression [2], making these excellent antioxidants to include in your diet.
Okuma Wu-Long Tea also claims that the catechins and polyphenols in wu-long tea help “BOOST metabolism and BURN fat.” There is evidence for this, including this 2010 study [3] finding that these antioxidants fight obesity and support weight loss.
Weight Loss
– Tea for Weight Loss
There is a simple fact about tea that can help with weight loss: sipping a hot, soothing, low-calorie mug of tea fills your stomach and hydrates you, causing you to feel fuller and consume fewer calories overall. Over time, this can help you shed weight. However, any type of tea can help you with this, including much more affordable herbal teas like chamomile tea or green tea.
– The Company’s Claims Regarding Weight Loss
The Okuma Wu-Long Tea company’s website notes a study from the University of Tokushima School of Medicine published in the Journal of Medical Investigation. They note that this study concluded that “People who regularly consumed Wu-Long Tea experienced more than double the calorie-burning results of those who drank the same amount of authentic Japanese green tea.
In fact, the study showed the increase in energy expenditure after drinking green tea was only 4%, where Wu-Long Tea had an increase of over 10%.” However, their website does not provide any further details of this study or clearly cite the course. A search did not turn up any results, which is unusual for peer-reviewed medical publications.
Furthermore, their website lists another study conducted at the Suntory Research Center in Osaka, Japan. They report that this study concluded that “Drinking Okuma’s premium Wu-Long Tea 15 minutes before eating carbohydrates helps to reduce the insulin spike you would normally experience after eating carbs.
It also helps eliminate “carb cravings” by regulating insulin spikes – which solves a big problem for a lot of overweight people.” However, again, the study could not be found, and their citations are not included.
They also note that “the CBS Evening News reported, “Polyphenols in Wu Long Tea are believed to increase energy expenditure (EE) translating to a 35-43% increase in fat burning*” However, a news outlet reporting “believed” benefits is not convincing. The content of this report, and where CBS Evening News found the evidence to support this statement, is not provided, making this report unconvincing.
– Metabolism Boosting
The Okuma Wu-Long Tea company claims that “Wu-Long is an essential metabolism booster. Drinking Wu-Long is necessary as long as you are following a weight loss program.”
Many people have been successful in losing weight without consuming Wu-Long Tea, so this claim falls flat. However, the caffeine in this tea is what may help boost your metabolism, so let’s take a closer look.
Caffeine
Caffeine can have a real effect on your appetite and weight. Caffeine can increase mental focus and boost your exercise intensity, so you burn more calories during and after your workouts. Furthermore, it can reduce your appetite. Not to mention, sipping a warm beverage can reduce mindless snacking.
Chances are, you know someone who can eat a lot and still maintain their slim frame. That’s because of their metabolic rate. Metabolic rate is the speed at which your body processes incoming calories; the faster your metabolic rate, the more calories are needed to sustain you.
Everyone’s metabolic rate varies depending on their genetics, muscle mass, body fat, activity, age, gender, and hormonal function. Caffeine has been proven to increase your metabolic rate [4], supporting Okuma Wu-Long Tea’s claims.
The caffeine in Okuma Wu-Long Tea may help support your weight loss goals. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should run out and buy this brand of tea. All of these benefits can be found from drinking regular black tea, green tea, and matcha tea for a fraction of the cost.
Conclusion
Okuma Wu-Long Tea may help support your weight loss goals due to its antioxidants and caffeine. Plus, as a calorie-free beverage, it may help keep you full and consume fewer calories. However, it is unlikely to cause dramatic weight loss results, and it is very expensive.
Notably, Okuma Wu-Long Tea is marketed as a “convenient,” “automatic” calorie-burning product. However, they also state, “For optimum results, we recommend that you use our products in combination with a healthy diet, drink plenty of water and also get regular exercise.”
This is excellent advice: ultimately, what will help you lose weight long-term is a healthy diet and active lifestyle. However, their misleading marketing is unfair to consumers.
If you’re looking for a tasty tea that may support you in your weight loss goals and you have the money to spare, Okuma Wu-Long Tea may be for you. But unfortunately, for most people, it is an unnecessary expense that will not make a big difference on the scale.
Also Read: The Best Oolong Teas You Must Try
Written by Stephanie Moore
Stephanie is a professional writer who is a ‘SIBO survivor’ herself with broad experience writing in the health field. She is a regular writer for SIBO Survivor and calls Berlin, Germany home.
