Pu-erh Benefits

The natural oxidation process that occurs when aging Pu-erh tea isn’t the same as other teas — it’s the result of fungal, bacterial, or auto-oxidation influences that occur naturally when aging.

This produces many of Pu-erh’s unique advantages to your health.

Adding the fermentation and bacteria from Pu-erh tea into your diet will aid your body’s digestion, which provides a benefit similar to what you get from kombucha. The difference, however, is that kombucha’s bacterial culture is introduced to the fermentation process whereas Pu-erh tea develops it naturally.

In China, Pu-erh tea has long been consumed to achieve a wide variety of health benefits, such as improvements in heart health and reductions in cholesterol levels. It’s also said that Pu-erh tea can help promote weight loss, enhance eyesight, stimulate circulation, and soothe hangovers. Pu-erh tea may also fight oxidative stress, regulate blood sugar levels (a key factor in diabetes control), protect against obesity, and possess anti-cancer activity. Pu-erh tea is said to contain lower levels of caffeine than other types of tea.

Here’s what the most current research supports:

1. Helps promote healthy weight management and heart health

Chinese herbalists have been recommending Pu-erh tea for thousands of years to support digestion (and for purported help with weight loss). Tea indeed contains compounds that can support digestion and help promote healthy weight management. Researchers believe that Pu-erh tea helps to block the enzymes that trigger the body to store fat, possibly making it easier to help maintain a healthy body weight.

The enzymes in the Pu-erh tea also help process lipids, which is why this type of tea may support cardiovascular health and healthy cholesterol levels too.

2. Supports healthy, glowing skin

In one in-vitro study, which means cells were examined under a microscope instead of using a human participant, researchers discovered that extracts of Pu-erh could help boost the health of our largest organ, our skin.

Evidence from the study demonstrated that Pu-erh may protect elastin, a vital protein within our skin that’s usually damaged as we age. Elastin is especially important in your connective tissue and internal organs as well.

The polyphenol content (i.e., antioxidants) in large-leaf Pu-erh teas may be one potential reason for improved skin. Pu-erh has more polyphenols than green tea. And it’s also loaded with catechins, a specific type of polyphenol, which are specific to skin health and protection.

3. May support healthy blood sugar levels (in mice)

Several studies on mice demonstrate that Pu-erh helped the mice maintain a better blood sugar balance.

Scientists reviewing this study praised the polyphenols, catechins, caffeine, polysaccharides, and amino acids for these positive findings. Again, more research is needed to confirm these results, especially in humans, but it’s still good news worth noting.

4. Potential support for brain health (in rats)

Another body of research showed Pu-erh could be a natural neuroprotective agent, which means it may be able to support brain health.

Researchers from the study learned that the Pu-erh could protect the rats’ nerve cells from the excitatory neurotransmitter known as glutamate. When too much glutamate builds up, it can be detrimental to brain health.