Introducing rooibos (pronounced “ROY-boss”) ,one of the hottest teas to drink right now.
An herbal tea from South Africa, rooibos is a delicious, caffeine free way to upgrade your tea habit, while other teas have an acquired taste, rooibos tea has a sweet,mild flavour profile with notes of honey and vanilla.The red beverage is one of the most palate-pleasing types of tea.In addition to the flavour,the tea is packed with health benefits that will earn it a space in your morning (or evening) routine.
For centuries, South Africans have turned to rooibos as a medicinal aid.It is used as a natural remedy to settle stomach upset,relieve eczema, reduce skin allergies, promote better sleep and soothe infant colic.
Its anti-inflammatory powers and antioxidant content also show promise in helping protect the body.Rooibos tea may even help with weight management.
What is Rooibos Tea and what does it taste like?
Rooibos tea comes from the shrub aspalathus linearis and isn’t actually a true tea-its an herb with long, needle-like leaves.
When it is harvested and dried, rooibos is brewed into a reddish brown, caffeine free, herbal infusion also known as African red tea or red bush tea.The plant is cut by hand and then bruised to encourage oxidation, which generates the rich colour and flavour.As it oxidizes, rooibos becomes redder and sweeter.
It has a mild, aromatic taste that is sweet and fruity with hints of vanilla and honey.You can drink it just as you would black or green tea -plain,with lemon and sweetener,as a creamy latte or with butter as a caffeine-free substitute bulletproof coffee.
In the late 1990s, tea distributors began offering green rooibos tea,a less oxidized type type of rooibos.This green version has double the number of antioxidants than red rooibos and offers a more mineral , grassy flavour.
The Benefits of Rooibos Tea
✓ Boosts antioxidant levels in the body
Rooibos gives you a delicious dose of antioxidants. Antioxidants clean up the harmful free radicals that can damage cells.
Research shows that drinking rooibos tea helps regulate glutathione metabolism in the body,more powerful than any other antioxidant, glutathione has shown to protect against inflammation, toxins,free radicals and pathogens.Think of it as your body’s own natural detoxifier.
Aspalathin found in rooibos tea and nothofagin are two powerful antioxidants that have been shown to have beneficial properties.
✓ May improve blood pressure and circulation
Inflammation is a key player in the role of heart disease.A study involving 17 healthy volunteers took a look at the effects that different teas had on angiotensin – converting enzyme (ACE),an enzyme located in the inner layer of blood vessels that causes blood vessels to shrink thus increasing blood pressure.The study found that one hour after people drank 13.5 ounces of rooibos tea,ACE levels went down, lowering participants’ blood pressure
✓ Promotes Healthy Cholesterol
Another study over a six week period showed that drinking six cups of rooibos tea daily significantly increased levels of polyphenols.These are plant compounds with vital antioxidant properties which increase HDL cholesterol.HDL cholesterol repairs the walls of your blood vessels and acts as a scavenger,it collects idle or unused LDL cholesterol in your bloodstream and routes it back to your liver for dispatch.This study showed participants’ LDL markers went down, potentially because the HDL was doing such a great job
✓ Supports Hair growth and Healthy skin
The benefits of rooibos tea go beyond drinking it.When an independent laboratory tested a 10% rooibos tea extract on the scalps of volunteers experiencing hair loss,78% of them saw an improvement and 45% of the volunteers saw hair regrowth, rooibos extract is also recommended to use on the skin for its anti-inflammatory, anti microbial and soothing properties.
✓ Aids in Weight Management
Low calorie and naturally sweet with the help of antioxidants and balancing blood sugar, rooibos tea can be a great addition to your beverage choices while trying to loose weight.
Research suggests that aspalathin,an active ingredient in rooibos tea helps reduce stress hormones that trigger hunger and fat storage.Data from this study showed that rooibos tea has the potential of preventing obesity by affecting the balance of energy and how it’s used as energy or stored as fat.
✓ Aids Digestion
In a study using rabbits and mice, results showed that rooibos tea benefits the digestive system by reducing loose stools, calming muscles spasms in the stomach and decreasing gastric secretions.The presence of flavonoids such as quercetin, luteolin and others are thought to be the reasons for the beneficial effects on the GI system.
✓ Calms colicky babies
In 1968,Annetjie Theron was a South African mother who was struggling with a colicky infant.She discovered that a rooibos tea infusion calmed her baby of chronic colic and allergies.She studied the benefits of rooibos tea and eventually went on to create her own products using rooibos extract.
✓ May support Bone Health
The variety of polyphenols in rooibos tea has been shown to improve osteoblast activity (aka cells that develop bones)
The flavonoids orientin and luteolin were specifically studied on bone cells and showed an increased level of bone growth and mitochondrial activity.These flavonoids enhanced the mineral content of the bone cells used in the study, suggesting that rooibos tea had an overall improvement in bone growth.
Rooibos Tea Side Effects
Rooibos has multiple benefits but as with anything you add to your diet, some people can experience side effects.Be mindful of how you feel after adding rooibos to your diet.If you’re concerned, consult your doctor before using rooibos regularly ..
Written by,
Nguhemen Fiona Kpagh
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