Rooibos – our healthy tea alternative

Posted on 17 January 2010

Rooibos is a herbal tea that’s widely available throughout the country, but few know much about the health benefits of this plant.

Rooibos is a South African plant called Aspalanthus linearis, and is also known as Redbush, or Kaffree, Red Tea, and Honeybush. It is not a true tea, in that it doesn’t come from the Camellia sinensis plant, but research has confirmed many health benefits from this plant, including cancer prevention, and as a treatment for nervous tension, allergic dermatitis (problematic skin conditions caused by allergies), and indigestion.

Rooibos contains polyphenol anti-oxidants and has the same health benefits as green tea, in this regard. It also contains calcium, magnesium, zinc, and potassium, as does black tea. Rooibos also has similar health-generating nutrients as the other red foods, such as cherries, red grapes and pomegranates.

The plant grows as a bush and has been used as a tea, both as a hot herbal tea or as an iced tea, by South Africans for a long time. The tea is made from the stems and leaves of the plants. Rooibos is also used in some local brands of personal formulas, such as the Annique range of cruelty-free skin and body care products, for its soothing properties and to treat various types of inflammation.

In 1968, Rooibos tea was documented in treating colic in infants and so has a calming effect on babies. Studies conducted in 2000 and in 2003 in South Africa showed that the tea can protect the liver from mutagenic action that causes cancer, as well as other oxidative damage.

One issue to consider about drinking or using rooibos is that different parts of the plant contain different levels of nutrients (it is thought that the leaf and stem tips are the best). This is one way to choose between different rooibos products.

There are health concerns are for those who are allergic to the Leguminosae plant family. Otherwise, rooibos is a good tasting alternative to green or black tea. It has many health benefits and can be enjoyed by all as a tasty and nutritious beverage.

Source: Natural News

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