Rooibos is a member of the legume plant family in South Africa. The leaves of the plant are used to make an herbal tea known as rooibos tea. Though rooibos tea has been popular for generations in Southern Africa, it's now being consumed in many parts of the world, including the United States and Great Britain (where it is sometimes called redbush tea). Let's take a look at the history of Rooibos and why it's considered to be one of the healthiest teas.
Rooibos is usually grown in a small mountainous region of South Africa called Cederberg. Typically, the leaves are oxidized to produce better flavor, although this isn't always the case. Oxidized rooibos is red and more common, while the greater complexity of the production process of unoxidized or green rooibos makes it less common.
Rooibos tea is already very popular is some countries like South Africa, Japan, Germany and Holland. It's gaining popularity in the United States as well.
Because it contains no caffeine, it will not interrupt sleep cycles like some other teas and health drinks. WebMD reports that rooibos tea contains 50 times more antioxidants than green tea. The tea has a mild and aromatic flavor. However, most people drink rooibos tea for its many health benefits.
Rooibos tea helps the body in numerous ways. People with various issues such as:
- asthma
- eczema
- bone weakness or hypertension
May want to give rooibos tea a try.
The United States Department of Agriculture has affirmed certain health benefits of the tea, such as reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease. The impact of the antioxidants may prevent premature aging. The tea contains calcium, iron, copper, fluoride, potassium, magnesium and zinc, minerals that may boost the immune system and promote healthy hair and skin. The tea has been shown to mitigate symptoms of gout thanks to its ability to reduce uric acid production. The tea helps the digestive tract because of its antispasmodic agents. The agents activate potassium ions in the body, which helps to ease stomach cramps and abdominal pain. It can also aid in digestion. The tea may be effective against irritable bowel syndrome. It has also been shown to be effective at relieving hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. The tea lowers blood pressure by reducing the amount of blood pushing against the artery walls on the body. In this way, rooibos tea may prevent heart disease.
People with respiratory issues may also benefit from drinking the tea. It may even fight the symptoms of asthma. This is because of its ability to dilate the bronchi and bronchioles. By doing so, it actually makes breathing easier because it increases the flow of air to the lungs. By helping the respiratory system, the tea may also prevent certain cardiovascular diseases.
The alpha hydroxy acid and zinc in the tea are good for the skin. These nutrients may ameliorate skin issues such as acne, sunburn or uneven skin color. Zinc in particular has been shown to reduce acne by protecting against UV rays and building cell membranes. Alpha hydroxy acid helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
In summary, these benefits comprise just a sampling of the many health benefits drinking rooibos tea can provide. Drinking rooibos tea is a natural way to help your body be its best.
We offer a large selection of Rooibos tea in our caffeine Free section. Just search Rooibos, and all our yummy and beneficial blends will be there for you.
