15 Amazing Health Benefits of Rooibos Tea

Rooibos Tea aside been refreshing comes with amazing health benefits that includes supporting healthy heart, preventing cancer, managing and preventing diabetes, supporting healthy digestion, fighting inflammation, promoting stronger bones, supporting weight loss, slowing down aging process, treating blood pressure, supporting healthy skin, fighting dandruff and supporting kidney health.

A herbal remedy used to treat a slew of ailments for many centuries, Rooibos tea has a distinguishable taste. It is native to a specific region in South Africa; it has been harvested by the natives of Cederberg region, the indigenous Bushmen, for a very, very long time.

What is Rooibos Tea?

The tea is extracted from the leaves of the Aspalathus Linearis plant. Rooibos tea was closely connected with the Khoisan tribe and the cultivation of the tea leaves ended with the dwindling of the tribe.

However, the leaves were rediscovered by a botanist named Carl Humberg in 1772. Rooibos tea manufacturing was initiated again by Benjamin Ginsberg, a Russian tea manufacturer. By 1904, Benjamin started marketing this tea as mountain tea, offering a healthier alternative to caffeinated teas.

Rooibos tea gained widespread fame after World War II, as shipping other teas were difficult from Asian countries. Rooibos tea has remained rather less popular because of the higher price point for its seeds and leaves. Most of the production of this tea is concentrated in a specific region of South Africa.

Annique Theron published a book regarding the health benefits of Rooibos tea. This was a turn for the better in the history of this tea. After this multiple research studies began digging into the health benefits of Rooibos tea.

Nutritional Chart

Rooibos tea provides the following nutrients per 200ml of serving:

Iron                               0.07mg

Potassium                    7.12mg

Zinc                               0.04mg

Manganese                 0.04mg

Copper                         0.07mg

Calcium                       1.09mg

Sodium                        6.16mg

Magnesium                1.57mg

Flouride                      0.22 mg

15 Amazing Health Benefits of Rooibos Tea

1. Heart Health

Diet can make a huge difference when it comes to your cardiovascular health. The College of Korean medicine conducted a study and deduced that Rooibos tea has a positive effect on heart health as it helps keep hormone levels balanced and inhibits the release of excessive hormones from the adrenal gland. This can prevent hypertension and high blood pressure. Rooibos tea contains nothofagin and aspalathin, which are chemical compounds known to calm inflammation in the vascular system and acts as a vasodilator.

2. Cancer Prevention

Rooibos tea can help prevent cancer; it contains quercetin, which is a plant-based chemical compound that is given in capsule form to patients suffering from cancer. It enhances cell health and growth and combat free radical cells, along with repairing your DNA. It causes cell death in cancerous cells and inhibits the growth of tumors. Rooibos tea can help produce antibodies that make the immune system stronger.

3. Management and Prevention of Diabetes

A research conducted by the Journal of traditional and complementary medicine states that Rooibos tea has compounds that have therapeutic effects on diabetes and heart diseases. Rooibos tea has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, which promote pancreatic health. It also helps prevent pancreatic cancer and keep the sugar levels in blood moderate.

4. Healthy Digestion

Healthy digestion is necessary and food can make a huge difference in how well our digestive system functions. With the trend of processed foods, our digestive system needs healthy nutritious foods to promote gut health. Rooibos tea has been a treatment for diarrhea and other stomach issues for centuries due to its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties. It promotes gut health and keeps the GI tract healthy.

5. Anti-inflammatory Properties

Rooibos tea has high anti-inflammatory properties and inflammation is known to cause many diseases in the body that can be acute or chronic in nature. Inflammation is related to skin diseases, joint pains, and heart issues. Rooibos tea is high in quercetin, which is a flavonoid that helps calm inflammation and prevents any diseases caused by it. This has proved to be useful in treating heart conditions such as hardened arteries and other health conditions such as ulcers and chronic fatigue syndrome.

6. Stronger Bones

Rooibos tea contains a combination of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It can help increase osteoblast activity, which will preserve your bone density. Moreover, it contains luteolin and orientin, which are powerful antioxidants and promote the density of the bones to keep them from getting weaker with age.

7. Weight Loss

Obesity is the cause of many diseases and keeping a check on your weight is necessary to maintain overall health. Polyphenols are excellent in burning belly fat and the flavonoids present in Rooibos tea can actually help you get rid of those extra pounds.

8. Anti-aging

Rooibos tea is a great way of reducing the appearance of wrinkles and sunspots. Aging can be slowed down by increasing the intake of antioxidants in the diet and Rooibos tea is a powerhouse of antioxidants.

9. Treating Blood Pressure

The flavonoids and polyphenols present in Rooibos tea are effective in keeping the blood pressure in check as well as keeping the arteries clear of toxins to promote the adequate flow of blood to and from the heart. Keeping blood pressure in check is necessary to ensure prevention of heart diseases.

10. Anti-allergic

Rooibos tea has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and muscle relaxant properties which are vital to calm down allergies and keep the body healthy. It has been proved useful in the treatment of eczema, bronchitis and also asthma.

11. Healthy Skin

Rooibos is rich in antioxidants that protect the skin from harmful allergies and skin issues. A study has indicated that drinking this herbal tea can help steer you clear of the symptoms of skin cancer. It is also known to keep the skin calm and reduces the risk of inflammation.

12. Fights Dandruff

Rooibos tea when consumed has many benefits, but did you know that it can be used as a rinse to clean up any dandruff from the scalp while promoting healthier hair follicles.

13. Kidney Health

The kidneys perform a lot of detoxifying functions, but in some cases can accumulate excessive toxins and minerals that turn into kidney stones or have other implications. Rooibos tea has diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it a stimulator for the excretion of toxins and hence is deemed safe for kidney stone patients.

14. Healthier Alternative

It is actually free of caffeine; it provides energy without disturbing the balance of hormones produced by the adrenal gland. Caffeine is present in many presumed healthy teas and is linked to anxiety and stress. Rooibos tea is a healthier alternative to teas containing caffeine and can be safely consumed by patients suffering from anxiety. In some studies, it has been observed to have a positive effect on schizophrenia patients.

15. Powerhouse of Nutrition

Another pretty amazing thing about Rooibos tea is the fact that it can be taken as a pre-workout supplement for a good energy boost and mental clarity. Because it contains something better than caffeine, drinking a cup 45 minutes before gym-time can help lower your stress levels and mentally prepare you for a good workout session.

Bottom Line

Rooibos tea has been researched and is become popular once again due to its many benefits. Adding up to two cups a day can be very useful and promote overall health and well being.