Rooibos tea is the red herbal tea which has got sweet taste and floral fragrance. It is found on the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa. The Rooibos is 3 feet tall with the needle like leaves. The leaves of Rooibos are loaded with high antioxidants. Rooibos tea is an herbal tea. It has mild sweet and delicious taste of roses and honey as well as caffeine free.
Health Benefits of Rooibos Tea
Red Rooibos tea serves various health benefits which are discussed below:
1. Polyphenols
Rooibos possesses the polyphenols which has anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-mutagenic qualities. Polyphenols eliminates the free radicals from the body which can cause heart disease and cancer. Rooibos tea contains the essential antioxidants such as nothofagin and aspalathin which helps to enhance the immune system and prevents from various diseases. Rooibos tea helps to increase the SOD level.
2. No caffeine
Rooibos tea is caffeine free which is recommended to the insomnia patients. A cup of rooibos tea if drank before going to bed helps to sleep better. The caffeine free diet helps to improve mood, stress and heart health. It boosts the energy. As the caffeine is absent in Rooibos tea, it could be used by the children and pregnant women as well. There is a not restricted amount for rooibos tea for consumption. It promotes relaxation which helps to treat insomnia. It promotes the quality sleep.
3. Hypertension
Rooibos tea helps to eliminate nervous tension, stress and hypertensive conditions. It is also known as high blood pressure. Rooibos tea has the ability to lessen the blood pressure, alleviate respiratory conditions, atherosclerosis and heart attacks. The rooibos tea helps to deal with hypertension.
4. Bone health
Red rooibos tea contains lots of fluoride, calcium and fluoride minerals which helps to maintain the strong teeth and bone. The increment in minerals helps to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, arthritis and chronic joint pain. Manganese helps to repair damage and build new bones by stimulating the enzymes. Flouride also helps to maintain the dental health. It is also found in toothpastes and mouthwashes.
5. Cardiovascular health
The antioxidant known as Quercetin is also found in rooibos tea which helps to eliminate the heart ailments. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it helps to reduce blood pressure and erase free radicals. It enhances the production of HDL cholesterol and reduces the LDL cholesterol which helps to prevent the heart ailments such as heart attacks, atherosclerosis and strokes.
6. Infant health
The small child who has the stomach pains or colic also found rooibos tea to be helpful. The tea can be added a sweetened milk to enhance the flavor and more appetizing. This plant also helps to calm the colicky infant, according to the South African women.
7. Diabetes
Aspalathin helps to improve the insulin resistance, glucose absorption by muscles, balance blood sugar, suppress fasting glucose levels and enhance the insulin secretion from the pancreas which helps to prevent the Type II Diabetes. It also helps to balance blood sugar by preventing the spikes and drops of blood sugar.
8. Possible Cancer Prevention
The study made on animal shows that the Rooibos has immune-modulting, antimutagenic and cancer-protective action. It is able to treat skin tumors as well. The flavonoids present in rooibos helps to eliminate the genetic damage to cells. It also prevents from the colon and liver cancer. The enzyme is activated to eliminate the cancer-causing agents. The rooibos tea helps to prevent the damage of cells and DNA which results to cancer.
9. Encourages restful sleep
The insomnia patients are helped by the rooibos tea when they drink the tea before bedtime. The lower caffeine and high mineral content helps to the people to feel relax and calm.
10. Rooibos Extracts Fight HIV
Rooibos tea helps to increase the interleukin-2 (IL-2) production in vitro and in vivo. The study shows that the HIV-induced cytopathicity is suppressed by the alkaline extract of rooibos tea leaves. The authors summarizes that the daily intake of alkaline extract of rooibos tea helps to suppress the HIV infection.
11. Improves circulation
Chysoeriol, which is an antioxidant, helps to enhance circulation by eliminating the enzyme that leads to cardiovascular disease. It also helps to reduce the blood pressure and cholesterol. The bioflavonoid in the tea helps to prevent hemorrhaging and promotes good blood circulation. The chrysoeriols in Rooibos helps to lower cholesterol with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It also eliminates the cardiovascular diseases by prohibiting the activity of certain enzymes.
12. Helps protect male fertility
Due to the presence of antioxidants in rooibos, it acts as a sperm protecting ability. The study which is made on rats showed that the rats who consumed red and green rooibos tea have high sperm than those who did not consumed. It helps to have healthy and higher counts of sperms.
13. Good for skin
The zinc and alpha hydroxy acid found in red tea has various skin benefits. The red tea powder could be applied to the skin directly to get rid of acne, sunburns, pimples and other skin conditions. Alpha-hydroxy acids can lower the signs of wrinkles and other premature aging symptoms. It also provides healthy, fresh and revitalizes skin. The scientific study reports that the zinc consumption may reduce acne.
14. Protect against Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease
Rooibos tea helps to prevent from the lipid oxidation. If the free radicals damage the nerve tissue and brain cells, it leads to the brain disease named Alzheimer’s. The study on rats showed that the new born rats who were given rooibos tea, their brain function was distinct from the older rats.
15. Kidney stones
Due to the absence of oxalic acid in rooibos tea, the people with kidney stone problems can drink the red rooibos tea as much as they want. The oxalic acid makes the calcium stones in the kidney even worse.
16. Antispasmodic properties and Stomach complaints
The antispasmodic properties in rooibos tea help to eliminate the abdominal pains and stomach cramps which are possible due to the K+ activation in the body. It helps to prevent diarrhea, reduce the hyperactivity in the gastrointestinal tract and other intestinal problems. The presence of Quercetin in huge amount helps to relieve the ailments such as diarrhea, spasm, allergies, cramps, indigestion and inflammation. The antispasmodic agents help to soothe the abdominal pains and stomach cramps.
17. Boost the digestive tract
The antispasmodic agent helps to calm abdominal pain, stomach cramps and improves digestion. It helps to smooth out the muscles in the gut. One should drink a cup of rooibos tea about 30 minutes prior to the meal to get rid of digestive problems.
18. Allergies
Red tea can cure hay fever, eczema and allergy related bronchitis effectively. It is also effective for topical allergic reactions and asthma as well.
19. Premature aging
The presence of antioxidants in rooibos tea helps in gradual aging process and enhances the immune system. Antioxidant eliminates the free radicals which may harm hair, organs, skin and bones. It promotes the concentration. It lowers the oxidative byproducts impact.
20. Anti-Inflammatory
The polyphenols such as nothofagin and aspalathin in rooibos helps to get rid of free radicals. The anti-inflammatory property helps to eliminate the heart ailments. The polyphenols helps to enhance immune system and prevents from virus, common cold and flu.
21. Promotes Healthy Hair
The rooibos tea is loaded with various minerals such as calcium, potassium, zinc and copper which help to promote hair growth. It helps to strengthen a hair fiber which helps to make the hair strong and healthy. It prevents the hair loss and dead skin cells. It helps to get rid of dandruff and soothes the scalp. The polyphenols found in rooibos helps to enhance soft and shiny hair. It also protects hair from sun damage.
22. Iron Absorption
The rooibos tea helps the body to absorb the iron. It contains the tannins less than half of the black tea.
23. Great beverage
Red Rooibos tea is the refreshing drink which is mostly preferred without any sweeteners and caffeine. It is great for hyperactive children, who travels often and professional athletes.
24. Aids the respiratory system
Rooibos tea helps to raise the airflow to the lungs which helps to make the breathing easier. It also helps to eliminate the cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks and atheroschelorsis. It also helps to deal with the asthma symptoms.
25. Liver Disease
The study made in rat reports that the rooibos tea helps to support the liver tissue regeneration after prolonged intoxication. The rat who received rooibos had less fibrotic tissue in the livers and reduces tissue malondialdehyde levels.
26. Rare nutrients
Red Rooibos teas possess the rare nutrients such as Bioflavonoids and Quercetin which enhances the good circulation and prevents hemorrhaging.
27. Rooibos tea, lipid peroxidation and brain aging
Lipid perioxide is occurred in brain. The study which is made on rats showed that the rats who consumed rooibos tea have less brain aging damage than the rats who were given water.
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How to Brew Rooibos Tea
Rooibos tea has a sweet taste in natural and is never bitter though it is brewed for a lengthy time. It has zero calorie and is great either hot or cold. As Rooibos is lack in tannins, it restricts from becoming bitter.
To Brew Hot Rooibos Tea:
1 teaspoon or tablespoon of loose leaf organic Rooibos tea should be placed in a tea infuser and place it in a mug. Pour 8 ounces (1 cup) of boiled water over infuser in glass. It could be steeped for 5 to 15 minutes and it could be added natural sweetener or honey for sweetness.
To Brew Iced Rooibos Tea:
2 table spoons of loose leaf rooibos should be placed in an infuser. 8 ounces of water should be boiled and pour it over the tea which should be steep for at least 10 minutes. The honey or natural sweetener could be added for sweetness. Then pour it over ice and serve instantly.
To Brew By the Gallon:
After boiling 1 gallon of water in a large stockpot, ½ cup of loose leaf rooibos should be added and mix it. Let it cool down by removing from heat. Then store it in the fridge by straining the leaves. It should be kept for 2-3 days in a refrigerator.
Few Words of Caution
Those who have the hormone sensitive cancer such as breast cancer should not use rooibos as it has estrogenic activities. Rooibos may be harmful for those having the kidney and liver problems. One should consult the doctor before adding the powerful elements to the diet along with rooibos tea.