What benefits do you get when drinking Rooibos?
A cup or two of rooibos tea per day can keep skin looking even and youthful.
You can drink it hot or cold, in a cocktail or mocktail, and you still will get the nutritious benefits of Rooibos. Here’s a list of interesting benefits you get in every glass or cup of Rooibos.
1. Aids weight loss
Like green tea and black tea, drinking rooibos tea is a good way to enjoy a delicious beverage without packing on the kilos. Each cup of rooibos tea contains only two to four calories, so you can drink this delightfully smoky beverage without worrying about ruining your diet. Keep in mind that adding sugar, honey or other sweeteners can rack up the calorie count, so keep additions to a minimum if your goal is to lose weight.
2. Improves appearance of skin
Rooibos tea contains alpha-hydroxy acids, which are one of the main ingredients in skin treatments such as chemical peels that you can get at your dermatologist’s office. Not particularly common in foods, the alpha-hydroxy acid in rooibos tea can aid in your skin care routine and help to reduce wrinkles.
Rooibos tea also contains superoxide dismutase, which has anti-ageing properties and helps to slow down the development of wrinkles. Superoxide dismutase is an enzyme that works to produce healthy skin cells that keep you looking young longer. This enzyme works alongside other the antioxidants in rooibos tea to fight free radicals that can accelerate the ageing process. While more research is needed, there is evidence that drinking a cup or two of rooibos tea per day can keep skin looking even and youthful.
3. Alleviates pain
Rooibos tea contains antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce inflammation, aches and pains. The anti-spasmodic compounds in rooibos tea help to alleviate abdominal pain such as stomach cramps by activating potassium ions throughout the body.
By reducing inflammation, rooibos tea can also aid in treating the painful symptoms of arthritis. Rooibos tea is also high in vitamin C, which works to repair collagen and connective tissue in the joints.
4. Allergies
This South African brew contains a bioactive flavonoid known as chrysoeriol, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Working as a bronchodilator, rooibos tea can help relieve the feelings of wheezing and coughing that are caused by allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Rooibos tea works as an antihistamine, without the drowsy side effects that come along with many of those medications. While not a replacement for advanced allergy treatments such as inhaled corticosteroids and high doses of antihistamines, drinking a few cups of rooibos tea every day can help control your body’s over-reactive immune response that triggers allergies.
5. Helps build strong bones
Like the true teas and many herbal tisanes, rooibos tea contains minerals such as calcium, manganese and fluoride that help build strong bones. These minerals produce increased activity in osteoblast calls, which are responsible for building strong bone mass.
While many teas contain these essential minerals that help protect healthy bones and prevent diseases such as osteoporosis and arthritis, rooibos contains two other compounds that are even more beneficial to bone health. Rooibos tea contains the flavonoids luteolin and orientin, which studies have shown have the potential to increase mineral content in bones.
6. Streamlines digestion
Many people struggle with digestive problems. The increasing incidence of illnesses such as Coeliac disease, acid reflux and chronic upset stomach shows no signs of stopping. While many digestive problems can be attributed to a poor diet high in processed foods, there is also increasing support for the potential digestive benefits of drinking tea.
Rooibos tea contains several nutrients that are anti-spasmodic, which help to prevent stomach pains. A study published in the Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology Journal showed that compounds such as quercetin, orientin and vitexin helped to relax the digestive system and relieve feelings of discomfort. This same study demonstrated that the tannins in rooibos tea had the potential to reduce symptoms of diarrhea.
7. May help control or prevent diabetes
Drinking rooibos tea may help to keep diabetes in check or even prevent the onset of diabetes. A 2013 Tokyo animal study showed that the polyphenols in rooibos tea worked to regulate blood sugar levels and increase glucose tolerance in diabetic mice.
Specifically, the polyphenol aspalathin works to increase glucose uptake and suppresses the increase in fasting glucose levels that can lead to blood sugar spikes in diabetic individuals. The mice in this study were given aspalathin in levels similar to those present in rooibos tea for five weeks. The mice were also shown to have lower levels of expression in genes that have been connected to hereditary risks of diabetes.
8. Supports heart health
Rooibos tea is excellent for heart health and helps to keep blood circulating smoothly. Containing the flavonoid chrysoeriol, which is a bronchodilator, this compound is also an effective agent for lowering high blood pressure and increasing circulation. The relaxing effects of rooibos tea help to open up blood vessels while antioxidants work to lower bad cholesterol and prevent plaque build-up.
Source: https://www.health24.com and https://www.cupandleaf.com
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