Herbal tea brewed from the leaves of the red rooibos shrub (Aspalanthus linearis) has long been a popular beverage in the plant's native region of South Africa. More recently, this delicious hot-or-cold tea has gained popularity throughout the world as an alternative to caffeinated teas and coffee. In addition to its great flavor, red rooibos has many health benefits that make it well worth adding to your pantry.
Taming Tension
Red rooibos tea is almost entirely caffeine free, containing significantly less caffeine than even the so-called decaffeinated green teas, according to the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. Caffeine can make many people anxious or jittery, so eliminating even trace caffeine can have a calming impact. Red rooibos also contains high quantities of the nutrient magnesium, which is referred to as 'nature's tranquilizer.' This helps the tea to act as a natural adaptogen, helping your body to cope with and adapt to stress. Research confirms that red rooibos is useful as a treatment for nervous tension, reports Dr. Leonard Coldwell, a European physician specializing in education regarding stress alleviation in cancer prevention and treatment.
Antioxidants
Red rooibos is rich in antioxidants---substances which help prevent cellular damage, and thus help prevent cancer, delay aging, and reduce risk of other diseases. The antioxidants in red rooibos tea are in the form of polyphenols, the same potent antioxidant form found in other red and purple foods like cherries, cranberries, blueberries, red grapes and pomegranates. The unfermented 'green' form of red rooibos has the highest polyphenol content, according to dietician Erin Tucholke of Oregon Health Sciences University. Although ordinary green and black tea have higher polyphenol levels, the caffeine and tannin in those beverages make it more difficult to drink significant quantities of them through the day, and the decaffeinated versions have greatly reduced polyphenol content. Drinking red rooibos tea instead makes it easier for you to consume larger quantities of antioxidants through the day.
Low Tannins
Rooibos tea can be brewed for a long time, resulting in a strong, rich-tasting beverage, without the bitterness which occurs in black and green teas due to their tannin content. Tannins can cause stomach upset in some people, reports dietitian Erin Tucholke, especially when consumed on an empty stomach. Tannins and oxalic acid also bind to minerals like iron and calcium, preventing them from being absorbed into the body. Red rooibos tea is free of tannins, so it will not interfere with nutrient absorption, and can be consumed for breakfast before eating, or as a warm soothing bedtime beverage, without risk of gastric distress.
Member Comments