Originally published March 1 2011
Enjoy the benefits of rooibos tea
by Michelle Koren
(NaturalNews) Rooibos (ROY-boss) tea which means Red Bush is a South African plant that's actually part of the legume family. Commonly called red tea it's actually a green color until it's been fermented. This tea has been used for hundreds of years by African Bushmen but more recently has been making a name for itself here. According to the American Botanical Council in 2003 there is no other natural resource containing as many antioxidants as rooibos does including Nothofagin and Aspalathin. Nothofagin has been proven to protect against heart disease, cancer and stroke and Aspalathin is only found in this tea. Antioxidants are just one of many benefits this tea offers.
Rooibos is naturally caffeine free so you can drink it all day long. This also makes it a smart choice for pregnant and nursing women and children. In 1968 it was discovered that this tea had anti-spasmodic properties that soothed colic and stomach cramps in infants. Some mothers even use it as an alternative to water in baby formula. It's also low in tannins. The lower tannin level will enable the body to still absorb iron and is an added benefit to people with low iron or anemia problems. Other teas like black and green have much higher tannin contents which can cause iron deficiency, headaches in some people and possible interference with digestion.
In addition to the antioxidants which are considered anti-aging, rooibos contains many minerals such as copper, manganese, fluoride, zinc, magnesium and potassium. This makes it a great tea for strong teeth and bones. It also has alpha-hydroxy which is great for skin regeneration. In fact, studies are showing that you can use the tea topically to help with itchy dry skin like eczema or even acne.
Rooibos is also used to aid in digestive problems such as constipation, nausea and heartburn. It contains no oxalic acid which can cause kidney stones. Therefore people with kidney stone issues now have a tea to sip. A few other noted benefits are its natural sedative properties to help with tension and stress and its ability to boost the immune system and to hydrate the body.
All of these benefits are great but the taste is equally important to tea drinkers. Rooibos is said to have a naturally sweet and nutty flavor requiring no sugar. It comes in a variety of flavors too. People who like variety will enjoy this aspect of the tea as they will never be bored. There are fruity flavors with real bits of dried fruit, vanilla and chocolate flavors with real pieces of chocolate and even detox teas. The longer you steep the tea the more antioxidants and flavor your tea will have without getting bitter as other teas do.
Rooibos appears to be a healthier alternative to green and black tea or at least a welcome addition. It offers many health benefits which are just beginning to be recognized. It also offers many flavors for the tea connoisseur to enjoy.
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http://urbanclinic.net/2010/12/13/rooibos-ha...
About the author
Michelle is a wife and mother of three girls. Her passions are homeopathy, herbalism, nutrition and alternative medicine. Her goal is to educate people and give them the knowledge they desire to become healthy, happy, and whole. Where there's a will there's an alternative way. Take the road less travelled to make it wider for others to see.
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