Rooibos Tea Health Benefits

What is rooibos tea? What are rooibos tea health benefits?

Rooibos tea is processed from a plant native to South Africa. It is known by several names throughout the world such as bush tea, red bush tea, South African red tea, or sometimes simply red tea. In addition to its lovely taste and color, rooibos tea benefits are numerous.

Red bush tea is produced in only a small portion of the Southern Africa region known as the Western Cape Province. This is because the plant is delicate and it loses its seeds as soon as the fruits are ripe. The growth and production of rooibos tea is very sensitive and hence not easily done on a large scale.

In terms of flavor and appearance, rooibos tea is naturally sweet and sometimes nutty. Although it can be prepared in the same manner as ordinary tea with added milk and sugar, the traditional method of brewing and serving it is with a little bit of honey and a slice of lemon. Once brewed, the tea takes on a deep reddish brown color, thus giving it the name red tea.

Rooibos tea health benefits are many and include an increase in immune system strength, delays in the aging process, a decrease in tension and irritability, and use as an anti-spasmodic agent, thus relieving colic in infants and stomach cramps in adults. In addition, because of its high levels of varied vitamins and minerals, red bush tea may be considered a nutritional supplement and contributes to strong teeth and bones.

The ability of red bush tea to boost the immune system and delay the aging process has to do with the presence of antioxidants. These antioxidants, such as aspalathin and nothafagin, help shield the body against cellular mutations, which can sometimes even lead to cancer. Natural chemicals existing in rooibos tea also help to attack free radicals in our bodies, thus preventing the deterioration of healthy cells, which is the key characteristic of aging.

Another of rooibos tea health benefits is the decrease in tension and irritability as well as relief of stomach cramps and colic. These factors can be attributed to the natural sedative effects found in red bush tea that do not have any of the harmful side-effects found in synthetic chemical medication.

Red bush tea is used by many as a nutritional supplement because of its high levels of vitamins and minerals including calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, and fluoride, among many others. In addition, to boosting the immune system, these vitamins and minerals are key contributors to healthy and strong bones and teeth. They also contribute to weight loss as they provide a healthy alternative to chemical-laden diet beverages, over the counter pills or prescriptions.

Back to Benefits of Tea

Return from Rooibos Tea Health Benefits to the iBenefits home