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Rooibos Tea - The Healthy Drink
Rooibos or Red Bush Tea as it is also
known is not a true tea but an herb which is indigenous
to the Cederburg area of South Africa. Due to its widely
publicized health benefits it has grown into a billion
dollar export industry since the mid twentieth century.
The tea has no caffeine and only half
the tannin of ordinary tea. Apart from being refreshing
to drink, in place of ordinary tea and coffee, it has
the advantage of containing minerals and powerful antioxidants.
Having no oxalic acid it also does not irritate the
kidneys.
The Japanese scientists, who did studies
in the 1960's, discovered Rooibos contains a powerful
antioxidant similar to SOD which is thought to retard
aging and quercetin which is believed to have potent
anti-inflammatory properties. Besides that Rooibos is
also found to contain aspalathin which counteracts the
atherosclerotic processes that result in heart disease.
Due to this the Japanese promote it as an Anti-Aging
Tea and import large quantities of the tea.
Research was done elsewhere where the
French found that hair lotion containing Rooibos promoted
faster hair growth with improvement in the hair condition
and caused no allergic reactions. In South Africa research
found that the polyphenol content in Rooibos is similar
to green tea. Polyphenols help protect the body from
damage by free radicals.
Rooibos has been found to be helpful
with general health problems. It relieves digestive
problems, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and constipation.
Having a calming effect it helps with irritability,
insomnia and depression.
Both pre natal and breast feeding Mothers
supplement their intake of manganese, calcium and fluoride
drinking Rooibos and therefore promote strong teeth
and healthy bones in their babies. Rooibos, when applied
at every nappy change, relieves nappy rash and when
drunk by the baby relieves colic.
Preparation of Rooibos is the same as
ordinary tea. First warm the tea pot with boiling water
and then place one teaspoon of tea or tea bag per cup
required in the pot. Pour over boiling water and let
infuse for a few minutes. The longer it is left before
drinking the more antioxidants the tea will contain.
Can be served plain, with hot or cold milk or lemon.
It can be lightly sweetened with honey or sugar or just
left without any sweetening. Rooibos also makes a wonderful
ice tea.
In South Africa Rooibos Tea is often
used in day to day cooking as not only does it add important
minerals and antioxidants to the diet and help digestion,
it also enhances the flavors of the cooking. Just replace
the water in a recipe with the tea.
Next time you are in your health shop
or in a department store stocking specialty teas, why
not pick up a packet and try it out?
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