7 Health Benefits of Rooibos Tea (aka Red Bush)

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It’s funny how tea is a popular beverage the world over yet we all drink it in very different ways. In the UK people drink black tea with milk and sugar whilst in America and Japan it would seem green tea on its own is the tea of choice. The South Africans, however, have a taste for Rooibos (aka Red Bush) with milk and sugar.

I started drinking Red Bush a couple of months ago as there’s so many different types of tea to buy I wanted to be a little more adventurous. When I saw it in the supermarket I thought I’d give it a try.

What is Red Bush?

First of all, white/green/oolong/black tea is all made from the leaves from the camellia sinensis plant. The end product simply depends on how long the leaves have been fermented.

Red Bush (pronounced roy-boss) on the other hand is a completely different plant grown in the Western Cape Province. The leaves are actually green but turn red when oxidized.

What Does it Taste Like?

When I first opened the box I was hit by its distinctive smell. I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not, it just smelt… different. Once I tasted it I liked it instantly but it did take several cups for me to get used to the smell. You can also buy Red Bush with added caramel, I can understand why as it does naturally have a subtle caramel taste.

Although the Africans drink it with milk and sugar most other people drink it with just water.

Now I have to admit I actually prefer it to green tea, it’s a lot more flavoursome.

Health Benefits of Rooibos

The health benefits of Red Bush are very similar to tea made from camellia sinensis leaves.

  1. Contains similar amounts of polyphenols and has been shown to be anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activity.
  2. Naturally caffeine-free so is ideal for people who want to cut back on caffeine or want to drink it before going to bed. Actually it’s recommended you drink it before going to bed as it can help with insomnia. It’s also very low in tannins.
  3. Contains calcium, manganese and fluoride to help build strong teeth and bones.
  4. Can be given to infants suffering from colic, sleeping problems or stomach cramps. Simply add some milk to the tea.
  5. Contains alpha hydroxy acid and zinc which is great for the skin. You can even apply it directly to the skin to help with acne, eczema and sunburn etc.
  6. People with kidney stones can drink it because there’s no oxalic acid.
  7. Full of vitamins and minerals such as zinc, copper, calcium, manganese, magnesium, potassium.

I live in the UK so I simply buy whatever Red Bush happens to be in the supermarket, however according to one of my readers, Micah, Davidson’s Organic Rooibos Tea on Amazon.com tastes great!

Is Eating Chocolate Healthy?

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A lot of health products are pretty controversial but chocolate probably tops the list. There’s been new study after new study, each raises doubts on the finding of the previous. The problem is that we all naturally crave sweet things and if we’re told that chocolate is good for us then we’re more than willing to believe it.

Flavonoids

The main reason chocolate often makes the health news is that it contains flavonoids (a class of phytochemicals). Flavonoids have been found to improve the circulatory system plus they are also antioxidants which remove free radicals from our bodies.

For some people this is enough evidence to continue eating bars of chocolate every day. However in reality chocolate also contains fat and sugar which somewhat outweighs any benefits you may enjoy from the antioxidants. Plus there are much healthier sources of antioxidants such as tea, fruit and vegetables which don’t contain fat and sugar.

That’s not to say you should deny yourself some chocolate from time to time. I often have a few squares when I’m out walking at the weekends, I just avoid eating any during the week.

Sugar and Fat can be Good?

Ideally you should stick to eating complex sugars but simple sugars can still help give you needed energy when you need it, for instance when cycling or running long distances. Fat can also regulate some hormones in the brain and give us a boot of energy.

There are many types of fat, the type that’s in chocolate is a saturated fat called stearic acid. Normally you should avoid saturated fat as it increases “bad cholesterol” however stearic acid may actually help lower it.

In addition to the above reasons, chocolate also contains the following…

  • Chocolate contains 10-30% less caffeine than coffee but that may actually be a good thing. Apparently a small amount of caffeine can be good for you.
  • Theobromine is related to caffeine and is a mild stimulant and helps us stay alert and give us a positive outlook to life. Is it any wonder that so many people are chocoholics?
  • You’ve probably already heard about Serotonin and how it can help elevate your mood. Well, chocolate contains Tryptophan which is a precursor to serotonin. Chocolate is also thought o help you release endorphins which is normally associated with exercising.

Whatever you do, don’t go rushing out to buy loads of chocolate thinking you can help improve your health. A little amount as a treat is fine, just don’t go crazy.