Rooibos Tea: Antioxidants in Every Cup

Many have yet to try the refreshing caffeine-free, calorie free nutty tasting reddish brown tea called Rooibos. It contains less than half the amount of tannins present in black tea, which provide the bitter aftertaste of tea. This makes rooibos a more palatable alternative to regular tea or coffee. Tannins are known to prevent the absorption of certain proteins and iron, which can be a concern for those needing the most nutrition, such as pregnant and nursing women. The name ‘rooibos’ comes from the Afrikaans word for "red bush" and it only grows in South Africa. Despite the name, as a plant it is green like most others. It only turns red during the fermentation process. Rooibos has an exceptional array of benefits, including adding antioxidants to your diet ^[1], which can combat free-radical damage that can lead to abnormal cell-proliferation (cancer/tumor growth). It’s also helpful in managing Type II Diabetes, and has antispasmodic effects that can help relieve diarrhea and soothe the stomach.

The antioxidant properties of rooibos tea are similar to those of green tea. Antioxidants function at the molecular level dealing with free radicals, which are damaging molecules that have lost an electron and harm cellular structures by stealing electrons from other molecules. This consequently destabilizes them and causes a chain reaction that leads to cellular damage. Antioxidants help by providing that spare electron the free radical is searching for, neutralizing the charge within. Look at it as a peacekeeper in the body. The brain is especially susceptible to oxidative stress, considering that it consumes 20% of the body's oxygen. This state of oxidative stress can result from long-term psychological stress. There is evidence to show that oxidative stress, over time, is linked to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, or Huntington's disease. Which is why focusing on managing our chronic stress levels is important, and valuing antioxidant resources in our diet can provide some support in these situations. Rooibos has been found particularly helpful in reducing metabolites that lead to an increase of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin regulates the stress response pathway in the body and the study below showed a reduction of metabolites leading to serotonin with Rooibos extract intake during a four-week span^[5]. Rooibos also prevents cancer by encouraging apoptosis^[2], the cell’s natural self-destruct button for destroying a cell that has been damaged and could lead to potential cancer cell growth.

Green rooibos (unfermented) is also considered helpful in combating Type II Diabetes. Diabetes is a descriptor of the metabolic state in which there is too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. Since glucose molecules are too large, sugar in the blood can damage small capillary blood vessels. This is why they tend to harm the eyes, and organs such as the kidneys, which have fine filters made up of tiny capillaries. Green rooibos has been found to suppress the rapid spike of blood glucose levels during fasting, and support an increased glucose uptake within cells^[3]. The latter is especially valuable since the issue of stagnating sugar in the blood is caused by the improper transport within the cell of glucose to utilize as fuel.

Regarding the antispasmodic effects present, think of your digestive tract as a moving river that ebbs and flows with muscular squeezing that we should, comfortably, not be aware of. When there is excess to these digestive spasms, this could move the natural flow of our digestive system too quickly and cause diarrhea and/or abdominal discomfort. A study actually tested this based on castor-induced diarrhea in mice and found that providing rooibos tea extract protected against diarrhea, based on the amount of rooibos tea extract provided (higher dose gave more protection) compared to a control of no rooibos and a known anti-diarrhea drug^[4]. This shows how effective Rooibos tea can be against diarrhea, and its use in hyperactive gastrointestinal disorders. By reducing the spasms from diarrhea it provides an herbal balm for abdominal distress.

Rooibos is wonderful cold or hot, sweetened or plain, with or without milk. There are dozens of combinations with added flavors such as berries or vanilla. Consider trying rooibos herbal tea as an addition to a daily food therapy boost from the cornucopia of healing foods available at the grocery store or in your own pantry.

Sources:

1. ^In Vitro Chemopreventive Properties of Green Tea, Rooibos and Honeybush Extracts in Skin Cells
2. ^Free radical scavenging ability of Aspalathus linearis in two in vitro models of diabetes and cancer
3. ^Antidiabetic effect of green rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) extract in cultured cells and type 2 diabetic model KK-Ay mice
4. ^Antispasmodic Effects of Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus linearis) is Mediated Predominantly through K+-Channel Activation
5. ^Anti-Oxidative Effects of Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus linearis) on Immobilization-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Brain