Archive for the 'Rooibos' Category
Rooibos is a plant which only grows in South Africa. It is picked, dried and brewed as a tea; it is also known as a red tea. The red honeybush tea is delicious and is from the Rooibos plant. It is starting to gain popularity in North America, so now you can find it in the herb and spice aisles of some grocery and health-food stores. Starbucks now offers a rooibos latte, if you want to spend the money for it. Frankly,I find Starbucks to be over priced and it bothers me to spend my hard-earned cash to give to the Starbucks corporation.
Rooibos has been used for centuries to combat allergies and skin problems, although these benefits have not been documented. Years ago, it was boycotted because it was considered to be a beverage dominated by the minority Dutch-based Afrikaners population. When South Africa became an independent nation, other countries started to order Rooibos tea to drink and enjoy. This is a good thing because Rooibos is so very healthy for all of us! It gives energy and it revs up our immune system, protecting us from illness and opportunistic diseases. Rooibos is naturally sweet, so it is perfect as an iced tea with a hint of mint or lemon. It is a very low calorie drink as well as delivering extra added health benefits.
It is a good idea to drink rooibos before your workout to receive the energy-boosting benefits. Do not drink it at night before bedtime; instead it is better to drink an herbal tea such as chamomile or peppermint to soothe you to sleep. Rooibos might keep you awake when you need to rest and sleep.
I love rooibos tea. It is from South Africa and there is nothing like it to boost your immune system and help your body stay strong and free from diseases. I drink it with lunch or sometimes I drink it right after lunch and it gives me boundless energy. It really jump starts my metabolism.Rooibos helps to give you strong bones and teeth because of its calcium, manganese and fluoride content.Rooibos contains alpha hydroxy acid and zinc for healthy, smooth skin. This wonder tea is especially useful when applied to skin irritations like itchy skin, eczema, sunburns, diaper rash and acne.Rooibos contains magnesium which is necessary for a healthy nervous system. Rooibos increases the absorption of iron in the body. Rooibos contains potassium and copper minerals that are necessary for several metabolic functions.Rooibos makes a great thirst-quencher and sport drink. Because of its mineral content of iron, potassium, zinc, manganese and sodium, it restores the body’s equilibrium after strenuous exercise.Rooibos is often prescribed for nervous tension and mild depression as it makes a relaxing sedative.Rooibos contains no oxalic acid and can therefore be enjoyed by persons suffering from kidney stones. Rooibos 
does not contain caffeine, and hence is even better than green tea – to reduce stress! How to use:
Rooibos is very versatile! Steep 1 tsp/ cup of boiling water for 3-5 minutes.
Drink it hot or cold, with or without milk, sugar or honey. Add lemon or mix it with fruit juices for a lovely blend. In South Africa Rooibos tea is also used in cooking and baking. It replaces the liquid content in recipes for soups, marinades, sauces, stews and cakes for added flavor and nutrition!
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The red rooibos tea of South Africa are a wonderful source of antioxidants. They contain 50% more antioxidants than its green tea counterpart. It has a high concentration of magnesium which is great for the nervous system. It has high quantities of fluoride, manganese and calcium which strengthens teeth. You can drink rooibos tea all day because it has no caffeine. It is safe for pregnant women and nursing mothers too. The rooibos tea contains high concentrations of vitamins and minerals that are good for growing babies.
It is simply an amazing tea. Athletes drink rooibos tea to boost their endurance and to improve their vitality before and after a strenuous workout. At night, before bedtime, rooibos tea helps these same athletes to rest peacefully and enhance a good night’s sleep.
Rooibos increases the absorption of iron in the body. It contains high concentrations of potassium and zinc which help muscles to stay strong and supple. Rooibos tea improves the functioning of the immune system. It can be safely mixed with breast milk to help stop colic for infants in distress. Besides those mentioned above, rooibos tea offers several other health benefits that will be addressed in future articles.