10 March 2024 , 10:36
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Tea comes in all shapes and forms, and has a range of health benefits including reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases, fighting inflammation, and preventing or delaying some kinds of skin damage.
Green tea, white tea and oolong tea, among the others, can also help you lose weight when paired with a healthy diet and exercise. Another beneficial tea that can help you shed the pounds is rooibos tea, which is considered an anti-inflammatory drink that can also fight a large range of diseases.
Rooibos leaves have been shown to contain as many antioxidants as green tea - and in some cases, even more - although they seem to be absorbed less easily. Rooibos tea is a herbal tea that is native to South Africa - and the leaves of Aspalathus linearis can only be found in the mountains near the Cape of Good in South Africa.
Rooibos tea can help you lose weight (Getty Images/iStockphoto)It is also known as red tea or red bush tea. This drink is packed with nutrients, has no calories or caffeine, and has been used for its inflammatory properties for centuries. It also contains small amounts of some minerals, including calcium and fluoride, plus alpha hydroxy acid.
The tea also contains antioxidants, such as aspalathin and nothofagin. Dr Axe, co-founder of Ancient Nutrition, explains that because of these properties, rooibos tea can promote healthy bones and also promote weight loss.
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A study published in the journal 'Nutrients' last year, showed that adding rooibos tea to your daily diet is "likely to prevent the development of obesity associated with chronic low-level inflammation". In particular, antioxidants polyphenols and flavonoids in rooibos can have a positive impact on health issues including chronic inflammation.
Researchers also tested antioxidant activity to study the effect this tea could have on obesity - and found that it could decrease both the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the secretions of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Rooibos was found to reduce fat cell accumulation.
In a separate study, researchers found that consuming rooibos caused increased leptin secretion - this is known as the "satiety hormone" and communicates to your body you have had enough to eat. Rooibos was also found to be reducing new fat cells from forming and cause existing fat to metabolise faster.
Other beneficial properties of rooibos including positive cardiovascular effects, such as helping decrease blood pressure and improving blood circulation Rooibos is also considered good to fight diabetes and, according to research published in the 'Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine', this tea showed "significant therapeutic potential for either the prevention of the onset of the two diseases or their progression."
Rooibos tea also seems to help the immune system produce antibodies necessary to prevent and heal from a variety of chronic diseases, which could include some cancers, viruses and allergic reactions. It could also support strong bones, help treat allergies, and keep your hair and skin young.