6th Jun 2020
Meet Rooibos and Honeybush Teas
Rooibos and Honeybush Tea are both closely related cousins, coming from different bushes indigenous to South Africa. Their properties are very similar in almost every way, but they differ in taste. Rooibos makes a wonderfully bold, deep reddish-brown tea with an almost nutty flavor, and Honeybush is slightly sweeter with a hint of honey flavor. While these teas have been consumed for centuries in South Africa, they are finally gaining popularity in many other areas of the world, thanks to their numerous health benefits, and we couldn't be happier. We love Red Rooibos and Honeybush Teas, and you will too! Here are some of the benefits.
Easy Transition to Herbal Tea
While some herbal teas have an acquired taste, both Honeybush and rooibos have slightly sweet flavor profiles with hints of honey and vanilla and are both easy to like, even for the most resistant herbal tea drinkers.
Blood Pressure
Rooibos and Honeybush act as bronchodilators, and while bronchodilators most commonly treat respiratory conditions, they can also reduce high blood pressure. This, in turn, reduces the risk of a heart attack, heart failure, stroke and other conditions including kidney disease and dementia. In addition, a study showed that when participants with high blood pressure drank 13.5 ounces of rooibos tea, angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE) levels went down, lowering participants blood pressure within an hour.
Cholesterol
A six-week study showed that drinking six cups of Rooibos or Honeybush tea daily significantly increased levels of polyphenols, plant compounds with vital antioxidant properties which increase HDL and decrease LDL. This study showed participants’ LDL markers went down, likely because of the HDL's ability to collect unused LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream and eliminate it through the liver.
Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant
Aspalathin, a powerful antioxidant found only in Honeybush and Rooibos, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting properties.
Both Rooibos and Honeybush gives you a delicious dose of antioxidants. Antioxidants clean up the harmful free radicals that can damage cells and cause cancer, curbing cellular damage and inflammation.
Glutathione is more powerful than any other antioxidant, and research shows that drinking Rooibos or Honeybush teas help to regulate glutathione metabolism in the body. Glutathione has been shown to protect against inflammation, toxins, free radicals and pathogens.
Weight Loss
Research suggests that aspalathin, that same active property mentioned above in Rooibos and Honeybush tea, helps to reduce stress hormones that trigger hunger and fat storage. Data from this study showed that there is a potential for preventing obesity by affecting the balance of energy and how it’s used as energy or stored as fat.
Diabetes
Aspalathin also reduces stress hormones that trigger hunger and fat storage that are linked to heart disease, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Digestion
Rooibos and Honeybush tea can help to ease stomach cramps, alleviate abdominal pain, aid digestion, and has been used for centuries in South Africa to settle upset stomach and relieve infant colic. Many South African mothers believe that there’s nothing better than a piece of toast and a cup of rooibos for a sick child.
Respiratory
Like we mentioned above when talking about blood pressure benefits, both of these teas act as a bronchodilator, which causes bronchioles to dilate, increasing airflow to the lungs and making breathing easier.
Allergies and Asthma
For the same reasons that Rooibos and Honeybush work for breathing, they have often been recommended to people suffering from asthma and allergies.
Immune System
The antiviral and antibacterial properties of Rooibos and Honeybush teas help to improve immune system health and help fight disease. Honeybush and Rooibos teas are believed to be especially effective in alleviating bronchial symptoms and have been used to treat cough. Honeybush and Rooibos teas have been identified as a tonic for influenza and other viruses.
Other Benefits of Red Rooibos and Honeybush Teas
- Naturally caffeine free
- Helps with menopause stress
- High nutritional value
- Strengthens bones and teeth
- Helps hair growth and strengthens hair fibers
- Fights wrinkles and other signs of aging