5 reasons to drink rooibos tea this holiday season
The festive season comes with the joy of indulging in delicious holiday meals so here are five reasons why you should drink rooibos tea to support gut health.
FROM cocktail parties and Christmas feasts to New Year’s Eve festivities, the end-of-year holidays are synonymous with social gatherings and delicious, but often rich and indulgent, food and alcoholic excesses that can become a challenge for the digestive system.
Researchers claim that herbal drinks, like rooibos, which is indigenous to South Africa and derived from the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant, may prove useful in alleviating discomfort from overeating.
Dr Hanel Sadie-Van Gijsen, a senior researcher at the Centre for Cardiometabolic Research in Africa (CARMA), within the division of Medical Physiology at Stellenbosch University, says recent studies have demonstrated that rooibos can improve various aspects of gut health and digestion while alleviating inflammation and discomfort.
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She says one of the most prominent traditional uses of rooibos was to treat a variety of stomach and gut ailments, but until recently, the scientific basis for this had not been studied in much detail. However, recent studies conducted by Stellenbosch University (SU), the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), the SA Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), along with other international research centres focused on nutrition, microbiology and health sciences, all demonstrate a variety of actions that rooibos exerts in the gut that not only aids digestion but also improves overall health and assists with disease management.
The gut microbiome is the collective name for all the micro-organisms that live in our digestive system, but they mostly reside in the colon (large intestine).
Dr Sadie-Van Gijsen says while the gut microbiome is technically not a physical part of our bodies, its function is so crucial to our health and well-being that we must view it as part of our bodies, and we must take care of it accordingly.
“A healthy gut microbiome helps us to efficiently extract nutrients from our food, it assists in our immune response, supports the intestinal barrier function, reduces intestinal inflammation, improves metabolic function and even protects our brain health.
Here’s a snapshot of how rooibos can support gut health these holidays:
1. Anti-inflammatory properties:
Rooibos contains polyphenols, such as flavonoids and dihydrochalcones, that possess anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds may help reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, potentially easing digestive discomfort.
2. Antioxidant effects:
The antioxidants present in rooibos, such as quercetin and aspalathin (found in green Rooibos), can help neutralise harmful free radicals in the body. By reducing oxidative stress, the tisane [herbal tea] may contribute to overall gut health.
3. Prebiotic potential:
Rooibos’ bio-active compounds act as prebiotics, supporting the growth and activity of beneficial gut bacteria. This could contribute to a healthier gut microbiome and improve overall metabolic health.
4. Relieving tummy turmoil:
Rooibos has anti-spasmodic properties, which means it can relieve cramping of the stomach and intestines. Being caffeine-free, rooibos also normalises intestinal fluid release, and together with its prebiotic effects, these actions can help alleviate diarrhoea.
5. No oxalic acid:
Unlike some other teas, rooibos does not contain oxalic acid, which in excessive amounts may contribute to kidney stones or interfere with mineral absorption. This absence makes it a favourable choice for those concerned about these issues.
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