Health & Nutrition

Over the past two decades positive scientific research has helped to elevate tea from being a mere luxury drink, to a conscious part of a health and beauty plan. Rooibos has been found to be effective in counteracting some of  life’s daily negative impacts on our health by providing powerful antioxidants and essential minerals to help us stay healthy.

Naturally rich in Antioxidant

Although oxidation reactions are crucial for life, they can also be damaging; hence, plants and animals maintain complex systems of multiple types of antioxidants, such as glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E as well as enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase and various peroxidases.  Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in our foods which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals (unstable molecules) which can cause damage. Antioxidants act as “free radical scavengers” and hence prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals.  Health problems such as heart disease, mascular degeneration, diabetes, cancer etc are all contributed by oxidative damage.

Free radicals are a normal part of everyday life, and our bodies deal with them on a regular basis. In small numbers, free radicals are not a problem. However, certain lifestyle and environmental factors, such as lack of exercise, pollution and UV rays, can result in the formation of excess free radicals. Over time, an abundance of unchecked free radicals has the potential to negatively impact overall health. Our bodies have their own free radical clearing system and this may be augmented by maintaining a healthy, balanced diet. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, best-selling author and director of the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson, antioxidants have been shown to safeguard the immune system; benefit the heart, eyes, muscles and skin; slow the effects of aging and help block the chemical reactions that generate excess free radicals.

There are many different types of antioxidants in foods, including fruit and vegetables, tea and wine. Antioxidants may have the potential to re-enforce our body’s natural defenses against excessive free radicals, thereby minimize damage to the body. In studies carried out by Japanese scientists, rooibos has been shown to have as much as 50 TIMES MORE antioxidant potency than regular green tea.

Drinking rooibos tea has been shown to help increase the antioxidant capacity of blood. Add Nanditea Rooibos products to your balanced diet to help boost your antioxidant defenses.

Naturally Caffeine Free

The negative effects of caffeine have been well documented over the past decade, according to health researchers and physicians; caffeine is a major contributor of many health conditions and disease such as:

  • Severe stress
  • Mood disorders
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Diabetes
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Indigestion and upset stomachs
  • Acid reflux and GERD
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Interstitial Cystisis

An increased heart rate and high blood pressure can also lead to increased stress; if you are already experiencing a significant amount of stress in your life, caffeine might worsen the problem. Extreme anxiety can also be counter-productive; think about how difficult it is to focus if you are constantly in fight-or-flight mode. Excessive caffeine also interferes with sleep and natural resting patterns. Sleep problems and mood disturbances can take a toll on your daily productivity, making it difficult to focus and even get up in the morning. Without a healthy sleep schedule, you can become irritable, anxious, and find it difficult to concentrate.

Decaffeinated coffees and teas were created as a way to counteract these negative effects of caffeine in beverages. However, teas are certified decaffeinated if they have 97% of their caffeine removed, this means that decaffeinated teas may still contain about 3% caffeine. Further, the decaffeination process may remove some important nutrients in tea resulting in a poorer beverage.

Nanditea Natural Organic Rooibos is naturally caffeine free, which means that it is gentle to your nervous system, helping you avoid higher irritability, high blood pressure and erratic sleeping patterns associated with caffeine. Since it’s naturally caffeine free, no nutrients are lost to the decaffeination process.

9 Essential Minerals

Natural rooibos tea contains 9 essential minerals, namely:

9 Essential Minerals

Low Tannin

Consuming high amounts of tannin can be damaging to the body and has been shown to inhibit the absorption of essential minerals like iron. People with iron deficiency have been advised by most physicians to limit their intake of regular black and green teas, as these contain significant levels of tannin. In black and green teas, tannin is responsible for the bitter taste in tea which many tea drinkers mask by adding large amounts of cream or sugar.

Rooibos is naturally very low in tannin, and thus does not inhibit iron absorption to the same extent as regular black and green teas. Further, due to its very low tannin levels, rooibos has a smoother, sweeter taste compared to regular black and green teas.

Zero Calories

Rooibos does not contain any calories. It is a great tasting healthy beverage perfect for people that are on a restricted-calorie diet.

Naturally Oxalic Acid Free

Rooibos contains no oxalic acid and so does not negatively affect the digestive system and can be enjoyed freely by people with kidney stones.

South African Heart & Stroke Foundation

Rooibos tea is approved by the South African Heart & Stroke Foundation as part of a healthy eating plan. South Africa Heart and Stroke Foundation logo

http://www.heartfoundation.co.za/

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