Rooibos Tea - Nature's Powerhouse for the Skin

Rooibos tea is made from the leaves of the Aspalathus Linearis (or "red bush") plant, which grows only in the small Cederberg region of South Africa. Because it does not derive from the Camillia sinensis plant (like black, white, green or oolong teas), rooibos tea is considered more of an herbal drink or tisane than a "true" tea. Rooibos Tea contains 30 times the antioxidants found in Green Tea!

Because it's packed with many antioxidants and minerals, rooibos ("red bush") tea is an extremely healthy choice for all tea drinkers. Aside from its ability to fight cancer, depression and asthma, drinking rooibos tea also has a more cosmetic benefit: it promotes healthier skin. Not only will you feel good if you drink rooibos tea, your skin will also look good. A few of the reasons that rooibos gives you healthier skin are:

Help for eczema and acne - Studies have shown that rooibos tea helps to treat various skin disorders, including eczema and acne. People with acne have reported that both drinking the tea and applying it to their skin helped to decrease their amount of facial eruptions. Though studies are still underway to determine what exactly is in rooibos tea that helps the skin recover from these disorders, scientists believe that it may be the tea's high level of flavonoids, which encourage the body to destroy unwanted pathogens. Whatever the exact reason, rooibos tea clearly contributes to healthier skin for those suffering from common skin disorders.

Anti-aging - Rooibos tea is rich with the enzyme superoxide dismutase. Though the enzyme's name sounds complex, what it does is for skin is simple: it is an excellent anti-aging substance. Superoxide dismutase is necessary for the production of healthy skin-producing cells, and high levels of the enzyme guarantee healthier skin for rooibos drinkers. Superoxide dismutase also fights wrinkles by neutralizing the free radicals that cause them, which is wonderful for those who want to slow the aging process. Now that they have recognized the anti-aging ability of rooibos tea, scientists are beginning to develop more anti-aging products from rooibos tea leaves. Though the field is still young, rooibos tea skin care products are an exciting intervention in the anti-aging product line.

Hypoallergenic and Antibacterial - Another benefit of rooibos tea as it relates to healthier skin is that it is hypoallergenic. This is a promising characteristic in the skin care world because it allows scientists to develop a number of skin care and cosmetic products that are naturally suitable for all skin types. The tea's antibacterial nature is one more advantage, as it can treat and alleviate bacterial infections on the skin.

On top of all these skin care benefits, rooibos tea also has high levels of many minerals and vitamins that promote healthy skin, especially zinc and vitamin D. While there is much more to explore with rooibos tea and skin care, you can start reaping the benefits right now by becoming a regular rooibos tea drinker. There are some amazing blends of Rooibos Tea out there both in loose and bagged form. My personal favorite is Rooibos Chai.

With Sweet Goodness,

Shermaine

*info from rooibostea.com