Are you ready for the summer solstice? It's a special day that we share with all people living in the northern hemisphere. Honoring the summer solstice stretches back for millennia, far before the emergence of religions, agriculture and many other hallmarks of human cultural development. Humans during the Neolithic period famously celebrated the solstice. Food and drink have figured into solstice celebrations for a long time, and that includes tea-especially herbal teas. In China, the summer solstice figures into the Chinese calendar. Let’s all honor this special day. One smart move-set the alarm and watch that sun rise in the eastern horizon! It’s always stirring-but especially so on the solstice.We so appreciate the summer solstice that we crafted our own bespoke blend to honor the celestial event. The delicious blend celebrates sunny colors, through fruits like mango, orange and pineapple. Strawberry and apple deliver additional flavor components to the tea. As catching the sunrise on the solstice counts as a highly recommended activity, we can’t resist sipping our pungent, spice-packed Sunrise Chai as soon as we climb out of bed. This glorious blend covers a lot of botanical bases: black tea, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, clove, cardamom, fennel, black pepper and cayenne. That lineup delivers a quite a wallop of flavor-perfect for rousing a sleepy brain for a morning appointment with the rising sun. The combination also provides health benefits that help foster conditions like weight loss and skin health, while introducing anti-inflammatory qualities.One classic summer treat? Fresh blueberries. We love them baked into crisps, cobblers and pies, sprinkled atop bowls of granola or cereal, churned into ice cream and incorporated into cornbread muffins. They’re simply grand. This black-tea-based blend revels in flavor, with additions of ginger, calendula, cornflower and cocoa nibs. What a spectacle of summer! This beauty is ideal for sinking into the solstice-and it’s just as wonderful sipped hot as iced. One rooibos tea health benefit is that it’s completely caffeine-free making it enjoyable for most people - even before bed. When the leaves are harvested, they are green. After being handled, dried, and bruised, the leaves transform into their signature reddish-brown color, which also helps enhance the flavor. This beautiful plant is native to the Cederberg region in the Western Cape province of South Africa. For centuries, this tea has been used as a natural remedy and beverage all over Africa. Only recently has it started to gain in popularity around the world.The people of Africa have used rooibos as a natural herbal remedy for centuries. Today, we know this unique plant has specific science-backed health benefits ranging from reduced inflammation to weight management. Did you know that your teaware can have a powerful effect on the nutrient composition of your tea? Teas are always responsibly sourced and teaware is made with pure, chemical-free borosilicate glass. They are also taking on the disposable cup and teabag industries by offering sustainable solutions that make the world a better place. Bring out the best rooibos tea health benefits with teaware that elevates each mindful moment.Disclaimer: *The information provided in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention.
Why Doctors Are Talking About Rooibos Tea (Hidden Health Benefits)
Discovering Rooibos Tea
Rooibos tea health benefits will give an incredible boost to your health and wellness. If you want to learn more about some of the best rooibos teas and blends. Rooibos isn’t actually a real tea. By definition, for a tea to be a true tea, it needs to be harvested from the Camellia sinensis plant. Rooibos tea is harvested from Aspalathus linearis - a plant that is native to South Africa. Rooibos translates to “red bush” in Afrikaans.Health Benefits of Rooibos Tea
Here are some of the science-backed health benefits of Rooibos tea:- Antioxidant Properties: Rooibos tea contains antioxidants that may help stop free radicals from damaging the cells in your body. This may make you less susceptible to disease and sickness. Aspalathin is the most prominent flavonoid in rooibos tea. It has been shown to help reverse hepatic insulin resistance which may help lower blood glucose levels. Quercetin is another flavonoid that gives fruits and flowers their color and is linked to other rooibos tea health benefits. You can also drink green rooibos tea - the least-handled form of this tea plant. One green rooibos tea health benefit is that it’s higher in antioxidants than its red counterpart.
- Blood Pressure Regulation: Anguitensin-converting enzymes (ACE) cause blood pressure to rise. One study showed one rooibos tea health benefit may be that it helps restrain ACE about 30 to 60 minutes after you drink it.
- Weight Management: If you’re trying to lose weight or maintain your weight, you may want to consider adding rooibos tea to your diet. One study found that drinking fermented or red rooibos tea may help increase levels of leptin.
- Diabetes Prevention: One rooibos tea health benefit may include helping protect against diabetes, but more human studies are needed. One study showed a significant improvement in blood glucose levels for rodent subjects treated with a rooibos extract compound.
- Potential Cancer Prevention: More studies are needed to confirm this rooibos tea health benefit, but a few studies show specific antioxidants may prevent tumor growth or even kill cancer cells. Quercetin and luteolin found in green rooibos tea had great success in these test tube studies.
- Skin Health: This rooibos health benefit is a little more unique in that the study referenced didn’t use tea as a beverage - it was used as a topical application. The study compared herbal extracts such as soybean, ginkgo, and tea mixed with rooibos.
- Digestive Aid: No significant studies point to rooibos tea health benefits specifically for aiding digestion. But, rooibos has been commonly used as an herbal remedy to alleviate stomach cramps, soothe your tummy, and help with IBS.
- Caffeine-Free: Did you know that decaffeinated teas still have trace amounts of caffeine that may disrupt your sleep cycle? Rooibos tea is 100% caffeine-free so you can enjoy it any time of the day or night.
Precautions
Rooibos tea is indeed a wonderful herbal tea for most people - but, it’s good to address who this tea may not be good for. If you are hormone-sensitive - especially to estrogen - you may want to stay away from rooibos tea. If you are undergoing cancer treatment or chemotherapy touch base with your doctor as rooibos tea might interfere with certain medications or treatments.Choosing Quality Rooibos Tea
Rooibos tea health benefits are plentiful.| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Antioxidant Properties | Helps protect cells from damage by free radicals |
| Blood Pressure Regulation | May help restrain ACE, reducing blood pressure |
| Weight Management | May increase levels of leptin, aiding in weight management |
| Diabetes Prevention | Potential to improve blood glucose levels |
| Potential Cancer Prevention | Antioxidants may prevent tumor growth |
| Skin Health | Topical application may benefit skin health |
| Digestive Aid | Commonly used to alleviate stomach cramps and IBS |
| Caffeine-Free | Can be enjoyed any time of the day or night |
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