Tips on boosting your immune system: Rooibos

Red cappuccino. So good. And good for you too!

Nutrition and boosting your immune system are top of mind for everyone at the moment in an effort to stay as healthy as possible against COVID-19. And beverages can be a great way to help you do this by getting some extra antioxidants into your diet. Until further studies have been done, we don’t know whether nutrition plays a role in helping people to prevent or recover from COVID-19. But we do know that good nutrition has so many benefits for your body including better immune functioning which may help to prevent you from getting colds and flu (amongst other things), and helping the body to heal from any trauma. So making the choice to focus on better nutrition at this time seems like a good idea.

We’ve been asked if our rooibos tea can help to boost the immune system and just how much is the right amount to drink every day. So we thought we would share our advice here with you too:

What the science says

Rooibos tea contains a unique powerful antioxidant called Aspalathin. Antioxidants fight free radicals in the body that are natural by-products of oxidation and which weaken the body’s natural defences. This can lead to premature ageing, the decline of the immune system and the onset of diseases such as heart disease; all of which are exacerbated by stress, smoking, poor diet and pollution. 

Antioxidants are measured in ORAC’s (Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity) and their ORAC value is a single number that reflects a food’s ability to reduce free radicals in the body. A 60ml double shot of red espresso® rooibos meets a significant part of the ideal ORAC requirement for your day – with 4720 protective ORACS per 60ml double shot. 

An antioxidant powerhouse

As researched by the Antioxidant Research Unit at INFRUITEC, one 60ml shot of red espresso® rooibos has the same amount of antioxidants as 5 cups of green tea, 1 cup of blueberries, 6 cups of beetroot juice or 20 cups of carrot juice. It also has 10 X more antioxidants than traditionally brewed rooibos tea (per ORAC measurements) due to its patented grind and espresso method of preparation which means the health benefits of rooibos are concentrated tenfold in a 60ml shot.

The miracle tea?

In addition to being filled to the brim with immune-boosting antioxidants, there are many more reasons to be drinking rooibos. And when added to steamed milk for a red cappuccino®, you are doing so much more for your body than simply reducing your caffeine intake. 

Here’s a list of 10 super health benefits we bet you didn’t know you were getting when you drink a red cappuccino®:

1. It has a soothing effect on the central nervous system and is highly recommended for people suffering from irritability, headaches, disturbed sleep patterns, insomnia, nervous tension, mild depression or hypertension. 
2. It boosts the immune system and may help to fight infection
3. It is age defying
4. It has anti-carcinogenic properties (red espresso® rooibos has been endorsed as a CANSA Smart Choice product since 2015)
5. It has anti-spasmodic properties and can be used to relieve stomach cramps. It also aids digestion and relieves heartburn, ulcers and constipation
6. It contains zinc and alpha hydroxy acid which helps to promote a healthy skin
7. It has anti-allergenic properties that reduce the effects of allergies such as hay fever and eczema. 
8. It is believed to help the respiratory system and reduce the effects of asthma
9. It has a low tannin content, so is not bitter-tasting like other teas. This also means that absorption of iron and proteins into the body is less affected, making it particularly good for pregnant women and people who are anaemic
10. It contains no oxalic acid (a toxic acid found in certain plants) and is therefore a good choice for those prone to kidney stones

Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free and suitable for the whole family to enjoy, including children, pregnant and breastfeeding moms and the elderly. Buy online direct from red espresso®