Rooibos Tea – The Healthy Drink
Nettie Mae

Rooibos, or Red Bush Tea as it is also known, is not a true tea but an herb which is indigenous to the Cederburg area of South Africa. Due to its widely publicized health benefits it has grown into a billion dollar export industry since the mid twentieth century.

The tea has no caffeine and only half the tannin of ordinary tea. Apart from being refreshing to drink, in place of ordinary tea and coffee, it has the advantage of containing minerals and powerful antioxidants. Having no oxalic acid it also does not irritate the kidneys.

Japanese scientists, doing studies in the 1960’s, discovered Rooibos contains a powerful antioxidant similar to SOD which is thought to retard aging and quercetin (Q10) which is believed to have potent anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, Rooibos is also found to contain aspalathin which counteracts the atherosclerotic processes that result in heart disease. For these reasons, the Japanese promote it as an Anti-Aging Tea and import large quantities of the tea.

Research done in France found that hair lotion containing Rooibos promoted faster hair growth with improvement in the hair condition and caused no allergic reactions.

In South Africa research found that the polyphenol content in Rooibos is similar to green tea. Polyphenols help protect the body from damage by free radicals.

Rooibos has been found to be helpful with general health problems. It relieves digestive problems, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and constipation. Having a calming effect it helps with irritability, insomnia and depression.

Both pre-natal and breast feeding Mothers can use it to supplement their intake of manganese, calcium and fluoride by drinking Rooibos therefore promote strong teeth and healthy bones in their babies. Rooibos, when applied at every diaper change, can relieve diaper rash and, when drank by the baby, relieves colic.

Preparation of Rooibos is the same as ordinary tea. First warm the tea pot with boiling water and then place one teaspoon of tea or tea bag per cup required in the pot. Pour over boiling water and let infuse for a few minutes. The longer it is left before drinking the more antioxidants the tea will contain. Can be served plain, with hot or cold milk or lemon. It can be lightly sweetened with honey or sugar or just left without any sweetening. Rooibos also makes a wonderful ice tea.

In South Africa Rooibos Tea is often used in day to day cooking as not only does it add important minerals and antioxidants to the diet and help digestion, it also enhances the flavors of the cooking. Just replace the water in a recipe with the tea.

Next time you are in your health shop or in a department store stocking specialty teas, why not pick up a packet and try it out?
About the Author

Sick and tired of being Sick and Tired, Nettie Mae quit her 3rd shift factory job. To see what keeps her going, visit http://www.frutavida4u.com/nettiemae/.

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Hair Nutrition- Diet for Healthy Hair
Marquetta Breslin

If you do not yet feel enough motivated to have a balanced diet then temptation of healthy lustrous hair may convince you for it. Nutritional deficiencies can make the hair stringy, dull and dry.

If your hair loss results from nutritional deficiency, you can bring it under control through adequate nutritional supply. Your hair is sensitive to what you eat. A study based on the effect of crash diets has revealed that people undergoing such diet regime may experience temporary hair loss because of poor nutritional supply.

Zinc plays a vital role in maintaining good hair condition. Its deficiency often results in poor hair growth and considerable hair loss. Similarly, people who prefer to have low or no fat diets also run the risk of hair loss, as essential fatty acids are an important constituent of healthy hair. While biotin has often been marketed to help people suffering from pattern-baldness, any direct relationship between the two is yet to be established. If you feel the problem behind your hair loss is nutritional imbalance, you can consult a dietician for the right suggestion.

Tips for Healthy Hair

1. You may think that harping on a particular nutrient may work wonders on your hair, a wholesome diet is better recommended.
2. Intake of green leafy vegetables and hair friendly spices like turmeric and cumin help you get healthy and lustrous hair.
3. Various fruits in your diet suffice different nutritional needs and keep your hair in good condition.
4. Using fresh coconut paste over the hair and scalp helps to nourish it and makes your hair eye-catching. Going for natural remedies protects the hair from the effects of harsh chemicals as well.

Thus, a balanced nutritious diet and the right eating habits are the two factors that make your hair vibrant and healthy.

About the Author

My name is Marquetta Breslin and I’m a professional hair braider with over 12 years of experiance. I own http://www.braidsbybreslin.com where I sell intructional hair braiding and weave DVDs teaching the world how to braid and weave.

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