Rooibos tea

From YenraWiki

Rooibos (Aspalanthus linearis) in the pea family (Fabaceae) is a popular beverage from South Africa. The name comes from the local Afrikaans name for "red bush," referring to the red-auburn color of the plant material, which changes after it is harvested and allowed to ferment. The pleasant-tasting red-colored beverage is high in antioxidant compounds, which have been shown to be beneficial for cardiovascular health, among other benefits. Rooibos does not contain any natural levels of caffeine.

The first human clinical trial on a popular traditional South African herbal tea made from rooibos was recently conducted, testing whether the tea can possibly lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The new trial also generated the first human safety data in a controlled clinical trial environment, showing that short-term consumption of rooibos tea is safe for the liver and kidneys while keeping various blood parameters (e.g., blood pressure, cholesterol levels, etc.) in a normal range.

Provisional results from this study indicate that rooibos tea protects the body against oxidative damage, as seen by the approximate 21% decrease in conjugated dienes in the blood.

The clinical trial design and some of its initial results were announced in a presentation by Dr. Marnewick at the World Tea Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada in May 2008.