Stellenbosch University’s Rooibos Tea Study Could Herald New Health Benefits for Women

A groundbreaking study conducted by Stellenbosch University has placed the spotlight on a beloved South African herbal tea, rooibos, for its potential health benefits. The research led by Professor Elmarie Terblanche from the Department of Exercise, Sport, and Lifestyle Medicine is particularly focused on women who are overweight or obese and aims to discover how rooibos consumption might affect body composition, inflammation, glycaemic control, and cardiovascular fitness.

Rooibos tea, known for its sweet, earthy taste and rich, reddish-brown color, has long been a cultural staple offering a caffeine-free alternative to conventional teas. Could this native South African tisane also play a role in supporting heart health and aiding weight management?

The study at Stellenbosch University involves two groups undergoing different interventions. One group drinks six cups of rooibos every day for eight weeks, while the other engages in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) without rooibos intake. The research’s first phase has already commenced, targeting women aged 18 to 40. The subsequent phase, set for completion by mid-2025, will center on pre-diabetic or diabetic women over 40.

In understanding why rooibos was chosen for the study, it's notable that rooibos is rich in unique polyphenols with antioxidant properties that have shown promising results in cell cultures and animal models. This study aims to translate those findings from laboratory to real-world human impacts—specifically in adult women.

The study’s uniqueness lies in its consideration of participants' diets. It's a factor not previously coupled with rooibos consumption in other studies. Through rigorous research, the team at Stellenbosch University is examining if a daily regimen of rooibos can offer sustainable health benefits, potentially providing an affordable and straightforward intervention for managing diabetes and cardiovascular disease, especially where traditional treatments are not feasible.

Terblanche's study scrutinizes rooibos in tandem with exercise, while noting the influence of dietary patterns, to yield a broader understanding of the herbal tea's potential as a health intervention. As modern lifestyles contribute to rising obesity and associated diseases like T2D and CVD, this research could illuminate alternatives promoting wellness and disease management. The results might grant rooibos a coveted role in preventative health strategies, emphasizing the need for further focused research to validate the herb’s health-promoting claims conclusively.

Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Longitude: 18.8579

Latitude: -33.9346

Category: Health, Science & Environment

meta_title: Rooibos Tea Health Benefits Explored at Stellenbosch University

meta_description: Discover the ground-breaking research undertaken by Stellenbosch University, highlighting potential health benefits of rooibos tea for women facing obesity and related health conditions such as T2D and CVD.

meta_keywords: rooibos tea benefits, Stellenbosch University, obesity health research, women's health, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, herbal tea study, health interventions, South African rooibos tea, antioxidant rooibos properties, dietary health impacts