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Who doesn’t want to look and feel their best? Anyone with a little knowledge about skin care will tell you that the best way to keep your complexion clear and radiant is to keep your skin healthy. Everybody’s skin is different and may require different care – if you’re struggling with a specific skin care concern, the most effective course of action is going to be scheduling a consultation with your doctor or a dermatologist to address it. But if you’re looking for things that you can do today to keep your skin looking and feeling great, I have good news for you: rooibos tea could be the answer.
Rooibos tea (pronounced roy-boss) is an herbal tea that comes in two varieties. Red rooibos tea comes from the fermented leaves of the Aspalathus linearis shrub. The name “rooibos” means “red bush,” referring to this plant, which is native to South Africa. Unfermented rooibos tea is called green rooibos, and it’s also widely available.
Red or green, rooibos tea is popular around the world due to its distinct sweet and earthy flavor. As an herbal tea, it’s also a great caffeine-free alternative to green and black tea that doesn’t sacrifice on flavor.
But what does rooibos tea have to do with skin care? Rooibos tea benefits skin in a few different ways, and in this article we’ll be covering everything you need to know, including:
That’s a lot to cover, so without further ado, let’s get started.
Rooibos tea, like many types of tea, boasts a number of health benefits. But why does it have a reputation for benefiting the skin? And why do we hear so much about the anti-aging benefits of rooibos tea specifically? Here are some ways that rooibos tea may keep your skin looking its best.
First, rooibos tea is packed with antioxidants, which are important compounds for beauty as well as overall health. Antioxidants like the ones found in rooibos tea help stop harmful compounds called free radicals from damaging the cells in the body.
This could be good news for cells throughout the body – researchers are investigating whether or not antioxidants can improve health, including potentially cutting the risk of cancer.
Antioxidants are also often included in a skincare routine.
Rooibos tea also contains a number of helpful minerals, like calcium, manganese, fluoride, and zinc. Zinc in particular should be of interest to anyone looking to enjoy some extra skin benefits because zinc heals wounds, protects against UV rays, and has anti-inflammatory properties that may help keep your skin looking its best.
The potential beauty benefits of rooibos tea don’t stop there. Rooibos contains the flavonoid chrysoeriol, which has been linked to increased blood flow. Better circulation helps blood carry nutrients to the skin and throughout the body, and it may even help you maintain a rosy glow.
Rooibos isn’t simply a beauty tea or a delicious treat. Researchers have long been interested in the potential health benefits of tea, and in the benefits of rooibos tea specifically. Studies have shown that rooibos actually offers a number of benefits to drinkers, including:
Tannins are naturally occurring compounds that, despite being present in common foods like wine and other types of tea, can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb iron into the bloodstream. Since green tea and black tea both contain tannins, the low tannin content of rooibos tea can be a big benefit, especially for people with iron deficiency.
Iron is an important compound in cardiovascular health, and as we already discussed rooibos can also help increase circulation. It’s no surprise then that studies have shown that rooibos tea may provide measurable cardiovascular benefits, like keeping cholesterol in check.
Research has found that the antioxidants in rooibos tea also help manage diabetes by reducing the risk of vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, which can cause heart damage.
Not only is rooibos a tasty, calorie-free alternative to other beverages like juices and soft drinks, it may also increase levels of a weight management hormone in the body called leptin. Leptin helps regulate food intake.
As you can see, the potential benefits of rooibos tea are much more than skin deep.
Rooibos isn’t the only tea out there with a reputation for keeping the skin looking young and healthy. Here are a few common teas, as well as the skin care benefit they are most often associated with:
Some of these types of tea are quite popular, so you may even have them in your cabinet already. So next time you want to treat yourself to a nice night of self care in the form of skin care, put on your favorite mask, draw a nice bath, and pour yourself a cup of one of these tasty tea options that’s packed with skin benefits.
There you have it – the ways that rooibos tea benefits the skin (and as a bonus, the rest of the body too). So next time you’re thinking about making a nice cup of tea, consider making it rooibos. Your body will thank you!
