Mom-to-be

Rooibos is not only good for the baby but mom as well. It contains calcium and magnesium and high amounts of antioxidants that benefit both of you. It also helps with digestion, prevents acid reflux, soothes the body’s reactions to allergens, and prevents constipation, alongside a number of other benefits of particular value to women during pregnancy.

Rooibos is bump-friendly

Moms-to-be have to be a bit careful about what they drink and are advised to limit their daily intake of caffeine to about 200 milligrams - about the same as 2 mugs of instant coffee. That’s because high levels of caffeine are not good for the baby. They can result in a low birth weight, which can increase the risk of health problems in later life.

Rooibos, however, is caffeine-free and good for the baby before you welcome them into the world. It’s also beneficial in their first few months – Rooibos is a safe and natural remedy for treating colic in babies. The antispasmodic properties help calm your baby’s stomach and ease stomach cramps.

Born to run

Kids never sit still for long – so it’s important to keep them hydrated. Iced Rooibos is a great way to do this. The only problem is that regular tea is full of caffeine and kids are buzzed up enough already (especially at Christmas!). Ice tea mixes and other soft drinks are also less than ideal – they tend to be loaded with sugar (and artificial additives).

Sugar gives them an extra rush of energy, which is not always welcomed by older members of the family or guests. Then they get the post-caffeine, post-sugar crash – great for producing temper tantrums. Sugar also rots their teeth and piles on the weight (they’re likely getting enough from all those Christmas chocolates, cakes and cookies so adding even more is a really bad idea). Rooibos is naturally sweet enough, despite having zero sugar, so totally kid-friendly. Give them Rooibos and you get a gold star for being a responsible parent!

Mid-life brew

Consuming a lot of caffeine and sugar over the course of your adult life has its downsides – it can mess up your sleep patterns, give you the shakes, raise your blood pressure and pile on the weight, to name but a few. But that’s not the only reason Rooibos drinking is a healthy habit to get into.

Rooibos is a rich source of antioxidants that research suggests can help protect you against a variety of conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer as well as boosting your immune system. These antioxidants also suppress the production of cortisol, a stress hormone. This feature of Rooibos, alongside the fact it is caffeine-free, helps calm your system. This alone is highly beneficial – too much stress is definitely bad for you (and the way life is at the moment we’re definitely getting more of it than we need!).

LongeviTEA

Aging is unavoidable, but Rooibos can help slow the process. It’s a source of calcium, magnesium and potassium, as well as the rare antioxidants Aspalathin and Nothofagin. These antioxidants suppress oxidative stress of the type which some studies believe may lead to diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Some research even suggests it protects your skin and may slow the development of wrinkles.