BellaSugar

Rooibos – Red, Red Tea

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:30:00 PST

Always on the lookout for a new cup of tea to enjoy, I have recently taken to drinking a cup of rooibos, pronounced Roy-boss, after dinner. Also known as red tea or bush tea, rooibos hails from South Africa and is not really a "tea," but an herbal tisane. High in antioxidants this tisane is a great dessert substitute. It is caffeine free so it won't keep you up past your bedtime, and it is naturally sweet so you don't have to add extra calories in the form of some sweetener like sugar or honey.

The number of health claims is a little overwhelming. It is said to:

Ease irritability, headaches, nervous tension and insomnia.
Act as an anti-spasmodic agent, to relieve stomach cramps and colic in infants.
Can be used to treat hay fever, asthma and eczema.
Slow the aging process when placed directly on the skin.
Boost the immune system.

Unfortunately, the scientific studies of rooibos are limited and the few studies completed do not support the myriad of health claims. Rooibos is, however, high in many essential minerals, like: copper, iron, potassium, calcium, fluoride, zinc, and magnesium. It is also high in alpha-hydroxy, which is why it works on the skin topically.

I drink it for the taste and if it boosts my immune system that would be a great bonus. Numi Mellow Red Rooibos is my favorite because it is organic and fair trade. Do you like rooibos? Tell me in the comments section below.

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Definition: Rooibos Tea

BellaSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:00:14 PST

Rooibos is a naturally-decaffeinated and full-bodied tea that comes from a bright-green needled shrub in South Africa. When the needles are processed they turn red, and in Afrikaans, rooibos actually means red bush.

Not only is rooibos low in tannins, but it has a strong aroma and is one of the most popular drinks in South Africa. In addition to tasting delicious and being an excellent source of antioxidants (it contains higher concentrations than other teas), it can also be used as a toner on your skin to reduce puffiness and redness, especially around your eyes.

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What's Yummy This Week

Susannah Chen — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 03:13:37 PDT

For a fresh start, reach for these Greek yogurt mix-ins.
These nine brews will change your mind about beer.
From rooibos tea to rusks, build your own South African pantry.
Everything you need to know about stir-frying at home.
Take your bread-making skills to the next level by baking your own sourdough at home.
Learn how to make Chipotle's spicy guacamole.
Easy drinking: Redbreast Unblended Irish Whiskey.

Rainbow Cuisine: A South African Primer

Camilla Salem — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:52:00 PDT

The cuisine that hails from South Africa is just as complex and multicultural as the country itself. Known as "rainbow cuisine," indigenous cookery and food from the many settlers in the country make up the broad spectrum of South African dishes. There are influences from as far as Malaysia to the Netherlands, and all come together to form a rich cuisine that is deeply loved. Generally speaking, the cuisine is heavy in meat, spices, and cooked vegetables. Find out some of the most notable and delicious South African foods - from a distinctive spiral sausage called boerewors to dried biscuits, known as rusks, that are dunked in coffee or tea - when you keep reading.

Naturally Sweet Herbal Teas: No Sugar Required

Heather Dale — Tue, 17 May 2011 11:13:48 PDT

Sugar may be able to make something that tastes bitter seem delicious, but aside from that, it can wreak havoc on our bodies.

Many people put spoonfuls of sugar into their morning cups of tea and coffee each day, without even knowing the health risks. There are lots of tips and tricks for decreasing your sugar intake, but one simple solution I've come across is swapping out your normal tea for a naturally sweet herbal tea. Now you can satisfy your sweet tooth without opening up the sugar bowl.

Here are a few of my faves:

All these teas are created from herbs with sweet properties on their own - no sucrose or glucose is needed to sweeten them up. And without having to add heaping spoonfuls of sugar to each one, you'll also be enjoying a calorie-free tea as well.

What is your fave naturally sweet herbal tea?

Ditch the Dippin' Dots For These Favorite Healthy Snacks

Angelica Marden — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:45:29 PDT

When temperatures heat up most of us flock to the movies (or stay indoors where it's air conditioned) for some refreshing down time. Traditional theater and TV snacks like popcorn, candy, ice cream, and chips can wreck your mindful eating habits, so we offered up some simple, nutritious, and satisfying snack ideas recently and asked readers to share their favorites. The suggestions are all scrumptious. If you're headed to see a blockbuster this weekend, pack these reader-tested treats.

Pick something that takes effort: Gabriela Une Vie Saine says, "I love snacking on cherries or pistachios while watching TV. They're more difficult to eat than most finger foods, so I eat them more mindfully!"
Get creative with flavors: Reader tea-bag snacks on roasted cauliflower heads dusted with Stevia and cinnamon! She reports the snack is addicting and "strangely reminiscent of kettle corn!"
Take a sip!: FitSugar Senior Editor Susi May likes to have a big cup of Rooibos tea while watching TV. She says, "It's hot, so I drink it slowly and it's naturally sweet . . . I know tea is not food, but it sure is a good replacement for dessert." If it's hot out, put your tea on ice for an antioxidant-filled treat.
Trade white for green: Andrennabird recommends kale chips. Even her Doritos-loving friend asked for the recipe. Ready to make your own? Try this kale chip recipe.

Need more snack ideas? Check out our Snack Attack: Healthy Snack group.

Source: Flickr User La Grande Farmers' Market

How to Wean Yourself From Caffeine

Susi May — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 04:30:07 PST

Less than a quarter into an early morning solo bike ride this Summer, when the world was just waking up and the roads felt like they were mine and mine alone, I realized I could be home drinking coffee. I had headed out without my morning fix. So I turned around and rode home. That's when I realized I had a problem. My need for caffeine was keeping me from enjoying the simple things of life like two wheeling it on the open road. But I didn't do anything about it until I was invited to a cleansing health retreat months later, The Ranch at Live Oak - four days with no vices, from Internet connection to alcohol, from sugar to caffeine. While I like wine and cookies, living without caffeine seemed unbearable. My one large, super strong cup of joe is what got me out of bed in the morning. Going sans cafe always leaves me with a headache for days.

Instead of going cold turkey at The Ranch, I followed the retreat center's staff recommendation and began to wean myself from the bean. Taking it slow saved me from the headaches and the slight depression I feel when I don't have my java. Quitting caffeine slowly made the process rather painless; here's the month long plan that I followed.