Skip to Content Skip to Navigation Accessibility Policy Click to login to your Account
Get $25 off when you stock up on 4 or more wellness favorites Shop Now
Shop All
Featured New Arrivals Subscribe & Save Deals of the Week Build Your Own Bundle
Shop by Category Coffee Mix-Ins MCT Oil Supplements Collagen Protein Bars On-The-Go
Not Sure Where to Start?
Not Sure Where to Start?
Take our quiz to get product recommendations tailor-made for your wellness goals. Plus, score 20% off! Take the Quiz
Shop All Products
Best Sellers
Coffee The Original Ground Coffee The High Achiever™ Enhanced Coffee The Original Coffee Pods
Supplements Greens Vitamins A-D-K Apple Cider Vinegar Max Gummies Sleep Gummies
Mix-Ins Bulletproof Original Creamer Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil Unflavored Collagen Peptides InnerFuel Prebiotic
Create Your Custom Bundle
Build Your Own Bundle
Save up to 20% when you stock up on your go-to product or mix and match all your Bulletproof favorites. Bundle & Save
Shop All Best Sellers
Coffee
Shop by Form Ground Coffee Whole Bean Coffee Coffee Pods
Shop by Roast Light Roast Coffee Medium Roast Coffee Medium-Dark Roast Coffee Dark Roast Coffee
Enhanced Coffee The High Achiever™ The Maximizer™ New The Original + Collagen Coffee Pods New Keto Coffee Pods
The Maximizer™
The Bulletproof difference
Make your morning routine work harder with premium coffee plus metabolism and gut health support. Shop Now
Shop All Coffee
Supplements
Shop by Form Capsules & Softgels Gummy Vitamins Powders
Shop by Benefit Daily Wellness Immune Support Stress & Sleep Gut & Digestive Health Energy Support Brain Health Bone & Joint Support
Your Wellness, Your Way
Save 20% with the Daily Wellness Bundle
Create your custom supplement bundle, and save on everything you need to feel your best. Bundle & Save
Shop All Supplements
MCT Oil
MCT Oil Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil MCT Oil
Products with MCT Oil Brain Octane Softgels CoQ10 Energy Apple Cider Vinegar Max Gummies Energy Gummies Coffee Creamer Keto Coffee Pods Bulletproof Starter Kit
What is MCT Oil?
What are MCT Oils?
Learn more about the quality fat that supports sustained energy, boosts metabolism and provides brain fuel.† Learn More
Shop All MCT Oil
Mix-Ins
Coffee Creamer Original French Vanilla Hazelnut
Quality Fats Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil MCT Oil Grass-Fed Ghee
Powders Unflavored Collagen Energy Collagen InnerFuel Prebiotic Greens
Build Your Perfect Cup
Save 20% On Your Custom Coffee Routine
Save up to 20% on everything you need to make Bulletproof Coffee when you build your own bundle. Bundle & Save
Shop All Mix-Ins
Collagen
Collagen Peptides Unflavored Chocolate Vanilla
Collagen Plus Support Gut Health Energy Sleep Immune Defense
Products with Collagen The Original + Collagen Coffee Pods New Collagen Protein Bars Collagelatin
What is Collagen?
What is Collagen?
Learn more about this amino acid rich protein that helps support glowing skin, flexible joints and strong bones.† Learn More
Shop All Collagen
Protein Bars
Collagen Protein Bars Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Vanilla Shortbread Fudge Brownie Lemon Cookie
Protein Crisp Bars Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Coconut Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel Chocolate Mint Chip
Bundle Your Favorite Bars
Bundle Your Favorite Bars & Save 20%
Can’t choose just one? Get all your favorites and save up to 20% when you build your own bundle. Bundle & Save
Shop All Protein Bars
About
Company Our Story Contact Us Store Locator Accessories & Apparel
Learn The Bulletproof Diet Books Recipes Blog
Online Exclusives Subscribe & Save 20% Earn Bulletproof Rewards Become An Ambassador
The Recipe That Made Us Famous
Bulletproof Coffee Recipe
What exactly is Bulletproof Coffee? How do you make it? Get the answers to all your butter coffee questions. Learn More
Learn More
Deals
Bundle & Save Build a Bundle (Save 20%) Starter Kits (Save 10%)
Ways to Save Subscribe & Save 20% Give $15, Get $15 Earn Bulletproof Rewards Sign Up For Email & SMS Free Shipping Orders $49+ & Subscriptions*
All Benefits. No Hassles.
Current activation
Subscribe to your favorite products and never run out, get 20% off every order, change or cancel anytime and get 10% off order add-ons. Subscribe & Save
Shop All Deals
Subscribe & Save 20% Learn More Search Account Cart
Search

Share

product
https://www.bulletproof.com/diet-articles/superfoods/rooibos-tea-benefits-weight-loss/ article-22602 Rooibos Tea Benefits Weight Management, Plus 9 Other Reasons to Drink It https://www.bulletproof.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Rooibos-Tea-_header-300x160.jpg 1 USD InStock SuperFoods Beverage Tea article
Home / Diet / SuperFoods
|August 7, 2023

Rooibos Tea Benefits Weight Management, Plus 9 Other Reasons to Drink It

By Emily Mahler
Reviewed by Emily Gonzalez, ND for Scientific Accuracy

Rooibos Tea Benefits Weight Management, Plus 9 Other Reasons to Drink It

  • The benefits of rooibos tea include soothing an upset stomach, promoting better sleep and adding a delicious dose of antioxidants to your diet.
  • Native to South Africa, rooibos has been used to relieve eczema, allergies, babies with colic and insomnia for hundreds of years.
  • Keep reading to learn about the benefits of this low-tannin, caffeine-free tea.

Introducing rooibos (pronounced “ROY-boss”), one of the hottest teas to drink right now.

An herbal tea from South Africa, rooibos is a delicious, caffeine-free way to upgrade your tea habit. While other teas have an acquired taste, rooibos tea has a sweet, mild flavor profile with notes of honey and vanilla. The red beverage is one of the most palate-pleasing types of tea. In addition to the flavor, the tea is packed with health benefits that will earn it a space in your morning (or evening) routine.

Traditionally South Africans have used rooibos not only as a drink, but also for stomach and digestive issues.[1]

Rooibos’ high antioxidant content and flavonoids show much promise in helping to protect the body.[2] Rooibos tea may even help with weight management.

Read on to learn more about the benefits of rooibos tea and how to brew it.

Feel more like yourself in 30 Days. Try our FREE 30 Day Upgrade.

What is rooibos tea and what does it taste like?

Loose rooibos tea leaves

Rooibos tea comes from the shrub aspalathus linearis, and isn’t actually a true tea — it’s an herb with long, needle-like leaves. When it is harvested and dried, rooibos is brewed into a reddish-brown, caffeine-free, herbal infusion also known as African red tea or red bush tea. The plant is cut by hand and then bruised to encourage oxidation, which generates the rich color and flavor. As it oxidizes, rooibos becomes redder and sweeter.

It has a mild, aromatic taste that is sweet and fruity with hints of vanilla and honey. You can drink it just as you would black or green tea — plain, with lemon and sweetener, as a creamy latte or with butter as a caffeine-free substitute for Bulletproof Coffee.

In the late 1990s, tea distributors began offering green rooibos tea, a less oxidized type of rooibos. This green version has double the number of antioxidants than red rooibos and offers a more mineral, grassy flavor.[3]

Try: CBD Rooibos Tea Latte Recipe

The benefits of rooibos tea

Cup of rooibos tea

Boosts antioxidant levels in the body

Rooibos gives you a delicious dose of antioxidants. Antioxidants clean up the harmful free radicals that can damage cells.

Research shows that drinking rooibos tea helps regulate glutathione metabolism in the body.[4]The most prevalent antioxidant in the body and certainly one of the most powerful, glutathione has been shown to protect against toxins, free radicals and pathogens. Think of it as your body’s own natural detoxifier..[5]

Aspalathin — found only in rooibos tea — and nothofagin are two powerful antioxidants that have been shown to have beneficial properties.[6][7]

May improve blood pressure and circulation

Rooibos may provide some cardio protection.[8] A study involving 17 healthy volunteers took a look at the effects that different teas had on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), an enzyme located in the inner layer of blood vessels that causes blood vessels to shrink, thus increasing blood pressure. The study found that one hour after people drank 13.5 ounces of rooibos tea, ACE levels went down, lowering participants’ blood pressure.[9]

Promotes healthy cholesterol

Another study over a six-week period showed that drinking six cups of rooibos tea daily significantly increased levels of polyphenols. These are plant compounds with vital antioxidant properties which increase HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol repairs the walls of your blood vessels and acts as a scavenger. It collects idle or unused LDL cholesterol in your bloodstream and routes it back to your liver for dispatch. This study showed participants’ LDL markers went down, potentially because the HDL was doing such a great job.[10]

More Diet Tips From Bulletproof

inside of a fridge with health keto foods
Keto Meal Plan
10 Keto Snacks to Make Today
display of green vegetables
High Protein Foods to Work into Your Diet
bulletproof unflavored collagen peptides
Types of Collagen: What They Are & What’s Best For You

Aids in weight management

Low calorie and naturally sweet, rooibos tea can be a great addition to your beverage choices while trying to lose weight.

Research suggests that aspalathin, an active ingredient in rooibos tea, helps reduce stress hormones that trigger hunger and fat storage. Data from this study showed that rooibos tea has the potential for preventing obesity by affecting the balance of energy and how it’s used as energy or stored as fat.[11]

To get the most out of aspalathin, choose green rooibos over red.[12]

Related: Find out how to stay at a healthy weight with the keto diet.

Aids digestion

In a study using rabbits and mice, results showed that rooibos tea benefits the digestive system by reducing loose stools, calming muscle spasms in the stomach and decreasing gastric secretions. The presence of flavonoids such as quercetin, luteolin and others are thought to be the reasons for the beneficial effects on the GI system.[13]

Calms colicky babies

In 1968, Annetjie Theron was a South African mother who was struggling with a colicky infant. She discovered that a rooibos tea infusion calmed her baby of chronic colic and allergies. She studied the benefits of rooibos tea and eventually went on to create her own products using Rooibos extract.[14]

May support bone health

The variety of polyphenols in rooibos tea has been shown to improve osteoblast activity (aka cells that develop bones).[15]

The flavonoids orientin and luteolin were specifically studied on bone cells and showed an increased level of bone growth and mitochondrial activity. These flavonoids enhanced the mineral content of the bone cells used in the study, suggesting that rooibos tea had an overall improvement in bone growth.[16]

Rooibos tea side effects

Rooibos has multiple benefits, but as with anything you add to your diet, some people can experience side effects. Be mindful of how you feel after adding rooibos to your diet. If you’re concerned, consult your healthcare provider before using rooibos regularly.

How to make rooibos tea

Person pouring water over tea leaves

Ingredients:

  • 1 tsp. or tea bag of rooibos tea
  • 8 oz. water

Instructions:

  1. Boil your water and pour over the tea. Infuse for 5-15 minutes, covered.
  2. Add a sweetener such as raw honey or stevia to taste.

You can also make it a part of your Bulletproof intermittent fast by adding grass-fed butter and Brain Octane MCT oil. It blends well with vanilla, chocolate or citrus flavors.

Try: Rooibos Chai Tea Latte Recipe

More than just a caffeine-free way to hydrate, rooibos tea delivers a long list of health benefits in every sip. Its antioxidant benefits and other healthful properties make a cup of warm, naturally flavorful rooibos tea something you should add to your daily routine.

Feel more like yourself in 30 Days. Try our FREE 30 Day Upgrade.
This is an updated version of an article originally published August 2018.

Statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Products sold on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information provided by this website or this company is not a substitute for direct, individual medical treatment or advice. It is the responsibility of you and your healthcare providers to make all decisions regarding your health. Bulletproof recommends that you consult with your healthcare providers regarding the diagnosis and treatment of any disease or condition.

About Emily Mahler

Emily Mahler is a wife and mother who has a passion for holistic wellness and educating others. She is an essential oil enthusiast (a Certified Essential Oil Coach through AADP) who loves listening to podcasts about becoming the best version of herself. When there is free-time, she enjoys being with her family and spending time on self-development.

References

[1] https://wa.kaiserpermanente.org/kbase/topic.jhtml?docId=hn-3...
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3866779/
[3] https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf0347721
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3897768/
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6522248/
[6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367326X1...
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25655391
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5003124/
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20144258
[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20833235
[11] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S094471131...
[12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23218401
[13] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1742-7843...
[14] https://www.rooibosproductssouthafrica.co.za/our-story
[15] http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2016/fo/c5fo01...
[16] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mnfr.2014005...

TAGS

BeverageTea

Related Bulletproof Diet Tips

inside of a fridge with health keto foods
Keto Meal Plan
10 Keto Snacks to Make Today
display of green vegetables
High Protein Foods to Work into Your Diet
bulletproof unflavored collagen peptides
Types of Collagen: What They Are & What’s Best For You
Sign up today & save 15%
SHOP
  • Coffee
  • Mix-Ins
  • MCT Oils
  • Supplements
  • Collagen
  • Protein Bars
  • All Products
Learn
  • Bulletproof for Beginners
  • Recipes
  • Newsletters & Guides
  • Bulletproof Blog
  • Books
CUSTOMER CARE
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
  • Shipping Policy
  • Return Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
COMPANY
  • About Us
  • Press
  • Careers
  • Customer Reviews
  • Rewards
  • Give $15, Get $15
PARTNERS
  • Store Locator
  • Wholesale
  • Ambassador Program
  • Affiliate Program
Discover What Better Feels Like
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

†Statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information provided by this website or this company is not a substitute for individual medical advice. | ©Bulletproof 360, Inc. 2013–2023

  • Privacy Policy|
  • Terms|
  • Reseller Policy|