Antioxidants

Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow damage to cells caused by free radicals – unstable molecules that the body produces as a reaction to environmental and other pressures.

They are sometimes called “free-radical scavengers.”

Antioxidants are said to help neutralise free radicals in our bodies, and this is thought to boost overall health.

The antioxidants present in Rooibos may help protect against free radical damage that can lead to cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Unfermented (green) Rooibos has a higher amount of polyphenols than traditional fermented Rooibos.

Adele du Toit, spokesperson for the SA Rooibos Council, explains that antioxidants are substances that are not naturally produced in the human body. Instead, they are obtained through consuming brightly coloured fruits, vegetables and in particular, Rooibos tea.