Too much booze over holidays? Rooibos to the rescue

After consuming copious amounts of alcohol during the festive season, it might do the majority of the population good to follow the recent trend in the UK, where an increasing number of Brits have swapped booze for healthier beverage options, such as tea, for an entire month, in a new custom called ‘Dry January’.

‘Dry January’ was first registered as a trademark by the UK charity, Alcohol Concern, in 2014, and over

17 000 Britons stopped drinking alcohol that month. A survey found that six months afterwards, more than 72 per cent of them had kept harmful drinking episodes at bay. The concept has also gained traction in the United States, and attempts to get people to rethink their relationship with alcohol.

However, some people believe that home-grown Rooibos could, to a certain extent, lessen the effects of the heavy drinking that is typically associated with the holidays.

Ernest du Toit, director of the SA Rooibos Council says it’s probably not possible to completely reverse the damage caused by heavy drinking, but Rooibos tea is likely to aid in mitigating some of the adverse effects.

“According to scientific research, heavy drinking can increase your risk of serious health problems like liver disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and peptic ulcers, amongst others. At the other end of the scale, knocking back a cup of Rooibos tea will fight inflammation and protect you from chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

“In general, incorporating Rooibos tea into your diet is a good way to maintain health, since it is rich in antioxidants. These vital substances keep the body functioning optimally as they eliminate free radicals that place the cells of the body at risk from being damaged or destroyed,” he said.

Here’s how Rooibos tea counteracts the impact of alcohol:

• Liver function

If you drink more than three to four units of alcohol a day, then it is likely that you will have developed fatty liver disease – the earliest stage of alcohol-related liver disease.

ROOIBOS … encourages proper liver functioning and inhibits fatty liver disease.

• Cancer

Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of seven different cancers, i.e. mouth cancer, pharyngeal cancer (upper throat), oesophageal cancer (food pipe), laryngeal cancer (voice box), breast cancer, bowel cancer and liver cancer.

ROOIBOS … contains powerful antioxidants that fight the free radicals which contribute to the formation of cancer.

• Cardiovascular health

Frequent alcohol consumption can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, raise blood pressure and increase the levels of fats called triglycerides in the body. It can also lead to heart muscle disease, called cardiomyopathy. Binge drinking can cause irregular heart rhythms, called arrhythmia.

The main heart-health promoting compound in Rooibos tea is Chrysoeriol – an antioxidant that helps to prevent and treat vascular disease by inhibiting the migration of smooth muscle cells inside the aorta – a key cause of the narrowing or hardening of the arteries that may lead to a heart attack. Chrysoeriol is also an effective bronchodilator, and helps to lower blood pressure and relieve spasms.

• Diabetes

Heavy drinking can reduce the body’s sensitivity to insulin, which can trigger Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a common side effect of pancreatitis. Alcohol contains lots of calories, which increases your risk of becoming overweight and developing diabetes.

Aspalathin – a unique phenolic compound (an element produced by the plant to help protect itself from negative environmental factors) found only in Rooibos, has been proven to effectively lower raised blood glucose levels and thereby delay and prevent the onset and progression of Type 2 diabetes.

• Insomnia

Alcohol interferes with the brain’s built-in system for regulating a person’s need for sleep. Alcohol disrupts sleep and the quality of sleep is diminished. Additionally, alcohol is a diuretic, which increases your need to go to the bathroom and causes you to wake up more frequently

ROOIBOS … is caffeine-free and keeps your body’s cortisol levels (stress hormones) in check, therefore it will soothe and ease nervous tension, thereby promoting a good night’s rest.

• Ulcers

Excessive drinking can cause ulcers in the oesophagus, acid reflux and heartburn. Stomach ulcers and inflammation of the stomach lining can also occur.

Quercetin is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant plant pigment or flavonoid found in Rooibos. It’s used to treat various conditions including peptic ulcers.

Ernest explained that while moderate drinking (no more than one glass of red wine a day) could protect some people against heart disease, scientists aren’t sure if those healthy effects come from red wine or from other good lifestyle choices that light drinkers make, since a healthy diet and exercise provide many similar benefits. By contrast, the health advantages of Rooibos tea have been found to be conclusive.

“Rooibos tea can be enjoyed by everyone and in many different guises. In fact, people living with existing heart conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes, a history of stroke or high cholesterol are encouraged to drink Rooibos tea as a way to better manage their condition, along with making other lifestyle changes. Swapping alcohol for a cup of Rooibos might just be the best New Year’s resolution you can make,” concluded Ernest.

For more information about the advantages of drinking Rooibos tea, visit www.sarooibos.co.za or share your experience with Rooibos tea on https://www.facebook.com/rooiboscouncil/.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 693 3671.

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