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Dr. Grey AI

Supplement

Rooibos

Rooibos is a caffeine-free herbal tea from a South African shrub, rich in polyphenols that act as antioxidants. People look at it for heart and metabolic health, and the evidence is limited: one small study of 15 adults found HDL, the good cholesterol, improved. Blood glucose results were mixed and blood pressure showed no clear difference in these tiny studies.

Sources: PMID 20833235

Best evidence
Grade C
Conditions studied
4
Outcomes
18
Graded outcomes
0031

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

4 conditions

Metabolic Health

Metabolic Health: outcomes studied for Rooibos
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

Small Improvement

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect1 study15 people

Studies that measured high-density lipoprotein (hdl)

Blood glucose

Mixed effect

15 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves (the measure goes down)15 people
Oxidative Stress BiomarkersImproves (the measure goes down)27 people
Total cholesterolImproves (the measure goes down)15 people
TriglyceridesImproves (the measure goes down)15 people
Uric AcidImproves (the measure goes down)15 people

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular Disease: outcomes studied for Rooibos
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood glucose

Mixed effect

40 people
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves (the measure goes up)1 study40 people

Studies that measured high-density lipoprotein (hdl)

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)Improves (the measure goes down)40 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves (the measure goes down)40 people
Oxidative Stress BiomarkersImproves (the measure goes down)40 people
Total cholesterolImproves (the measure goes down)40 people
TriglyceridesImproves (the measure goes down)40 people

General Cardiovascular Health

  • Blood Pressure
  • Heart Rate: improves
  • Nitric Oxide: improves
General Cardiovascular Health: outcomes studied for Rooibos
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood Pressure

No effect

NoneNo effect17 people
Heart RateImproves (the measure goes down)1 study17 people

Studies that measured heart rate

Nitric OxideImproves (the measure goes up)17 people

Dehydration

  • Hydration (Total Body Water): improves
Dehydration: outcomes studied for Rooibos
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Hydration (Total Body Water)Improves (the measure goes up)1 study23 people

Studies that measured hydration (total body water)

Key findings

  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Metabolic HealthImproves (the measure goes up)
  • Blood glucoseMetabolic Health
  • Blood Pressure

Shop Rooibos

Third-party tested Rooibos products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.

  • Grade C

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Studies cited

3 studies from PubMed

  1. Effects of rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) on oxidative stress and biochemical parameters in adults at risk for cardiovascular diseaseJ Ethnopharmacol · PMID 20833235
  2. Effects of green tea, black tea and Rooibos tea on angiotensin-converting enzyme and nitric oxide in healthy volunteersPublic Health Nutr · PMID 20144258
  3. Effects of rooibos tea, bottled water, and a carbohydrate beverage on blood and urinary measures of hydration after acute dehydrationRes Sports Med · PMID 20397112