Antioxidants found in the tea have been linked to a healthier heart (13).
This may happen in different ways (14).
First, drinking rooibos tea may have beneficial effects on blood pressure by inhibiting angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) (15).
ACE indirectly increases blood pressure by causing blood vessels to contract.
A study involving 17 people found that drinking rooibos tea resulted in the inhibition of ACE activity 30–60 minutes after participants drank the tea (15).
However, this did not translate to any changes in blood pressure.
There is more promising evidence that the tea can improve cholesterol levels.
One study examined the effects of rooibos on 40 overweight men and women at higher risk of heart disease.
The researchers found that drinking six cups of rooibos tea daily for six weeks resulted in a decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as the “bad” cholesterol.
It was also associated with a small increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. That’s the “good” cholesterol (16).
However, the same effect was not seen in healthy people.
Healthy cholesterol levels mean added protection against various heart conditions, including heart attacks and strokes.
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