Study shows Rooibos could reduce Alzheimer's risk
Preliminary studies show Rooibos may be able to reduce the risk and onset of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
South African scientists Taskeen Docrat and Ben Loos have been studying how Rooibos can be a potential shield for our brains.
Docrat, who is based at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, says Rooibos is not only a tea but a botanical wonder that helps the body detoxify and rid itself of harmful free radicals.
"We are trying to investigate how Rooibos might reduce cellular stress in our brain, fine-tune the activity of our genes and optimise the function of cellular engines, all of which are tied to Alzheimer's.
In our labs, we investigate the complex mechanisms involving oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. We expose in Alzheimer's disease cellular model to Rooibos extracts and carefully observe their responses."
The South African Rooibos Council funds Docrat and Loos' research.
September is World Alzheimer's Month.
The memory-destroying disease is estimated to affect an estimated 55 million people worldwide.
