Two Oceans runners get Rooibos tea boost

Sports scientists the world over are starting to promote herbal teas, specifically Rooibos tea, as an effective way for athletes to hydrate and enhance their performance.

This may be the solution the more than 27 000 Two Oceans’ Marathon runners need to load up on to boost energy and performance ahead of the grueling race, which is less than a fortnight away .Rooibos Council spokesperson Ernest du Toit said drinking Rooibos tea won’t turn you into a super-human endurance athlete.

“It has been shown to have performance-boosting benefits when consumed before, during or after a run.Athletes would benefit from Rooibos tea’s powerful army of antioxidants that fight inflammation and boost circulation, in order to help heal damaged muscle tissue.It also has a high concentration of magnesium and zinc, which aids in testosterone production, which is important for the body’s durability and ability to recover, along with calcium, magnesium and manganese, which are vital for bone health.In addition, Rooibos helps the body to absorb iron, which enhances oxygen delivery to the muscles, which is critical in endurance racing,” he said.

Studies comparing Rooibos with other teas found Rooibos to have similar levels of the known antioxidants associated with green tea, for example.

However, Rooibos appears to contain additional active antioxidant components, which are not present in green or other teas, and may be more effective.

Athletes wanting to take advantage of the benefits Rooibos has to offer, should pay special attention to how the drink is prepared in order to maximise its benefits.

Rooibos should be brewed with one to two teaspoons of loose tea leaves or one teabag per cup (250 ml) of boiling water for at least five minutes.

Steeping it for longer will increase the antioxidant content of the tea by 30%.

Also don’t pour boiling water directly on the teabag as this destroys the antioxidants.

The tea can then be enjoyed immediately or stored in the fridge.

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