In South Africa, Rooibos research was done at the Department Of Chemistry of the University of The Orange Free State. Some of that research was done in conjunction with a private entity Infruitec. Dr. Lizzie Joubert from Infruitec is currently involved in further studies of both Rooibos and Honeybush in conjuction with the Medical Research Council of South Africa's PROMEC division [The Programme on Mycotoxins and Experimental Carcinogenesis] (for more on this, please see below).

In Japan, Masatoshi Nakano, at the Institute for Medical Science and Aging (AICHI MEDICAL UNIVERSITY) studied "Rooibos Tea as an Anti Aging Beverage" and did a great deal of research into the plant, including verifying its anti oxidant qualities. Nakano discovered that the effect of free radicals in the process of aging and decline of the immune system is limited by the anti-oxidants in Rooibos. It is no surprise therefore to learn that in Japan, Rooibos is also known as "the longevity tea".

That said, there are so many areas of ones health that Rooibos and Honeybush tea may impact upon, that anyone listing them begins to look like a snake oil salesman promising "cure-alls" for every ailment.

What we can guarantee at AFRICA'S MIRACLE! is that the organic Rooibos and organic Honeybush teas used in our Mountain Bend are caffeine free, low in tannins and have strong proven anti-oxidant qualities. It also tastes great with a natural "sweet" finish. In addition to tasting great, the teas contained in Mountain Blend

• have strong antioxidant action!
• are naturally rich in minerals!
• may help prevent certain cancers!
• are soothing - great for nursing mothers and insomniacs!
• may help with menopause and Osteoporosis!
• may help the cardiovascular system!
• are great for tummy troubles in infants and adults!
• are great for your skin!
  
• may help with allergies and asthma!
• may help diabetes sufferers!

The combination of teas contained in Mountain Blend have strong antioxidant action.

Rooibos contains Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD), a powerful antioxidant known to fight free radicals. Honeybush also has antioxidant properties due to some of the flavones, isoflavones and xanthones it contains.

What are free radicals? As our bodies convert food into energy, a chemical process occurs. The body utilizes oxygen as part of this process and as this process occurs, oxygen is converted to water. Each water molecule normally takes up four electrons, however some oxygen may escape before the conversion is complete, and this results in about 2% of the oxygen having an electron deficit. These particles are called free radicals.

An abundance of free radicals is believed to be a contributing factor in a broad spectrum of diseases including arteriosclerosis (a cardiovascular disease), inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, Alzheimer's disease and various cancers. Free (oxygen) radicals can cause damage to body proteins, fats and also to DNA. Damage to DNA in a normal cell may cause it to become a cancer cell.

Even if you are young and fit, free radicals are still problematic. The fitter you are, the faster cells take in and expel oxygen. Free radicals can be generated faster and if the body is not suitably protected, damage will certainly occur. This is compounded by the fact that as we age, SOD levels tend to decline, while free radical production increases.

In addition to SOD, Rooibos is very rich in flavonoids, including Aspalathin, found only in Rooibos. It is believed that in the process of fermentation, aspalathin may undergo chemical conversions, which may further increase the teas antioxidant properties. Other flavonoids namely quercetin, luteolin, isoquercitrin and rutin also combine to help to fight free radicals. Furthermore, rutin, a compound with vitamin P activity, reinforces and stabilizes blood vessels.

The teas in Mountain Blend are naturally rich in minerals!
In addition to the flavonoids and antioxidants, Mountain Blend naturally contains many essential minerals including iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, fluoride, manganese, sodium and trace amounts of copper. Every 200ml (6 fluid oz.) of brewed Mountain Blend tea contains (approximately) the following:
Nutrients Per 200ml (6 fluid oz.)
Iron 0.12mg.
Potassium 4.98mg
Calcium 0.76mg
Zinc 0.050mg
Magnesium 0.028mg
Fluoride 1.09mg
Manganese 0.03mg
Sodium 4.77mg
Copper (trace element) 0.0006mg

Our Mountain Blend a great drink for kids. They get the benefit off essential minerals in a beverage that has no stimulants or artificial flavorings. Mountain Blend also makes a great post sports drink. After working up a sweat, a glass of chilled Mountain Blend is a refreshing and healthy way to re-hydrate and help replace vital minerals. You can also use cold Mountain Blend as a base for mixing sports drink powders.

The teas in Mountain Blend may help prevent certain cancers!
Studies at the Medical Research Council of South Africa's PROMEC division (The Programme on Mycotoxins and Experimental Carcinogenesis) in conjunction with Dr Lizette Joubert from ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij (Stellenbosch, South Africa), examined the antimugenic properties of both Rooibos and Honeybush teas. For more detail on this study, please go to http://www.mrc.ac.za/mrcnews/feb2005/tea.htm and http://www.mrc.ac.za/http://www.mrc.ac.za/promec/antimutagenic.htm

Honeybush contains isoflavones, which are known to work as enzyme inhibitors, thereby decreasing cancer cell growth. Isoflavones includes a group of those known as phytoestrogens, which means that they cause effects in the body somewhat similar to the to the female hormone estrogen, though they are 400 times less powerful body's own estrogen. Isoflavones latch on to the same places (receptor sites) on cells and don't allow actual estrogen to attach. In this way, when there is not enough estrogen in the body, isoflavones can partially make up for it; but when there is plenty of estrogen, they can partially block its influence. The net effect may be to reduce some of the risks of excess estrogen (breast and uterine cancer) while still providing some of estrogen's benefits (preventing osteoporosis)[see below]. The isoflavones and coumestans in Honeybush may also help with the prevention of prostate cancer. Other phytoestrogen properties include inhibition of tyrosine kinase, epidermal growth factor, malignant cell proliferation, differentiation and angiogenesis. These properties make them strong candidates for a role as natural protective compounds against cancer.

The teas in Mountain Blend are soothing - great for nursing mothers and insomniacs!
Rooibos and Honeybush naturally contain no caffeine. They are also both very low in tannins, so it doesn't deplete the mother's and/or the baby's iron reserves during pregnancy or breastfeeding. For people suffering from insomnia, nervous tension, mild depression or hypertension it's the perfect beverage due to its lack of stimulants. Some of the flavonoids found in Rooibos may also help lower blood pressure and some of the Xanthones found in Honeybush may provide an anti-depressant action.

The teas in Mountain Blend may help with menopause and Osteoporosis!
The phytoestrogens mentioned above, may also help with menopause due to the estrogenic activity they display by weakly binding to estrogen receptors. As ovarian activity declines during menopause, serum oestrone and oestradiol fall and remain low at postmenopausal concentrations. It has been hypothesized that phytoestrogen consumption, due to estrogen receptor binding affinity, may exert an estrogenic effect in the postmenopausal woman. Osteoporosis is related to low peak bone mass, ageing and hormone deficiency. As steroidal estrogens are of benefit in preventing osteoporosis, phytoestrogens may also have a mild protective effect in postmenopausal women.

The teas in Mountain Blend may help the cardiovascular system!
Flavonoids found in Rooibos such Rutin and Quercitin may assit the cardiovascular system. Rutin enhances the stability and permeability of capillary arteries, owing to its established vitamin P activity. Quercitin, prevents the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), which may indicate anti-atherosclerotic activity and thus help reduce the risk of heart disease.
In addition. phytoestrogens found in Honeybush may have anticholestolemic and hypolipemic properties.

The teas in Mountain Blend are great for tummy troubles in infants and adults!
Rooibos and Honeybush have been known to relieve many symptoms including colic, insomnia, stomach cramps, nausea, abnormal stools, and chronic diarrhea and vomiting. Rooibos can also help with heartburn, stomach ulcers and constipation. Xanthones in Honeybush have anti-diarrhea qualities.
The stomach relief provided by Rooibos is believed to be due to the presence of the flavonoids: luteolin and quercetin, both of which possess strong antispasmodic properties. Luteolin is also found in Honeybush. By replacing the water in a baby's bottle feed with our AFRICA'S MIRACLE Mountain Blend, babies may benefit from the teas natural calming and soothing powers.

The teas in Mountain Blend are great for your skin!
Rooibos and Honeybush have a soothing effect on the skin. Use a weak cool solution of Mountain Blend as a face wash. You can also toss some tea bags into your bath. The combination of the naturally occurring phenolic carboxylic acids (antibacterial & antifungal properties) combined with alpha hydroxy acids help revive the skin. A mild cool Mountain Blend wash may also help with warts photosensitive dermatitis, eczema, acne or help sooth a sunburned skin.
For infants, use as a relief for diaper rash. Apply cool Mountain Blend with a clean cotton swab to the rash at every diaper change.

The teas in Mountain Blend may help with allergies and asthma!
Japanese research has shown that certain terponoids in Rooibos have anti- asthmatic properties. Rooibos tea has been shown to also offer relief from allergies, hay fever, sinus problems, tired or puffy eyes, itchy or burning skin and eczema. Lie back and place cool Mountain Blend tea bags over eyes for soothing relief.

The teas in Mountain Blend may help diabetes sufferers!
In addition to the flavonoids; luteolin, quercetin, isoquercetin and rutin having strong antioxidant properties, all four compounds also inhibit aldose reductase, a target enzyme for pharmacological control of diabetic complications. In addition Rooibos and Honeybush both contain the non phenolic, Pinitol. In addition to Pinitol's anti diabetic properties, it also possesses hypoglycemic (lowers level of blood sugar) properties.

Additional health information regarding the teas in Mountain Blend:
Rooibos and Honeybush contain an abundence of Flavonoids. Flavonoids are recognized as having anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antiviral, anticarcinogenic, antineoplastic, antimicrobial, antihelminthic, liver protective, kidney protective, antithrombotic and antihormonal effects. They are potent antioxidants, free radical scavengers and metal chelators. They facilitate vitamin C stabilization and enhance vitamin C absorption. Many possess anti-inflammatory components and decrease the permeability and fragility of veins and lymph vessels. Flavone glycosides (orientin, iso-orientin, vitexin and iso-vitexin) contribute towards antioxidant properties and may help lower blood pressure.