Brew bush tea for heart

RESEARCH: ROOIBOS, BROCCOLI CAN COMBAT CARDIOVASCULAR DAMAGE

- Eric Mthobeli Naki

Broccoli and rooibos, common food items in South Africa, have been found to help protect against the leading cause of death: heart disease.

This significant finding has emerged from research conducted by a young biochemist at North-West University's (NWU) Mahikeng campus, Sinenhlanhla Mthembu. She embarked on a mission to explore the potential role of plant-based compounds in combating heart damage associated with metabolic disorders.

After dedicated research for her PhD degree, for which she graduated in July, Mthembu successfully demonstrated that both broccoli and rooibos possess the ability to protect the heart.

KwaZulu-Natal-born Mthembu, 27, had set herself on a research journey with a special focus.

She had people in mind and how this lifestyle disease had now begun to devastate rural communities due to changing lifestyles.