Amanda Swart

Amanda C. Swart is a South African biochemist who holds a professorship in biochemistry at Stellenbosch University.[1] She is known for her research on rooibos, a herbal tea popular in South Africa,[2] has been funded by the South African Rooibos Council in her research,[3][4] and is frequently quoted in South African media promoting the supposed health benefits of rooibos.[5][6]

Her research has suggested that drinking rooibos may lower stress through the effects of two compounds in it, aspalathin and nothofagin, which (in laboratory conditions) block the production of stress hormone cortisol.[7] She has claimed that roibos has the potential to prevent heart disease,[5][6] reduce the effects of aging, and promote weight loss.[4] She has also suggested that rooibos may have beneficial effects for prostate cancer by blocking another hormone, dihydrotestosterone.[8]

Swart completed her doctorate at Stellenbosch in 1999, and returned to Stellenbosch as a faculty member in 2002.[9]

References
  1. AC Swart Group, Stellenbosch University, Department of Biochemistry, retrieved 2016-07-26.
  2. Women in science honoured for their contributions to roibois, South African Rooibos Council, 7 February 2020
  3. Skade, Thandi (25 January 2012), "R2m grant to help reveal rooibos's merit", The Star, archived from the original on 2016-08-13.
  4. R2m for rooibos research, News 24, 25 January 2012
  5. The potential of roibos to curb heart disease now undeniable, Smile 90.4, 7 February 2019
  6. "Roibos: a life-saver for today's ill's", The Witness, 14 February 2019 – via Pressreader
  7. Gernetzky, Karl (9 December 2011), "If you see red, just drink rooibos tea", BusinessDay, archived from the original on 2016-09-24.
  8. South African rooibos and honey-bush teas could fight cancer, South African Broadcasting Corporation, 21 July 2015, archived from the original on 2016-08-16, retrieved 2016-07-26.
  9. "Speaker: Amanda C. Swart", 3rd Congress on Steroid Research, Chicago, November 2015, retrieved 2016-07-26.


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