Broccoli and rooibos tea might be doing more for your health than you think, especially when it comes to protecting your heart, according to new research by North West University (NWU) biochemist Dr Sinenhlanhla Xoliswa Happiness Mthembu.
Registered at NWU’s Mahikeng Campus and working in collaboration with the South African Medical Research Council, Mthembu explored how plant-based compounds might protect the heart from damage caused by metabolic disorders such as dyslipidemia.
Her research offers a fresh and affordable approach to combating cardiovascular disease, a condition that remains one of the world’s leading causes of death.
“We have medication for people living with heart disease, but these medications also have side effects,” said Mthembu. “Over time, the same treatments can make patients ill. What we wanted was to find better options that could support or enhance these treatments.”
Her study focused on supplementing statin-based treatments with coenzyme Q10, a molecule naturally produced by the body and found in food. She also investigated aspalathin, a compound found in rooibos tea, and sulforaphane, found in broccoli, to see if they could improve the effectiveness of medication and reduce side effects.
“These compounds are sources of antioxidants, which help reduce oxidative stress, a key driver of cardiovascular complications, diabetes and obesity,” she said. “If we can suppress that, we are one step closer to improving the lives of those living with these conditions.”
Our grandmothers know spinach and cabbage are good for us, but they don’t always know why. We shouldn’t disregard traditional knowledge. Instead, we should work together and explain the science behind what they already believe.
— Dr Sinenhlanhla Xoliswa Happiness Mthembu
Dyslipidemia, a metabolic disorder marked by high lipid levels in the bloodstream, causes plaque build-up in arteries and veins. “It restricts blood flow to the heart, which leads to strokes or heart attacks,” said Mthembu.
“At cellular level, it blocks processes that generate adenosine triphosphate energy the heart needs to function. If this process is disrupted, the heart may fail.”
What makes Mthembu’s work unique is its focus on accessible, natural solutions.
“Everyone can buy broccoli or drink rooibos tea,” she said. “We want to use a science-based approach to say: this is how much you need to consume for it to be effective, both for people already living with the condition and for those looking to prevent it.”
She believes that combining natural supplements with traditional treatments could ease the burden on public health systems especially in under-resourced communities.
“Balanced food isn’t expensive. It’s about knowing what to cook and when. Through NWU’s Diabetes Thrive project and social media, we simplify these messages for the community.”
Despite the affordability of broccoli and rooibos, Mthembu said further support and funding would help turn her findings into a structured community intervention. “We could run trials where we supply these foods and monitor if people taking medication see improvements,” she said.
For Mthembu, bridging the gap between traditional knowledge and science is crucial.
“Our grandmothers know spinach and cabbage are good for us, but they don’t always know why,” she said. “We shouldn’t disregard traditional knowledge. Instead, we should work together and explain the science behind what they already believe.”
Raised in the rural village of Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal, Mthembu’s academic journey has taken her far beyond the borders of South Africa. She has published 26 peer-reviewed papers and received international fellowships including one at the Young Scientists Forum in Turkey earlier this year, where she was the only South African and the only black candidate.
“When I realised I was the only black woman, it hit me,” she said. “People from across the world who could barely speak English were asking about my work. I was proud. My education opened doors I never dreamed of.”
That sense of purpose kept her going through the toughest parts of her studies. “My mother wasn’t working when I started university, but she told me to follow my dreams. Now, I want other children from villages to see that they can make it too.”
Her message to young women in science is simple: “Opportunities are there. Don’t overthink. Grab them. Whether you’re from a village or you’re a mother, your dreams are valid,” she said. “Surround yourself with people who believe in you. You can do it.”
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