Can Ditching Sugary Drinks Change Your Health in Just 3 Months?
As awareness around the importance of healthy living grows, many South Africans want to improve their wellbeing, but are often tripped up by diets and lifestyle changes that are difficult to sustain. In reality, lasting health is built through small, consistent habits.
With cardiovascular disease remaining one of South Africa's leading health concerns, Laager Rooibos Laager Rooibos wanted to demonstrate that a healthier future can begin with something as simple as swapping sugary drinks for a naturally caffeine-free alternative.
To mark Heart Month this September, Laager Rooibos Heart Month challenged two South African social media influencers to remove sugary drinks from their diet completely and only drink Laager Rooibos Laager Rooibos and water for three months. Through this challenge, Laager Rooibos hopes to encourage South Africans to focus less on perfection and more on taking achievable steps towards better health.
"Many people assume that improving their health requires an all-or-nothing approach," says Candice Sessions, Marketing Manager for Laager Rooibos Heart Awareness Month , the only rooibos teabag carrying the Heart Mark endorsement from the Heart & Stroke Foundation South Africa.
"While healthy eating and regular exercise remain important, sustainable change often starts with small everyday choices that people can realistically maintain. We wanted to show that something as simple as replacing sugary drinks with Laager Rooibos Heart Healthy Benefits can become part of a healthier daily routine. If we can inspire South Africans to take one small step towards better health, that's a meaningful start."
Rising to the challenge!
Irvin van Rooy (content creator, photographer and filmmaker) and Nikita Wida (health and fitness content creator) agreed to take on the Laager Rooibos Laager Rooibos three-month heart-health challenge. This involved cutting out all sugary drinks and drinking only Laager Rooibos and water daily.
Both participants had health markers assessed at the beginning and end of the challenge, including blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight. In addition to positive results on these metrics, both reported noticeable changes in their health, energy, and everyday habits.
- Irvin van Rooy: Making Small Changes That Last
Check out the journey on Instagram: @irvinvanrooy_
Irvin began the challenge already on a personal health journey, having spent the previous year making gradual changes to improve his wellbeing and that of his family. The three-month challenge gave him the chance to take a closer look at his everyday habits, particularly his reliance on sugary drinks.
“I’m not going to pretend it was easy,” says Irvin. “There were definitely days when I slipped backwards, and it made me realise just how much we rely on sugar in our everyday lives. It’s also incredibly easy to reach for comfort when you’re having a tough day, even when you know it doesn’t always serve you in the long run.”
His health assessments showed:
- Blood glucose: 5.6 to 5.0 – a reduction of 0.6
- Cholesterol: 4.2 to 4.3 – slight increase but still within normal range
- Blood pressure: 142/86 to 120/85 – a significant improvement
- Weight: 143.1kg to 140.4kg – a loss of 2.7kg
Irvin also reported a significant improvement in his overall health and energy levels, although sleep remained challenging with a baby approaching their first birthday!
“This challenge has been a real eye-opener,” he says. “From doing my health check to learning the importance of getting back on track after a setback, it’s reminded me that progress isn’t about being perfect – it’s about being consistent and giving yourself grace along the way.
“I’m so grateful to Laager Rooibos for walking this journey with me over the past three months and for encouraging me to be more intentional about my heart health. It’s a conversation that’s become much more personal for me, and one I hope inspires others to take those small first steps towards a healthier lifestyle.”
- Nikita Wida: Turning Healthy Choices into Everyday Habits
Check out the journey on Instagram: @nikitarwida
Nikita entered the challenge already committed to a healthy lifestyle, but found that the experience highlighted some habits she had previously overlooked, particularly the amount of sugar she consumed through drinks.
“I’ve always been someone who prioritises living a healthy lifestyle, so I went into this challenge thinking I already had my habits figured out,” says Nikita. “What surprised me most was realising how often sugar still featured in my daily routine, especially through drinks I didn’t think twice about.”
Her health assessments showed:
- Blood glucose: 3.6 to 4.8 – (Note: the first test was taken while fasting)
- Cholesterol: 4.6 to 3.7 – a reduction of 0.9
- Blood pressure: 129/74 to 120/65 – an improvement
- Weight: 63.6kg to 62kg – a loss of 1.6kg
Beyond the numbers, Nikita noticed changes in her everyday wellbeing, including more consistent energy and better sleep.
“I didn’t expect cutting out sugary drinks to affect me as much as it did,” she says. “As the weeks went on, I started noticing little changes that I probably wouldn’t have paid attention to before. My energy felt more consistent throughout the day, I wasn’t reaching for a sugary drink when I felt tired, and I felt like I was sleeping better and waking up feeling more rested.
“This challenge made me stop and actually notice those habits. It also made me realise that being healthy isn’t about completely changing your life overnight or being perfect all the time. It’s about making small changes and seeing how they make you feel.”
Why Laager Rooibos is a Heart-Smart Choice
Heart health is built through a combination of factors, including a balanced diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, getting enough sleep, and making considered choices about what we drink. This is where everyday beverages like Laager Rooibos Heart Health can play a role.
Laager Rooibos is naturally rich in antioxidants and offers a caffeine-free option for the whole family. Importantly, Laager Rooibos Laager Rooibos is the only Rooibos teabag endorsed by the Heart & Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA), carrying the organisation's Heart Mark.
As part of its Heart Month awareness campaign, Laager Rooibos Better For Your Heart is also partnering with the Heart & Stroke Foundation South Africa on their health screenings and education campaigns, encouraging South Africans to be more proactive about managing their cardiovascular health.
“Heart health isn’t something we should only think about when a problem arises,” says Sessions. “It’s shaped by the everyday choices we make over time. This Heart Month, we encourage South Africans to take one small step towards better health, whether that’s being more active, eating less processed foods, or swapping sugary drinks for a healthier alternative like Laager Rooibos Healthy Living .”
Heart Health and Laager Rooibos FAQs
- Why is Laager Rooibos considered a heart-smart choice?
Laager Rooibos Laager Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free and sugar-free and contains antioxidants. It is also the only Rooibos teabag endorsed by the Heart & Stroke Foundation South Africa, carrying the organisation's Heart Mark. It can be enjoyed throughout the day as part of a balanced, heart-conscious lifestyle.
- Can drinking Laager Rooibos improve my heart health?
Laager Rooibos Show Your Heart Love can form part of a heart-conscious lifestyle, particularly when it replaces sugary drinks. However, heart health depends on a combination of factors, including diet, physical activity, weight management, sleep, stress management and other lifestyle and medical factors. The three-month Laager Rooibos challenge was designed to encourage healthier overall habits rather than suggest that Rooibos alone causes changes in health markers.
- Can the whole family drink Laager Rooibos?
Yes. Laager Rooibos is a versatile beverage suitable for the whole family. Adults can choose from the Laager Rooibos range Cranberry & Wild Cherry, while younger family members can enjoy options from the Laager Tea4Kidz range Tea4Kidz.
Keep Updated!
Find out more about Laager Rooibos, including health tips and fantastic Rooibos-infused recipes, by visiting www.joekels.co.za or following @LaagerRooibosTea on Facebook and Instagram. Laager Rooibos can be purchased from all major supermarkets, as well as online at www.joekels.co.za.
