Hibiscus Tea - 6 Noteworthy Health Benefits
Hibiscus plants are renowned for their
beautiful flowers that come in numerous striking colors. But there’s one
specific variety of hibiscus, the Roselle flower (Hibiscus sabdariffa),
that’s not just pretty but also quite delicious and healthy. Roselle
plants originated in North Africa and Southeast Asia, but they are grown
in all warm climates today, so hibiscus tea is easily accessible.
Parts of the deep magenta Roselle blooms
are dried and brewed into a slightly tart, cranberry-like herbal tea
that has a bright red color. The tea can be enjoyed hot and cold.
Drinking hibiscus tea comes with several benefits ranging from
cardiovascular health to weight loss. In this article, we discuss 6
scientifically-proven benefits of hibiscus tea and explain how you can
enjoy this refreshing tea at home.
1. Lowers blood pressure
Hypertension is one of the most widespread and dangerous chronic
conditions in the world. Having high blood pressure increases your risk
of heart disease, stroke, and many other life-threatening conditions.
Drinking hibiscus tea seems to be a natural way to lower one’s systolic
and diastolic blood pressure according to research.
One article, for example, states that high blood pressure sufferers
experienced a marked reduction in systolic blood pressure (the top
number) in an experiment that involved 65 participants and lasted for 6
weeks. A review study suggested that hibiscus tea lowers both systolic
and diastolic blood pressure by 7.58 and 3.53 mmHg, respectively.
While hibiscus can be safely used to help lower one’s blood pressure in
many cases, it can interact with some medications, so make sure that you
consult your doctor about any potential risks before you start drinking
hibiscus tea. For example, those who take hydrochlorothiazide, a
diuretic medication used to reduce blood pressure, should avoid hibiscus
tea because it may interact with this medication.
2. Can reduce the levels of lipids in the blood
Like blood pressure, blood lipids are a significant predictor of
cardiovascular health. When the levels of blood fats rise, so does one’s
risk of atherosclerosis, thrombosis, heart attack, stroke, kidney
disease, and many other dangerous conditions. Therefore, keeping your
blood lipid levels in check is quite important. Now, the two main types
of lipids you should be aware of are cholesterol and triglycerides.
As you likely already know, cholesterol is a type of lipid that exists
in two main forms in the human body: HDL (or good) cholesterol and LDL
(bad) cholesterol. While LDL cholesterol clings to the walls of blood
vessels and clogs them, HDL cholesterol has the opposite effect - it
dissolves the lipid plaques created by LDL cholesterol. When one’s LDL
cholesterol levels climb up, this increases the risk of atherosclerosis.
Studies show that drinking hibiscus tea regularly can reduce one’s “bad”
cholesterol levels while also increasing the levels of “good”
cholesterol, likely due to the high antioxidant content of the tea. One
study in patients suffering from metabolic syndrome concluded that
taking 100 mg of hibiscus extract every day reduced total cholesterol
while also raising HDL cholesterol levels.
As for triglycerides - these are another type of fat found in the blood.
They are essentially a way the body stores unused calories after a
meal, and ultimately, they are transported to fat cells in the body.
When someone eats more calories than their body can use up, their
triglyceride levels rise. If this happens too much and too often, it
increases the risk of several dangerous diseases ranging from heart
disease to diabetes.
One study conducted among 60 diabetics showed that drinking hibiscus tea
daily for 1 month decreased total cholesterol while also reducing LDL
cholesterol and triglyceride levels but increasing HDL cholesterol
levels. Unfortunately, there are no studies as of now that would confirm
the same beneficial effects in healthy adults.
3. May prevent certain types of cancer
Hibiscus tea is extremely high in
antioxidants, and particularly a group of compounds called polyphenols.
These plant compounds may possess cancer-fighting properties. According
to in-vitro studies, hibiscus extract halts the growth and reduces the
spread of mouth cancer cells and multiple myeloma cells.
It was also shown to halt the spread of prostate cancer and to stop the
spread of stomach cancer by 52% according to other test-tube studies.
Although there is currently no evidence in live subjects to support
these claims, these early results are highly encouraging.
4. Promotes Weight Loss
Drinking hibiscus tea may also help you lose weight or protect you from
gaining a lot of weight. According to one study conducted on 36
overweight individuals, taking hibiscus extract for 3 months managed to
reduce the BMI, hip-to-waist ratio, overall body weight, and the amount
of body fat. A similar result was seen in obese mice - taking hibiscus
extract for 2 months reduced their body weight.
5. Has Antibacterial Properties
Apart from stopping the growth of cancer
and nourishing our body with antioxidants, hibiscus extract may also
eradicate unfriendly bacteria. In-vitro studies suggest that hibiscus
extract is just as effective as some medications at killing 8 strains of
bacteria. A different study also found that hibiscus extract is
effective at inhibiting E. coli, a bacteria that causes foodborne
illness and produces symptoms like dehydration, intestinal cramping, and
diarrhea.
6. Can Improve Liver Function
The liver is one of the most important
organs we have: it helps us digest food and absorb nutrients, and it
also cleanses the body of toxins. Needless to say, we all must take good
care of our liver and keep it working like clockwork, and hibiscus tea
could give you that much-needed boost.
Fatty liver disease, or hepatic steatosis, is one of the greatest
contributors to liver failure. The condition develops when fats start
accumulating in the liver and impair its functioning. The liver can
recover from this condition and restore itself over time, and hibiscus
extract may help achieve that goal.
One study conducted among overweight participants mentioned that taking
hibiscus extract for 12 weeks reduced fatty liver disease. Animal
studies in hamsters and rats likewise demonstrate that hibiscus extract
protects the liver from damage and helps it work more efficiently.
How to Prepare Hibiscus Tea at Home
Dried hibiscus is widely available in
supermarkets across the globe, and it’s quite inexpensive. If you live
in a warm climate, you may be able to find fresh hibiscus as well. Here,
we will show you how to make tea from dried hibiscus, since it’s more
common and easily available.
To prepare hibiscus tea, bring water and dried hibiscus flowers to a
boil - use about 1½ teaspoon hibiscus for 1 cup of water. When the water
starts boiling, remove the tea from the stove and cover it with a lid.
You can flavor the tea with other herbs such as lime, cinnamon, ginger,
basil, and lemongrass.
Since hibiscus tea tastes a bit tart, it’s
also a good idea to add a dash of honey to balance the taste. Let the
resulting tea steep for 15-20 minutes. You can drink the tea either warm
or chill it and serve it with ice.
Hibiscus iced tea with herbs and citrus juice is a traditional Mexican
drink called Agua de Jamaica.