What is it?
Hibiscus tea comes from the petals of the hibiscus flower. There are hundreds of hibiscus species that vary based on location and climate. The most common one is the Hibiscus sabdariffa which is used for tea. It is native to Africa and most common in West Africa. Hibiscus tea is known for its cranberry-like tart taste. In many West African countries, iced hibiscus tea is served on happy occasions such as graduations or wedding parties.
Here are 6 reasons why you should consider drinking hibiscus tea every day.
1. Hibiscus Is Packed with Antioxidants
2. Lowers Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the number one silent killer in America. One impressive property of hibiscus tea that has become very well-known and proven clinically, is its ability to reduce blood pressure.
Many studies have found that drinking hibiscus tea can lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure anywhere from 7-10 points. A 2007 study that was published by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) found that after 6 weeks of drinking hibiscus tea, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure was lowered by 4-7 points.
3. Improves Liver Health
A healthy liver means a healthy body. The liver is responsible for essential functions in the body. From breaking down the fats to metabolizing and detoxifying the blood. You can’t pass on the importance of maintaining your liver in a good and healthy shape. A common disease that many people are diagnosed with is fatty liver. A prolonged condition of fatty liver can eventually lead to liver failure.
A study on 19 people who took hibiscus extract for 12 weeks showed that they had improved their fatty liver conditions and had lower fat accumulation in their liver
4. Lower Blood Fat (LDL) and higher good fat (HDL)
A study that was conducted on 60 patients with diabetes who consumed hibiscus tea for one month concluded that 53 of them had a significant increase in HDL and a decrease in LDL.
5. Weight loss
Who does not want to lose a few pounds? Well, most people do.
Several studies have shown that drinking hibiscus tea can protect against obesity and promote weight loss. In a study on 36 overweight participants who consumed hibiscus extract for 12 weeks, they had lowered their body mass index and hip-to-waist ratio (NLM)
6. Cancer hates Hibiscus
Cancer hates Hibiscus because of some powerful cancer killer compounds called polyphenols. A study in 2015 that was published by NLM found that hibiscus leaf extract inhibited human prostate cancer cells from growing by 52%.
7. Delicious iced tea
As was mentioned in the introduction above, hibiscus is served in many countries around the world as a cold healthy beverage on various happy occasions. The best way to experience the delicious flavor of hibiscus is to brew a cup of hibiscus ice tea. In case it's too tart for your taste, a teaspoon of sugar or honey will definitely tone down some of the tartness in found hibiscus tea
Sources: National Library of Medicine, Healthline .com
