Hibiscus tea, also called “sour tea” because of its tart taste, is made from a mixture of dried hibiscus flowers, leaves, and dark red calyces. Calyces are pods that hold the plant’s seeds after the petals fall off. Calyces are often the main ingredient in hibiscus herbal teas. Studies show hibiscus tea and
extract can lower blood pressure, fight obesity, improve immunity, decrease inflammation and reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack and even cancer!
Lowers Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Today, hibiscus referred also as “sour tea” is popular for its potential to reduce high blood pressure. Studies show promise for both the tea and hibiscus plant extract to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. More research is needed, although this could be good news for the future of heart disease treatment.
Fights obesity
Another study found that hibiscus extract might have an effect on metabolism, preventing obesity and fat buildup in the liver.
Prevents Oxidative Stress
Anthocyanins are naturally occurring colors in fruits, vegetables, and plants. Besides chlorophyll, anthocyanins play an important part of plant pigments. Apart from giving color to plants, anthocyanins also have an array of health-promoting benefits such as protecting us against oxidants. Preliminary study showed that Hibiscus anthocyanins (HAs) reduced the incidence of liver lesions including inflammatory, leucocyte infiltration, and necrosis induced by t-BHP in rats.
A small human research study discovered that supplementing with hibiscus tea increased antioxidant load in the bloodstream and reduced compounds that can contribute to oxidative stress that damage cells. Because subjects had elevated amounts of hippuric acid, the conclusion of the study suggests that the polyphenols (antioxidants) of hibiscus must have been significantly transformed by the gut microbiome.
Supports Healthy Cholesterol and Triglycerides
A report from the AHA (American Heart Association) that was published in November of 2008: “Results of a small trial showed that 3 cups of hibiscus tea daily for 6 weeks reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) by about 7 mm Hg in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive subjects.
Among those with SBP over the median of 129 mm Hg, the reduction was double that, almost 14 mm Hg after 6 weeks, and produced significant reductions in diastolic and mean arterial pressures.
The finding “suggests that regularly incorporating hibiscus tea into the diet may actually help control blood pressure in people who are at risk for developing hypertension,” said lead author Diane L. McKay, PhD, from the Jean Mayer USDA Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, in Boston, Massachusetts.
On a population basis, even small changes such as those seen in this study would be expected to reduce stroke, coronary artery disease, and all-cause mortality, Dr. McKay added.”
Cited by: Susan Jeffrey. AHA 2008: Hibiscus Tea Reduces Blood Pressure – Medscape – Nov 11, 2008.
Shows Promise in Fighting Certain Cancers
In a lab study, hibiscus extracts cause apoptosis (cell death) in leukemia cells. While the mechanisms behind this aren’t clear yet, this could be a promising step in the fight against leukemia. The American Cancer Society estimate that there will be around 60,300 new cases of leukemia in the United States in 2018, resulting in 24,370 deaths.
Similar results occurred when eight different kinds of gastric carcinoma cells are exposed to hibiscus tea extract, according to research conducted at the Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan.
Natural Antidepressant
If you suffer from or are at risk for depression, you may want to consider trying hibiscus tea as one natural way to combat these sometimes debilitating signs of depression, such as fatigue, feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in hobbies and more.
A new study found that hibiscus flowers have specific bioflavonoids that may help as a natural remedy for depression, after animal study showed improvement in symptoms of depression.
May Prevent Kidney Stones
Hibiscus tea functions as a diuretic. Initial animal testing suggests that hibiscus tea presents what is known as an “anti-urolithiatic property,” meaning that it may lower the instance of compounds that form kidney stones.
Hibiscus Tea Nutrition Facts
The nutritional profile of a 100 gram serving of hibiscus tea includes:
- 37 calories and 0.65 grams of fat (1% RDV)
- 18 mg of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- 7.41 grams of carbohydrates (2% RDV)
- 0.3 grams of fiber (1% RDV) and 0.43 grams of protein (1% RDV)
- Vitamin A– 296 IU (6% RDV)
- Vitamin B2– 0.099 mg (6% RDV)
- Vitamin B1– 1.1279 mg (85% RDV)
- Iron- 8.64 mg (48% RDV)
- Copper- 0.073 mg (4% RDV)
- Zinc– 0.012 mg (1% RDV)
Hibiscus tea has also been shown to interact with acetaminophen by affecting how quickly your body gets rid of it. So if you take acetaminophen for pain, do not take acetaminophen and drink the tea at the same time.
Final Thoughts
If you haven’t tried hibiscus tea, perhaps you should. It can be served hot or with ice, but however you decide to enjoy it, brew it and drink it right away.
The tea tastes great, unlike some other bitter health teas. Hibiscus tea has a slightly sweet taste similar to cranberry juice. It is a bit tart, which is why it is sometimes called sour tea, so many tea drinkers add a bit of sugar or honey to tone down the tartness of the flavor. Try brewing it with some spices like cloves, ginger, or cinnamon to make it taste even better.
Safety and Dosage
When used as a tea, hibiscus is generally considered safe, but more research is needed to determine a safe dosage for pregnant or breastfeeding women, children, and people with liver or kidney disease.
As with anything, listen to your body and if it makes you feel ill, discontinue use and seek advise from your physician.
The safety profile of hibiscus is excellent, with no proven adverse reactions, but again, seek advise from your physician or healthcare provider and make sure there are no dangers with mixing your medications with Hibiscus tea or extract.
It is difficult to clarify dosing recommendations when different products are used in different studies. However, positive studies used the following dosages:
• For cholesterol maintenance: 1,000 mg dried herb 3x daily, one cup of hibiscus tea 2x daily, or 100 mg of standardized extract 2x daily
• For blood pressure maintenance†: One cup of hibiscus tea 2x daily or dried powdered hibiscus extract providing 250 mg anthocyanins per day
• 2 Hibiscus Liquid Phyto-Caps are the equivalent of an 8oz cup of Hibiscus Tea.
DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, interactions, circumstances, or adverse effects. Always talk to your doctor before using any supplement or alternative medicine.
Sources Used
Engels G. (2007). Herb profile: Hibiscus.
cms.herbalgram.org At the American Botanical Council, also known as the Herbal Medicine Institute, we are passionate about helping people live healthier lives through the responsible use of herbs, medicinal plants. ABC is an independent, nonprofit research and education organization dedicated to providing accurate and reliable information for consumers, healthcare practitioners, researchers, educators, industry and the media.
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