Hibiscus Tea Benefits – This tea is more than a thirst-quenching brew!
Hibiscus tea benefits, well known in traditional medicine for many years, range from its potent antioxidants to its ability to lower blood pressure.
Hibiscus tea is an herbal tisane made from the dried, vibrantly coloured calyces of the hibiscus flower (learn more about the hibiscus flower and hibiscus tea here).
Served hot or chilled and enjoyed by many people worldwide, this tea is good for health, and current research targeting the potential health benefits of hibiscus tea supports the age-old wisdom about this fragrant tart beverage.
Here are some ways hibiscus tea is good for our health and wellness.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits for Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (BP), which increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and death from cardiovascular disease, is becoming more and more prevalent in our modern-day, stressful world.
We know that dietary changes are an effective way to help manage and treat high blood pressure and BP, and hibiscus tea, which is well known for its ability to lower high blood pressure, is a natural, risk-free, and tasty way to put these changes in motion.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits & You!
If you’ve experienced the health benefits of hibiscus tea, why not share your thoughts and opinions about hibiscus tea with other visitors to our site? We’d love to hear from you! Click here to share your story.
Studies have shown that daily drinking as little as 2 to 3 cups of hibiscus tea from the Hibiscus sabdariffa flower can lower your BP levels, working as effectively as some anti-hypertensive prescription medications (without potential side effects).
You may enjoy the following short video! Nutrition scientist Dr Diane McKay discusses her research about hibiscus tea benefits and research findings that consuming hibiscus tea regularly can reduce your blood sugar and pressure levels.
Those suffering from type 2 diabetes are at even greater risk for developing high blood pressure, and research also indicates that this colourful, delicious tea is an effective way for diabetics to manage or prevent high BP.
Hibiscus Tea and Antioxidants
Hibiscus flower tea is made from the dried calyces of the hibiscus flower. Calyces are known to contain high levels of antioxidants, and for good health, antioxidants are an essential part of our diets. They help to rid our bodies of free radicals (destructive molecules that can damage our cells and DNA) and protect us against chronic diseases, such as heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and cancer.
Antioxidants can also fight and prevent low-grade chronic inflammation, which research has linked to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, IBS, Crohn’s, PCOS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, infertility, premature ageing, obesity, and many other health issues. By choosing foods and beverages high in antioxidants (like hibiscus tea), you can help reverse the inflammatory process in your body.
And, if you’re worried about the visible signs of ageing (like wrinkles and loss of skin elasticity and moisture), consider adding more antioxidants to your diet – they reverse the effects of ageing on our bodies.
The antioxidants in hibiscus tea may also help with the weight loss and management.
Another of the many delicious hibiscus tea benefits… A cup of hibiscus tea is a simple, effective, delicious way to increase your antioxidant intake!
Is all Hibiscus Tea good for me?
There are over 300 species of hibiscus, but the Hibiscus sabdariffa and Hibiscus rosa-sinensisvarieties of hibiscus are especially renowned for their health benefits. Hibiscus sabdariffa is the variety of hibiscus plants typically studied in current research targeting hibiscus tea benefits.
Does drinking hibiscus tea have any risks or side effects?
Even if tea or tisane has a reputation as a healthy beverage, it may not necessarily be a good fit for you.
Some people experience slight nausea or upset stomach after drinking hibiscus tea, so if this tea is new to your diet, incorporate it slowly until you know how your body will respond.
And, before you add hibiscus tea to your diet, be sure to check with your healthcare provider about safe amounts of this brew for you – especially if you have blood pressure concerns (high or low) or are taking any prescription medications.
Love Red Teas?
You may also enjoy Rooibos black tea, a delightful red tea made from the South African red bush. Click here to learn more about this caffeine-free tea and its many health benefits.
If you are expecting (or trying to fall pregnant), you must consult your healthcare provider before drinking hibiscus tea. There is some evidence that certain types of hibiscus have emmenagogue effects (i.e. they stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus and encourage menstruation) and, as such, could potentially bring on a miscarriage. Please be safe and protect yourself and your little one, and ask your healthcare professional before consuming any hibiscus tea if you are pregnant. Also, if you are a nursing mom, ask your healthcare provider if hibiscus tea is a good choice for you and your baby.
More Health Benefits of Hibiscus Tea
The many health benefits of hibiscus tea make this tart, aromatic, delicious brew even more enticing.
In traditional medicine, hibiscus tea is used to help manage various health concerns, from insomnia to high blood pressure to soothing skin irritations and much more.
Recent scientific research supports much of what age-old herbal wisdom has already revealed about this delightful tisane.
Here are more of the many health benefits of hibiscus tea.
Hibiscus Tea and Diabetes
People with diabetes tend to be at greater risk for developing high blood pressure (BP). Research has shown that enjoying hibiscus tea regularly is an effective way for diabetics with mild to moderate hypertension to lower their BP.
In fact, as little as 2 cups of hibiscus tea daily (an amount easily added to your daily routine) can significantly reduce high BP levels.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits & You!
If you’ve experienced the health benefits of hibiscus tea, why not share your thoughts and opinions about hibiscus tea with other visitors to our site? We’d love to hear from you! Click here to share your story.
Hibiscus tea can provide additional health benefits for diabetic patients by improving their cholesterol levels.
Scientific studies have found that regular consumption of this delicious herbal tea can increase ‘good’ (HDL) cholesterol and reduce ‘bad’ (LDL) and overall cholesterol levels for diabetics. This healthy tea helps to decrease triglycerides, as well. Again, 2 cups is the magic number – enjoying two or more cups of hibiscus tea each day is a simple, risk-free, effective way for diabetics to manage their cholesterol levels.
Hibiscus Tea is Caffeine Free
Because hibiscus tea is an herbal tisane, it is naturally caffeine-free. Although caffeine does have certain benefits (such as increased concentration, alertness, and energy), it also has a number of potential side effects. Many of us are either very sensitive to caffeine or are trying to watch our caffeine intake.
Suppose you are trying to avoid the ‘caffeine blues,’ headaches, insomnia, anxiety, or other possible caffeine side effects. In that case, you may find aromatic, vibrantly coloured hibiscus tea a wonderful substitute for caffeinated teas (meaning all teas from the Camellia Sinensis tea plant).
Caffeine and Tea
Learn more about caffeine – including recommendations about how much caffeine is safe for you – on our Caffeine Facts page.
With its tart taste and the many different ways it can be served, hibiscus tea is a delightful, stimulating alternative to any caffeinated beverage!
Hibiscus Tea is Rich in Vitamin C
The dried hibiscus calyces used to make hibiscus tea are not only an amazing source of antioxidants, they are known for their high levels of vitamin C, as well.
Enjoy a cup of hibiscus tea for its delicious taste and take advantage of the benefits of vitamin C – support for your immune system, help with iron absorption, antioxidant effects, lowered risk of chronic disease, protection against that pesky common cold, and much more.
Health Benefits of Hibiscus Tea for Stomach Cancer
The health benefits of hibiscus tea may include protection against cancer – stomach cancer, in particular.
In a Taiwanese laboratory study, extract from Hibiscus sabdariffa was found to be toxic to cancer cells and especially effective in killing human gastric carcinoma cells. The study researchers attributed hibiscus extract’s potential ability as a cancer preventative to its high levels of polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants.
Sources
Haji Faraji M, Haji Tarkhani A. The effect of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on essential hypertension. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Jun;65(3):231-6.
Herrera-Arellano A, Flores-Romero S, Chávez-Soto MA, Tortoriello J. Effectiveness and tolerability of a standardized extract from Hibiscus sabdariffa in patients with mild to moderate hypertension: a controlled and randomized clinical trial. Phytomedicine. 2004 Jul;11(5):375-82.
Lin HH, Huang HP, Huang CC, Chen JH, Wang CJ. Hibiscus polyphenol-rich extract induces apoptosis in human gastric carcinoma cells via p53 phosphorylation and p38 MAPK/FasL cascade pathway. Molecular Carcinogenesis. 2005 June;43(2):86–99.
McKay DL, Chen O, Saltzman E, Blumberg JB. Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. Tea (Tisane) Lowers Blood Pressure in Prehypertensive and Mildly Hypertensive Adults. J. Nutr. 2010 February;140(2):298-303.
Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Jalali-Khanabadi BA, Afkhami-Ardekani M, Fatehi F. Effects of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on lipid profile and lipoproteins in patients with type II diabetes. J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Aug;15(8):899-903.
Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Jalali-Khanabadi BA, Afkhami-Ardekani M, Fatehi F, Noori-Shadkam M. The effects of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on hypertension in patients with type II diabetes. Journal of Human Hypertension. 2009;23:48–54.
