10 Health Benefits of Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus is a large family of flowering plants that have a wide natural range. They are often used for their ornamental properties thanks to their often large and vividly colored flowers. In addition to being used for its good looks, the flowers are sometimes used to make hibiscus tea.
Hibiscus tea is known for its tart flavor, as well as its red color that it takes from the plant it is made from. The tea is popular around the world and is consumed either hot or as an iced beverage.
The beverage is high in vitamin C and is also thought to provide us with a variety of health benefits. Some of these health benefits are listed below.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits #1: Balances Cholesterol Levels
Too much cholesterol in our blood can lead to high blood pressure and blocked arteries. Or, at least, it is the bad cholesterols that can have this effect. There are also good cholesterols, and these are better to have around. Eating the right foods can help achieve a healthy balance between the different types of cholesterol.
One way to achieve this can be to complement your diet with hibiscus tea. Studies have shown that the tea is effective at not only decreasing the level of bad cholesterols in our blood but also increasing the level of good cholesterols. This means that drinking hibiscus tea from time to time can give our health a boost overall.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits #2: Improves Liver Health
If our liver was to begin to fail, it would not be long before we knew about it. Even a fairly small reduction in performance could see us experiencing some very unwelcome symptoms. As such, we should do what we can to protect our livers as much as possible.
Often, but not always, we can protect our livers against damage simply by eating the right things, by avoiding foods that can do it harm and consuming foods that can help it. Studies have shown that hibiscus tea has properties that can help to protect out livers against harm.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits #3: Fights Bacteria
Although many bacteria are harmless, many do pose a real threat to our well-being, and even to our lives. It is not practical to avoid them completely but we can take reasonable measures to at least reduce our exposure to harmful bacteria. We should also try to keep our immune system healthy for some protection for when we do come into contact with them.
An infection may occur if bacteria manages to get a foothold in the body. Our immune system will get to work dealing with it straightaway. However, we can take further steps to help, and one of these steps can be to drink hibiscus tea because of its antibacterial properties.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits #4: Weight Loss
If you eat fewer calories than you burn, then you will begin to lose stored fat reserves. This can be done by both reducing your calorie intake and also exercising to increase the number of calories you use. It is a great deal easier to say it than it is to do it, however, and we will often need all the help we can get.
In addition to eating properly and spending time exercising, there are other things you can do to complement your regime. One of these is to drink hibiscus tea regularly as studies have suggested that it may be able to help with weight loss programs.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits #5: Lowers Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a problem for many people. It is sometimes caused by a buildup of fats and plaque in the arteries. This narrows the passage, thus increasing the pressure of the blood. Another common cause is a diet that is high in sodium, which often involves a lot of junk food.
Regardless of the cause, it is always a good idea to get your blood pressure to within safe levels where possible. This will often mean lifestyle changes, although some small changes could help make a difference. Including some hibiscus tea in your diet could help to a degree as studies have shown that it may be able to reduce diastolic and systolic blood pressure.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits #6: Antioxidation
Oxidation is a natural process that all of us are exposed to. It causes physical changes to our cells, altering their makeup, and this effectively damages them. This damage is partly responsible for the effects of aging on our body, while it can also contribute to cancer. We cannot yet avoid this process but we can at least limit it.
Hibiscus tea is a good source of antioxidants. These are compounds that help to protect our cells from oxidation and the effect it has on our body. Studies into hibiscus tea have so far been promising, but more research needs to be done before we have conclusive findings.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits #7: Relieves Menstruation Pains
When an egg is fertilized, it needs a safe place to settle so it can then start dividing and developing. Such a place is provided in the walls of the uterus, which is lined with blood and a mucous membrane. Every once a month or so, this lining will be dispatched and replaced with a new one.
This is a process known as menstruation, and it can result in numerous unwelcome symptoms, one of which is a pain in the abdomen area. Studies have shown that hibiscus is able to help reduce the severity of this pain. The tea may also be able to reduce other symptoms such as depression and mood swings.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits #8: Aids Digestion
As with all other animals, we must eat to survive. This is because the food we eat provides us with the building blocks for growth and repair. It also supplies us with other nutrients that keep our bodies functioning, and also provides us with essential energy. As such, it is a good idea that our digestive system is in good working order.
If you are experiencing any problems with digestion, hibiscus tea could be just what you need. It is often used to help treat constipation and a range of other problems with the digestive system. It may even be able to help prevent colorectal cancer.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits #9: Regulates Body Temperature
We have evolved to be able to regulate our own body temperature. When we are too hot, for example, our hairs will stand on end to release any trapped heat. We will also begin to perspire, which helps to take heat away from the body. While it is quite effective, we can sometimes overheat.
Hibiscus tea is known for its ability to help the body cool down quickly, making it ideal for hot summer days. It is also known for its ability to satiate thirst, making it even more useful for hot weather. For these reasons, it is often used by athletes as a performance-enhancing iced beverage.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits #10: Antidepressant
Mental health is a serious problem in countless people across the planet. Depression, in particular, is a very serious condition and is the biggest killer in men in a certain age group. There is a great deal more that we need to learn about mental health issues but we are getting better at treating them.
Many treatments for depression and other mental health conditions are made in the laboratory. Others, however, are far more natural, such as hibiscus tea. Drinking it can help to calm people down, in turn reducing anxiety and relieving depression. Of course, professional medical advice should also be followed when it comes to dealing with any mental health condition.
