Hibiscus, also known as China rose or gudhal, is a ruby-red flower from the Hibiscus sabdariffa plant. This flower is not only visually appealing but also has medicinal properties. Its dried petals are used to make a herbal tea that offers several health and wellness benefits, including better immunity, better heart health, and improved skin.
Read more to explore Hibiscus tea benefits and explore its possible downsides for safe use. Scroll down.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits for Health and Well-Being
The bright, reddish tea made from hibiscus petals can offer various health benefits, including improved mood, enhanced digestion, and cholesterol management, among others. Scroll down for detailed benefits:
1. Relieves Stress and Anxiety
The well-known therapeutic advantage of hibiscus tea is that it has sedative and anxiety-reducing effects. Drinking this herbal tea can lower the stress hormone cortisol and promote relaxation. If you struggle with anxiety and stress, you can have hibiscus tea to calm your nervous system.
2. Helps Treat Skin Issues
Hibiscus is rich in Myricetin, a potential antioxidant that prevents collagen breakdown and helps keep your skin feeling firm. Its anti-inflammatory properties can help calm irritated skin. Drinking hibiscus tea benefits skin conditions such as rosacea and reduces redness.
3. Elevates Energy Levels
Hibiscus is beneficial in boosting energy levels by improving overall health and vitality. It is loaded with anthocyanins and flavonoids that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the body and improve mitochondrial function. Moreover, it is packed with iron-rich content that helps reduce tiredness and fatigue, as some of the many hibiscus tea benefits.
4. Strengthens Immunity
Steeping hibiscus leaves in warm water makes a refreshing drink rich in vitamin C, which helps the body fight off infections and illnesses. The polyphenols in this tea neutralise harmful free radicals and improve immune response against pathogens. Hibiscus medicinal properties can be your remedy to treat seasonal cold.
5. Promotes Weight Loss
Hibiscus tea use boosts metabolism, which improves your body’s ability to burn fat for energy throughout the day. In addition to that, one study on NIH records that hibiscus sabdariffa extract inhibits obesity and fat accumulation in the body.
6. Boosts Hair Growth
If you dream of long and strong hair, sipping hibiscus tea could be your way to go. It contains vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants that nourish hair follicles and promote hair growth. Studies on rat models have demonstrated that extracts from the leaves of hibiscus plants have hair-growth-stimulating properties.
7. Helps Manage Diabetes
One study has shown that just 150 ml of infusion tea made with hibiscus leaves can improve the functioning of beta cells in the pancreas. This establishes a strong link between hibiscus tea consumption and improvements in type 2 diabetes. You can enjoy these hibiscus drink benefits by steeping some dried petals in warm water and drinking it.
8. Helps Manage Cholesterol Levels
There is strong evidence that hibiscus extracts may have cholesterol-lowering effects. The claims are backed by a clinical study involving 43 adults. They drank 12 cups of hibiscus tea per day for a period of 12 weeks. As a result, the mean reduction of total cholesterol by 9.46%, HDL by 8.33%, and LDL by 9.80% was observed. So, hibiscus tea benefits can help manage your cholesterol profile too.
9. Improves Heart Health
The extract of hibiscus petals can contribute to better heart health by lowering systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in adults. This effect of hibiscus tea can be beneficial for managing hypertension, improving cardiovascular health, and protecting heart health.
10. Protects the Liver from Damage
Hibiscus has pro-liver properties that help restore antioxidant enzyme levels, such as those of catalase and superoxide dismutase, in the liver. Thus, the goodness of hibiscus tea helps combat oxidative stress and cellular damage to the liver.
Some studies have shown that hibiscus extracts can prevent liver steatosis and inhibit excess fat buildup in the liver. This could be potentially beneficial for those with non-alcoholic fatty acid disease (NAFLD).
11. May Have Anti-Cancer Properties
In a study done on breast cancer cells, it was found that hibiscus extracts can supplement cancer treatments and help reduce chemotherapy dosages. However, the proof of anti-cancer effects of hibiscus extracts is limited to test-tube studies, and indicates its huge potential for being a candidate for anti-cancer programs.
Read More: Peppermint Tea Benefits: 7 Reasons to Sip Your Way to Better Health
Side Effects & Considerations
While there are many advantages of drinking hibiscus tea, it is also important to consider its downsides for balanced use. Check the hibiscus tea side effects below:
- As per an NIH study, hibiscus tea may have estrogenic activity in your body and may affect the chances of conception or fetal implantation. It is suggested that pregnant or trying-to-conceive women should exercise caution drinking it.
- Since hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure, those with chronically low blood pressure should take it in moderation only.
- Some may experience gastrointestinal issues after taking hibiscus tea.
- If you have a pollen allergy, drinking tea made from hibiscus petals may trigger symptoms like rashes, itching, etc.
- It may interact with certain medications; therefore, consult your doctor before taking this medication if you’re on any medications or have specific health conditions.
To Sum Up
Hibiscus tea is packed with several polyphenols, anthocyanins, flavonoids, amino acids, vitamins, etc., that are beneficial for overall health and well-being. Hibiscus tea properties can help relax your nervous system and reduce stress. Drinking hibiscus tea also benefits cardiovascular health, immunity, liver health, skin, and promotes weight loss. Pour yourself a hibiscus tea for a refreshing drink packed with immense health benefits.
