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You know that tea is good for you, especially the green variety, but there’s another tea that’s taking the town by storm: hibiscus tea.

Hibiscus tea isn’t exactly a new discovery. People from all over the world, especially those in hot, tropical regions, have been drinking hibiscus tea as part of their diets for centuries. But it’s only recently that this caffeine-free drink has gained the popularity it deserves.

Hibiscus tea is made by steeping fresh or dried hibiscus flowers (Hibiscus sabdariffa) in hot water. Because it is naturally tart, people sometimes add organic honey and spices like ginger or cinnamon to it to improve its flavor.

The amazing health benefits of hibiscus tea

Here are eight good reasons to pour yourself a cup of hibiscus tea:

1. Hibiscus tea offers essential nutrients

Hibiscus flowers contain loads of essential nutrients, including vitamin C, calcium, potassium and magnesium. A half-cup serving of hibiscus tea contains the following nutrients:

• Vitamin C – 18.4 milligrams (mg)
• Calcium – 8 mg
• Sodium – 4 mg
• Choline – 0.4 mg
• Potassium – 20 mg
• Manganese – 0.48 mg
• Magnesium – 3 mg
• Phosphorus – 1 mg

Hibiscus tea also contains traces of zinc, niacin, folate and iron.

2. Hibiscus tea helps normalize blood pressure

Drinking hibiscus tea is one way to naturally lower your blood pressure levels. A report from the American Heart Association published in 2008 found that drinking hibiscus tea helps lower blood pressure levels in people with mild cases of hypertension, or high blood pressure.

A 2010 study also showed that hibiscus tea can lower blood pressure by up to 10 points. But to enjoy the same benefit, you need to drink at least three cups of hibiscus tea daily.

3. Hibiscus tea promotes weight loss

If you want to lose some weight, try drinking hibiscus tea. Research suggests that hibiscus extracts can lower your risk of obesity, thanks to their beneficial effects on metabolism. In fact, a study on obese mice showed that giving them hibiscus tea helped reduce their total body weight.

4. Hibiscus tea lowers cholesterol levels

Hibiscus tea can ward off heart disease by reducing your “bad” cholesterol levels. Having high levels of bad cholesterol can cause damage to your blood vessels. It also puts you at risk of developing heart disease and experiencing life-threatening events like a heart attack or stroke.

5. Hibiscus tea supports liver health

Thanks to the antioxidants in hibiscus flowers, drinking hibiscus tea can help keep your liver in good shape. By reducing inflammation and preventing fat accumulation in your liver, hibiscus tea helps prevent liver disease.

6. Hibiscus tea fights inflammation

The vitamin C in hibiscus tea works as a powerful antioxidant that can boost your immune system and help protect your cells from inflammation. In fact, a study showed that rats given hibiscus extract had more antioxidant enzymes in their bodies than rats that didn’t receive the extract.

7. Hibiscus tea helps with depression

Hibiscus tea contains compounds called flavonoids that are said to have antidepressant properties. If you struggle with mental health problems like anxiety and depression, drinking hibiscus tea can help relieve related symptoms by calming your nervous system.

8. Hibiscus tea improves digestive health

Drinking hibiscus tea regularly can help solve some of your tummy troubles by promoting digestive health. In particular, hibiscus tea helps you stay regular and aids in digestion.

Recipe for hibiscus tea

Switch up your afternoon tea routine with hibiscus tea. This herbal drink looks as good as it tastes and takes no time at all to make. Here’s a simple recipe you can follow:

Ingredients for 5 servings:

• 8 cups water
• 1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers
• 1/4 cup raw organic honey
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Preparation:

1. Bring the water and hibiscus flowers to a boil in a large pot. Once boiling, turn off the heat. Cover the pot.
2. You can add other herbs at this point. Let the flowers steep for 15–20 minutes. Stir in the honey and lime juice.
3. Strain and discard the flowers and herbs, if using. Serve hot or let it chill in the refrigerator for some iced tea.

Notes:

• You can also use 2 cups of fresh hibiscus flowers for this recipe. Just remove the calyx or the green part at the base of the flower to which the stem is attached. You should also remove the pistil or the thin, thread-like tube in the middle of each flower. It has pollen attached to it, which can trigger allergies.
• You can flavor this tea with other herbs. Basil, lemongrass and mint all pair well with hibiscus.

Hibiscus tea is a tart herbal drink steeped in impressive health benefits. So pour yourself a cup today and boost your overall health.

Sources:

OrganicFacts.net

MyFoodStory.com