Why You Should Be Drinking Hibiscus Tea

by Cheryl | 21 Mar 2019

Hibiscus is Malaysia’s national flower, namely Bunga Raya in Malay. The word bunga in Malay means "flower", while raya is defined as "celebratory". Therefore, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is literally known as the "celebratory flower" in Malay. The red of the petals represent the courage, life, and rapid growth of the Malaysian, and the five petals symbolizes the five Rukun Negara of Malaysia. On a side note, the flower can be found imprinted on the notes and coins of the Malaysian ringgit too. Apart from the symbolization Hibiscus brings , Hibiscus has a lot of benefits too ! Dried hibiscus is edible, it can also be candied or to be used as a garnish . Did you know that hibiscus tea can be made into tea for health purposes ? Here are some health benefit of hibiscus tea that will leave you in awe!

1.) As an Antioxidant
Antioxidants help fight cell damaging compounds called free radicals. Hibiscus tea which is rich in antioxidants will prevent damage and disease caused by the formation of free radicals. Hence , hibiscus tea is helpful in protecting our liver. According to research studies , it has been proven that the antioxidant properties of hibiscus tea greatly helps in treating liver diseases. This is because antioxidants in hibiscus help neutralize the free radicals present in body tissues and cells. Therefore , drinking hibiscus tea can maintain your overall health thus lengthening your lifespan .

Did you know that hibiscus tea is that it may lower blood pressure. As time goes by, high blood pressure can exert extra pressure on the heart and cause it to weaken. High blood pressure is also related to an increased risk of heart disease . A report suggests that consuming hibiscus tea lowers the blood pressure in pre-hypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. Did you know that 1/3 of adults in the United States suffer from high blood pressure, which is also referred to as hypertension? Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, hibiscus tea can effectively reduce blood pressure . In order to obtain the result , you need to consume three cups of this tea regularly on a daily basis for a few weeks In other words , hibiscus tea is definitely a safe and natural way to help lower blood pressure.

3.) May Boost Liver Health
Liver is an important organ because it produces proteins to secreting bile to breaking down fat therefore your liver is crucial to your overall health. What’s more interesting is studies have proven hibiscus may promotes liver health and ensures it functions efficiently. One study conducted in 19 overweight people found that consuming hibiscus extract for 12 weeks continuously greatly improved liver steatosis. This condition is caused by the accumulation of fat in the liver, which eventually leads to liver failure . Not only that, a study in hamsters also demonstrated the liver-protecting properties of hibiscus extract, showing that treatment with hibiscus extract lowered the markers of liver damage.

4.) Immunity support.
Hibiscus tea is an excellent for immune booster , as it is extremely rich in ascorbic acid, which is commonly known as vitamin C. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is responsible for maintaining the immune system healthy . White blood cells plays an important role in the body and are responsible for fighting the pathogens and infections that damages the body . Not only that , vitamin C promotes healthy skin and tissues thus keeping the nervous system functioning well. Did you know that drinking hibiscus tea could also be beneficial for anaemia patients? This is because hibiscus tea is rich in iron . The vitamin C naturally found within the hibiscus works to complement the iron, which increases its absorption. A study conducted in Taiwan on mice showed that drinking hibiscus tea can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Thus, researchers believed that a type of compound called anthocyanins found in the hibiscus tea were the main reason for slowing the growth of specific cancer cells.

5.) Prevent formation of kidney stones
Kidney stones occur when there is an accumulation of calcium oxalates in the urine. These stones are painful, causes inflammation and worst of all it is difficult for them to leave the body. This study showed that hibiscus prevents calcium oxalate crystals from turning into stones in rats. The study found that the a compound named calyces of the hibiscus flower are anti-urolithiatic and can be consumed without side effects, which means drinking hibiscus tea is effective in preventing kidney stones.

How to prepare :
-2 cups of fresh Hibiscus Flowers (or 1/2 cup dried Hibiscus Flowers
-8 cups of Water
-1/4 cup of Honey (add according to personal preference)
-3 tablespoons of fresh Lime Juice

INSTRUCTIONS 1. To prepare the hibiscus flowers , if you are using fresh hibiscus flowers, remove the calyx or the green part at the base of the flower to which the stem is attached. You can also remove the pistil which has pollens attached to it or you can choose to keep it. You can skip this step if you are using dried flowers.

2. Put the hibiscus flower into and water into a big pot. Bring the hibiscus flowers and water to a boil .Once the water starts boiling, switch off the flame and cover the vessel. At this point, you can also add in other herbs such as basil, lemon grass, lemon zest and so on . After that , let the tea steep for 15-20 minutes. Then , mix in the honey and lime juice till completely combined and strain the tea.

3. To serve the hibiscus tea, you can either serve hibiscus tea warm or cold by chilling it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Enjoy !

As a conclusion , drinking hibiscus tea provides a lot pf benefits! Therefore , try drinking hibiscus tea starting from today and see prepare to be amazed by the positive effects !