Hibiscus Tea – How to Prepare – Benefits and Side Effects
Now you can prepare tea with almost all ingredients. You can even prepare tea with hibiscus that is grown in your garden. It has medicinal properties and is good for your health.
Benefits of Hibiscus Tea for Skin:
Anti-aging:
Wrinkles, fine lines and age spots are the signs of aging. But you need not go for Botox treatment for this. Hibiscus tea is a solution for this. Hibiscus tea is rich in antioxidants, which can fight against the free radicals responsible for causing aging and remove signs of aging. It prevents loss of moisture and maintains the elasticity of the skin, thereby giving you your youth back.
Benefits of Hibiscus Tea for Health:
Aids digestion:
Drinking hibiscus tea is a good way to improve bowel and bladder function. This is because of the diuretic properties of this tea. It increases urination and makes sure that the bowel movements are normal. It is also good for treating constipation and indigestion.
A drink for all seasons:
You can have hibiscus tea all the time of the year, no matter what the season is. On a chilly day you can have it warm and on hot summers you can have it chilled.
Body coolant:
Chilled hibiscus can quench your thirst as it has instant cooling properties. It can flush out the harmful toxins from the body because of its diuretic properties.
Brings down blood sugar levels:
People having type-ll diabetes are greatly benefited by consuming hibiscus tea. This is because hibiscus has hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic properties, which can lower the levels of blood sugar.
Chemo-preventive effect:
Hibiscus flower has many chemo-preventive and tumour fighting properties. So, it is very effective for cancer patients.
Have laxative effects:
You can use hibiscus tea as a mild laxative. So, if you feel bloated, have a cup of hibiscus tea.
Keeps your liver healthy:
Liver is an important organ in our body. Your body is greatly affected if there is any liver related problem. Drinking hibiscus tea can help in keeping your liver healthy. This is because of the presence of antioxidants in hibiscus. The antioxidants help in neutralizing the free radicals in your body, tissues and cells. As a result your liver remains healthy and in good condition.
Lowers cholesterol levels:
Hibiscus tea is rich in antioxidants that can lower the levels of LDL or bad cholesterol in your body. As a result, the risk of heart strokes, heart attacks and any other cardiovascular diseases is lowered.
Prevents hypertension:
You suffer from bouts of dizziness and sudden rise in your temper if you have blood pressure. Including hibiscus tea in your regular diet can help in lowering the blood pressure. Consume three cups a day for a few weeks.
Rich in Vitamin C:
Drinking hibiscus can provide you the Vitamin C that you need daily. This vitamin is needed for healthy immune system.
Treats menstrual cramps:
Drinking hibiscus tea can provide you instant relief from menstrual cramps. This is because it has the ability to balance the hormones. This way it provided you relieve from cramps and also fights against various other health issues that you face during menstruation, like mood swings, overeating and so on.
Treats depression:
Depression is a condition that majority of people experience in today’s fast paced and competitive world. Drinking hibiscus tea is a good easy to fight against depression. It helps in calming your nervous system and reduces anxiety attacks, thereby making you feel relaxed.
Weight management:
Substituting caffeine with herbal teas is a great way to shed some of the extra pounds. Next time you can try hibiscus tea. This tea can lower the absorption of starch glucose, thereby leading to weight loss. Hibiscus also prevents the absorption process of carbohydrates by stopping the production of amylase. This flower is used as an ingredient in many of the weight loss products.
Hibiscus Tea Side Effects:
Affects oestrogen:
By consuming hibiscus tea the levels of oestrogen in your body gets lowered. If you are using HRT or are on birth control treatment, you should avoid drinking hibiscus tea.
Cancer complications:
If you are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, you should avoid hibiscus tea. This is because when it is taken along with cancer medications, it can cause complications.
Hallucinatory effects:
Many people get light headed and even intoxicated by consuming hibiscus tea. It can cause hallucinatory effects. So, you should be very careful when driving or using machinery when you have consumed this tea.
Low blood pressure:
Hibiscus tea is of great benefit for those suffering from high blood pressure as it has blood pressure lowering and diuretic properties. So, if you are taking medications for low blood pressure, you should avoid having hibiscus tea.
Pregnancy and fertility:
As mentioned earlier, hibiscus tea can lower the levels of oestrogen. This means that hibiscus tea may directly affect your reproductive ability. Lowering of oestrogen levels can lead to complications if you are planning a child. Not much research has been made in this area. However, it is best to avoid hibiscus tea when you are pregnant or planning to have a child.
How to Prepare Hibiscus Tea?
Hot hibiscus tea:
Ingredients needed:
- 2 teaspoons of dried hibiscus calyces
- A cup of boiling water
- Sweetener of your choice
- Other flavours (cinnamon or mint) – if you want your tea spicy and strong
What you need to do:
Pour the boiling water in a teapot and add the dried hibiscus into it. Brew for 5 to 10 minutes and then add the flavours of your choice. Strain it and add sweetener if you want. Serve hot.
Hibiscus iced tea:
Ingredients needed:
- 4cups of chilled water
- ½ cup dried hibiscus calyces
- Ice cubes 3 to 4
- sugar syrup (for taste)
What you need to do:
Add hibiscus to the chilled water and mix well. Refrigerate it for about 12 to 14 hours. Strain it, add ice cubes, and have it chilled.
