Hibiscus Flowers for Drinks- Benefits and How to make

Hibiscus Flowers for Drinks! Do you know how flavorful and beneficial it is! Hot hibiscus drink is an herbal drink that can be made by soaking or immersing parts of the hibiscus plant in boiling water and then drinking it hot. It is also called Sorrell tea or “sour tea”. People around the world often use it in food and preparing medicines, especially in ancient civilizations – including the Egyptian civilization. Hibiscus was a famous medicine to reduce fever and treat problems, nerves, and heart problems. In this article, we list some of the benefits of hibiscus flowers for a drink and how it works.

What is Hibiscus Flower Drink

Hibiscus drinks are a very effective and popular herbal tea made by steeping parts of the hibiscus plant in boiling water.

It has a mild tart flavor just like cranberries and you can enjoy it hot or cold.

There are several hundred species of hibiscus that vary depending on the location and climate in which they grow, but the hibiscus is the most popular for making hibiscus tea or drinks.

Research has revealed a range of health benefits associated with drinking hibiscus tea, showing that it may lower blood pressure, fight bacteria, and even aid weight loss.

Forms of Hibiscus

Hibiscus may be available in the following forms:

• single tea bags
• ready-to-drink tea
• loose flower petals
• liquid extract
• encapsulated powder
• Raw flowers

Here’s How to make Hibiscus Flowers for Drinks

Hibiscus drink is one of the easy drinks to prepare at home.

You can prepare it by following the following steps:

1. Put dried hibiscus flowers in a teapot.
2. Pour boiling water over it and cover it.
3. Leave it to soak for at least five minutes.
4. Pour it into the cup after sweetening it to taste with honey or sugar, or add a citrus flavor to it by squeezing some lemon.

You can also prepare a hot hibiscus drink with other additions to give it more flavor and benefits, as follows:

1. Put a pot of water on the fire until it boils.
2. Add dried hibiscus flowers to an empty teapot.
3. Pour boiling water over the hibiscus.
4. Add the tea bag to the hibiscus boiled water.
5. Cover the teapot and leave it for at least five minutes.
6. Pour the drink into the cup and sweeten it to taste with honey or white sugar.
7. Garnish the drink with some ground cinnamon, mint leaves, or a slice of lemon.

Where do I buy hibiscus flowers for drinks?

It is available in the form of teabags, liquid extract, dried flowers, or coated powder.

Benefits of Hibiscus Flowers for Drinks

We show you, dear, the benefits of hot hibiscus for you and your family:

It prevents disease

Hot hibiscus contains a lot of antioxidants that may help your body to fight and prevent diseases, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

It should be noted that most of the studies related to this matter have been conducted by scientists on animals and not on humans.

It can help fight bacteria

Bacteria are a type of microorganisms that are single-celled and can cause a variety of infections like bronchitis to pneumonia to urinary tract infections.

In addition to its antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties, some lab studies have found that hibiscus can help fight bacterial infections.

In fact, one test-tube study found that hibiscus extract inhibited the activity of Escherichia coli, a strain of bacteria that can cause symptoms like cramping, gas, and diarrhea (14).

A study showed that the hibiscus flower extract fought eight strains of bacteria and was as effective as some medications used to treat bacterial infections (15).

However, no human studies have looked at the antibacterial effects of hibiscus tea, so it remains unclear how these results might translate to humans.

It can promote weight loss

Among the five benefits of hibiscus is that it may help you lose more weight, and many people around the world use it for this purpose, and we would like to draw your attention to the fact that studies in this area are very old and were carried out on large doses of hibiscus.

Several studies suggest that hibiscus tea may be linked to weight loss and protection against obesity.

In research, Researchers provide 36 overweight participants either hibiscus extract or a placebo. After 12 weeks, hibiscus extract reduced body weight, body fat, BMI, and hip-to-waist ratio (5).

An animal study found similar results, reporting that giving obese mice hibiscus extract for 60 days resulted in a decrease in body weight (6).

Hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure

Drinking hot hibiscus may help reduce blood pressure.

Over time, high blood pressure can put more stress on the heart and weaken it. High blood pressure can increase the risk of heart disease (16).

Several studies have found that hibiscus tea may lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

In a study conducted over 65 people with high blood pressure were given to drink hibiscus flowers tea or a placebo. After six weeks, those who drank the hibiscus tea experienced a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure, compared to the placebo (17).

Similarly, a 2015 review of five studies found that hibiscus tea reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 7.58 mm Hg and 3.53 mm Hg, respectively (18).

Though hot hibiscus tea may be a safe and very effective natural way to help lower blood pressure, it is not recommended for those who are taking hydrochlorothiazide, a type of diuretic used to treat high blood pressure, because it may interact with medication (19).

It prevents you from getting cancer

Hot hibiscus is characterized by its content of compounds that have properties capable of fighting cancer, so eating it may contribute to the prevention of cancer, but we still need more studies and research on humans to prove this.

Hibiscus is high in polyphenols, compounds that have been shown to have powerful anti-cancer properties (7).

Test tube studies have found magnificent results regarding the possible effect of hibiscus extract on cancer cells.

In one test-tube study, hibiscus extract impaired cell growth and reduced the spread of oral cancers and plasma cells (8).

Another research has proved that Hibiscus extract inhibits stomach cancer cells by up to 52%. (9).

Keep in mind that these were lab studies using large amounts of hibiscus extract. It needs more research on humans to evaluate the effect of hibiscus tea on cancer.

Hibiscus flowers for drink-Promotes liver health

Drinking hot hibiscus may support liver health and improve its performance, and may contribute to reducing signs of liver damage, according to a laboratory study conducted on mice and published in the Journal of Food & Nutrition Research in 2015. (10)

A study over 19 overweight people found that taking hibiscus extract for 12 weeks improved liver steatosis. This condition is characterized by a buildup of fat in the liver that can lead to liver failure (11).

A study in hamsters also demonstrated the liver-protecting properties of hibiscus extract, showing that treatment with hibiscus extract reduced signs of liver damage (12).

Another animal study reported that giving rats a hibiscus extract increased the concentration of several drug detoxifying enzymes in the liver by up to 65% (13).

It May help lower blood fat levels

In addition to lowering blood pressure, some studies have found that hibiscus tea may help lower blood fat levels, which are another risk factor for heart disease.

In one study, 60 people with diabetes were given hibiscus tea or black tea. After passing one month the result was amazing! Those who drank hot hibiscus flower tea experienced increased “good” HDL cholesterol and decreased total cholesterol, “bad” LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides (20).

Another study in people with metabolic syndrome showed that taking 100 mg of hibiscus extract daily was associated with a decrease in total cholesterol and an increase in “good” HDL cholesterol (21).

However, other studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the effect of hibiscus tea on blood cholesterol.

Hibiscus Flowers for Drinks- Delicious and Easy to Prepare

Aside from its many potential health benefits, hibiscus tea is delicious and easy to prepare at home.

Just add dried hibiscus flowers to a teapot and pour boiling water over them. Let it soak for five minutes, then drain, sweeten if desired, and enjoy.

Hibiscus tea can be eaten hot or cold and has a tart taste similar to that of cranberries.

For this reason, it is often sweetened with honey or flavored with a squeeze of lemon juice to balance the acidity.

You can purchase dried hibiscus flowers at your local health food store or online. Hibiscus tea is also available in pre-made tea bags, which can be steeped in hot water, scooped out, and enjoyed.

Is it harmful to drink hot hibiscus flowers tea?

Hot hibiscus flowers tea is often considered safe, but excessive consumption may cause some side effects, such as:

• Flatulence
• Stomachache.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Headache;
• Tinnitus.
• Constipation;
• Pain when urinating.
• Dizziness and fatigue;

Are there any precautions and side effects to using hibiscus flowers for drinks?

Yes, there are some precautions to be aware of when drinking hot hibiscus, including:

1. It is not recommended to take hibiscus drink or its extract with the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide or the pain medication paracetamol, as it may interfere with their pharmacological effect. (2)
2. It may affect the effectiveness of birth control pills that contain estrogen because they contain plant estrogen.(3)
3. It may cause a drop in blood pressure, so you or your family members who have symptoms of high blood pressure should monitor their blood pressure frequently. (4)
4. It may cause a drop in the blood sugar level, so you or your family members should consult your doctor before starting to drink it constantly, with the need to ensure that you measure your blood sugar levels and monitor for symptoms of low blood sugar.
5. It is preferable not to drink hot hibiscus if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and be sure to consult your doctor before that.
6. A study held in 2013, reported that very high doses of hibiscus extract can lead to liver damage. They showed that hibiscus extract was resulted to interact with hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic) in animals and with acetaminophen in humans. (1)

The Final Thought

In conclusion, dear, after we have presented some of the benefits of hibiscus flowers for drinks, how to prepare them, and the precautions of its use, it is important to note the need to drink hibiscus drink in moderation and not more than two cups per day.

Other products containing it such as capsules, nutritional supplements, or extracts may contain large quantities of it and it is not known exactly the degree of its safety on the health of women and pregnant women.

so you should talk to the doctor about its safety, especially when taking other medicines to see if it interferes with its effect and harms or not.

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