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Hibiscus Tea. Benefits And Harms

 

The tea of beautiful ruby ​​color with a pleasant acidity and characteristic aroma, according to Wikipedia, called Hibiscus, have been tasted probably by everyone. Although it is necessary to make a reservation that it is rather a drink, than the tea in the classical sense: after all, for its preparation inflorescence of plants are used instead of leaves, one of which is hibiscus. However, all the brewed substances we usually call “tea”, and therefore Hibiscus is not an exception. It has a very old history, covered with legends, as for the number of its different properties. Some people consider it almost a panacea, while others  consider it as a placebo. The debate about benefit and harm of Hibiscus is discussed for a long time.

Legend has it that the hibiscus tea was popular in ancient Egypt. Pharaohs drank it firmly believing that it is the miraculous elixir of youth, health and longevity. Therefore, it was never ended, they sent their warriors to the homeland of this magic flower - South Sudan. Arab doctors called Hibiscus “ the cure from all the diseases”, as no other components has such excellent antipyretic and soothing properties.

1. Citric acid in hibiscus tea, has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

2. "Drink of the Pharaohs" is not less rich in ascorbic acid (vitamin C), it helps to strengthen the immune system, helps the body to resist colds. In addition, in combination with bioflavonoids (rutin, quercetin), which are also available as part of hibiscus tea, vitamin C creates a powerful anti-infective "shield".

3. Flavonoids, among other things, are also of great value, because they have the ability to reduce the permeability of blood vessel walls.

4. It is proved that hibiscus tea has choleretic properties and has a positive effect on the liver. Established and sufficiently effective diuretic capacity of this drink, help to get rid of swelling and to lose a few extra kilos.

5. It is also good as antispasmodic, which can gently remove pain arising in the gastrointestinal tract.

Myths about the healing drink

In many articles dedicated to this tea, it is written that, thanks to the powerful antioxidants that are part of it, it is able to rejuvenate the body, prevent its aging. Unfortunately, this statement is not entirely true and belongs to the category of fairy tales about "Rejuvenating the bull's-eye." If everything was that simple, people would live forever, but unfortunately, aging is inevitable, and there is no magic potion that is able to help.

The same can be said about the claim that the tea can become an obstacle preventing the formation of malignant tumors. Such utterances are not only groundless, but also immoral to a certain extent. After all, medicine has not found a single case, confirming the cure of cancer with the help of a beverage made from a hibiscus.

It is necessary to objectively assess another important aspect: the interconnection between  Hibiscus tea and pressure, because there is a very widespread belief that people with high blood pressure should drink it cold, while those with low blood pressure should drink it hot. This is a misleading, since after passing through the esophagus hot drink has some time to cool down in the stomach, and in both cases there will be the same "cocktail." This tea shoudn’t be very hot, as it may burn the esophagus.

The only thing known for certain about its effect on blood pressure, is the study of American physicians who have been observing 65 hypertensive patients for 6 weeks. They were faithfully drinking beverage from the cup 3 hibiscus daily, whereby the pressure drop was observed on average 7%. Therefore, we can conclude that the hibiscus tea possesses small antihypertensive properties.

However useful this tea may be, large amounts of its consumption can cause disorders of acid-base balance in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in digestive disorders with all its consequences. Therefore, experts advise to drink no more than 3 cups of tea a day, is very useful.

However, not everyone can consume a drink made from hibiscus. It is contraindicated in the following cases:

  • Gastric ulcer, gastritis;

  • pregnancy;

  • allergy.

Another important point is that the acid contained in hibiscus tea can have devastating effects on the tooth enamel, so after taking the drink, one should rinse the mouth with water to neutralize it.

Learning how to brew Hibiscus tea has also experienced serious discussions. Some urged not to expose it to high temperatures, as this destroys most useful components (vitamins, for example). Therefore it is recommended to cover the petals of the Sudanese rose with water of about 40 degrees. According to another version, you can treat them as you wish: pour boiling water, add sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves. Therefore, one chooses the option that is the most preferable for himself. The only thing we should not forget: you can not brew Hibiscus in a metal container, it must be submitted in ceramic or porcelain dishes.

In general, you can even arrange a kind of ceremony, bearing in mind that it is - a drink of the pharaohs. Exquisitely decorated table, which contains sugar, lemon, thin slices of ginger, mint leaves, beautifully told story of an ancient beverage, delicious brewed tea – are the factors that create a unique, festive atmosphere that will be remembered by the guests for a long time.

This drink has a lot of fans, but there are those who reject it completely, so the hibiscus tea, its benefits and harms are always the subject of debate. It is important to remember one thing: you need to possess enough information to know, that hibiscus tea is not a panacea from all the illnesses. However, some benefit can be obtained from the whole.

Useful properties of Hibiscus:

  • It stimulates the removal of toxins and bad cholesterol;

  • It strengthens the immune system;

  • Improves the complexion;

  • Eliminates inflammatory processes;

  • It makes the blood vessels more durable and impermeable;

  • It improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;

  • Promotes recovery from colds and flu, reduces muscle pain;

  • Increases physical endurance;

  • Eliminates chronic fatigue syndrome, relieves stress.

Negative properties of Hibiscus:

Popular diet based on the use of Hibiscus tea states that you need to drink a cup of drink every hour. The duration of this technique lasts for three weeks, after which you need to make a break for 10 days. However, such a large number of Hibiscus is not only able to have a negative impact on the heart, but can considerably spoil the teeth. If there is a violation of the acidity or aggravate gastritis, it is better to refuse from all these rather dangerous weight-loss techniques. Hibiscus has sour taste, which means that it promotes active secretion of gastric juice, but it only increases the appetite, not inhibit it. Judging from this, we can conclude that weight loss should not be expected from the consumption of Hibiscus. Otherwise, we can expect such bad consequences, like dehydration, diarrhea and other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

As it has already been mentioned, Hibiscus used to be called "a drink of the pharaohs." Perhaps, this title contains the whole force of this healing and very useful drink. For those who still doubt as for the beneficial qualities of Hibiscus tea, should simply try it and let the body decide- whether it is useful or not. The choice is up to you, but we are pretty sure that it is worth trying, as Hibiscus has an amazing aroma and delicate taste.

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