I love herbal teas. A cup of lavender tea is my go-to “nightcap.”
But there’s one I haven’t tried yet.
I don’t know why I’ve neglected hibiscus tea for so long. Besides its gorgeous, ruby-red color and unique flavor, it has so many health benefits to recommend it!
Let’s go over what the existing science shows, plus recent research that’s found hibiscus tea may hold the key to a new Alzheimer’s drug…
Hibiscus 101
Hibiscus tea is an herbal tea that’s made by steeping the petals of the hibiscus flower in boiling water.
The tea has a tart flavor, kind of like cranberries, and it can be enjoyed both hot and cold.
Of the few hundred species of hibiscus that grow in various locations, Hibiscus sabdariffa is most commonly used to make hibiscus tea.
Many health benefits have been attributed to hibiscus. Here are some highlights:
Antioxidants. Animal studies have found that the antioxidants in hibiscus tea lower glucose and blood cholesterol, thus fighting metabolic syndrome.
Lower blood pressure. Studies have shown that drinking hibiscus tea lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. But if you’re already taking medication for high blood pressure, better check with your doctor — this tea could interact with those medications and if you plan to drink it regularly, he or she may need to adjust your medication.
Lower blood cholesterol. The results are conflicting here, but there is some good news. Some studies have shown that drinking hibiscus tea can lower LDL (“bad” cholesterol) in people with diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Weight loss. A few human and animal studies have linked hibiscus extract with decreased body weight and body fat, but again, more research is needed.
Hibiscus helps activate cells that guard against Alzheimer’s
Two researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology in Korea have discovered that a natural compound in the hibiscus plant has the power to activate the cells in our brain that can launch a direct attack on developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease begins as beta-amyloid and tau proteins clump and tangle in brain tissue. Microglia are the immune cells within the brain that gather up these clumps and tangles, kind of like protective vacuum cleaners.
But microglia can become exhausted when the demand for cleanup is constant. The result is a chronic inflammatory reaction that damages nerve cells, leading to cognitive decline and memory loss.
The Korean research team treated mice that modeled symptoms of Alzheimer’s with gossypetin, the natural flavonoid found in the hibiscus plant.
After three months of feeding it to mice, they saw that their memory and cognition were almost restored to a normal level. And, there was a decrease in beta-amyloid clumping, indicating that gossypetin was helping microglia to clear out these clumps.
Drinking hibiscus tea
Hibiscus can also be found in jellies and dietary supplements, but the easiest and most pleasant way to add it to your diet is by drinking hibiscus tea.
You can purchase it in tea bags at most local stores or health food stores. Or, you can go all out and have the highest quality tea, you can buy loose-leaf hibiscus tea or dried hibiscus flowers.
Steep the tea for five minutes before you strain and drink it. And be careful when handling hibiscus tea — that beautiful red color will stain anything it’s spilled on!
Sources:
Gossypetin found in hibiscus may beat Alzheimer’s disease Eureka Alert
Gossypetin ameliorates 5xFAD spatial learning and memory through enhanced phagocytosis against Aβ Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy
The tea that tames metabolic syndrome — Easy Health Options