Why is hibiscus tea good for high blood pressure?
The healing properties of hibiscus infusion for hypertensive patients are determined by the composition of the drink. It includes the following substances that are beneficial for the heart and blood vessels:
- magnesium - strengthens the walls of blood vessels, has a positive effect on the heart;
- calcium - strengthens bones, reduces the risk of blood clots;
- potassium - normalizes blood pressure;
- manganese - improves blood clotting;
- phytosterols - serve to prevent the formation of cholesterol plaques;
- iron - normalizes hemoglobin, prevents anemia;
- copper - improves the formation of red blood cells.
It turns out that the drink contains a powerful cocktail for the prevention and treatment of most problems of the cardiovascular system and for improving blood quality and lowering blood pressure.
When drinking hibiscus regularly, the following positive effects appear:
- The walls of blood vessels are strengthened, they become more stable. This effect is due to the action of vitamin C and anthocyanins;
- the absence of various stimulants, such as theine and caffeine - therefore, there is no increase in heart rate;
- prevents arrhythmia, normalizes heart function due to potassium in the composition;
- due to antispasmodics, vasodilation occurs;
- the infusion has some diuretic properties, removes excess fluid from the body, relieving the body of edema and reducing the load on the heart;
- If consumed regularly, the weight gradually returns to normal.
If you drink a properly infused drink, then in hypertensive patients the effect of hibiscus on blood pressure is noticeable - it decreases. The main thing is to drink regularly in small doses, but we will talk about this below.
General information about red tea
This is a special type of tea made from Malaysian rose petals, which when brewed acquires an amazing aroma and also a red color. The tea acquires this unusual shade thanks to the petals of hibiscus, which is considered the national flower of the country of Malaysia.
For adherents of Islam, five petals represent the same number of commandments. The flower is revered in many Asian countries, as well as among pagans, residents of China and India.
Hibiscus is a tropical plant that grows in the form of a bush and belongs to the mallow family. Botanical name: Hibiscus sabdarifa. Despite the rather exotic “name”, the flower is the closest relative of the ordinary “Chinese rose”, which is grown as a houseplant.
The flowers are unusually large, can reach 10 centimeters in diameter. Thick petals are bright red with a purple corolla. The aroma of the flower can be felt even from a short distance. The stem, leaf mass and calyxes also have a red tint.
Also read: does green tea increase or decrease blood pressure?
Beneficial features
Flower tea has many beneficial properties. Let's list just a few of them.
- The substances that cause the drink to turn red are called anthocyanins. They are the ones who make the vascular network stronger, are responsible for vascular permeability, and normalize blood pressure.
- In the East, hibiscus has long been used as a diuretic. In China, they believed that the red drink could improve the general condition of even an old sick person.
- Has a cleansing effect. Removes metabolic products from the body, improves the condition of the immune system.
- Promotes the outflow of bile, helps the liver recover and resist adverse effects, resulting in improved metabolism.
- With constant consumption of tea, some types of pathogenic microorganisms die in the body. It is often used as an anthelmintic.
- The citric acid found in the flowers gives the tea a unique taste, making it an excellent refreshing drink in hot weather.
- Hibiscus flowers and petals do not contain oxalic acid. Therefore, you can drink hibiscus if you have kidney disease.
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The calyxes of the flowers, swollen during brewing, are very useful. They contain protein and pectin, which is “responsible” for cleansing the intestines. It helps remove heavy metals and toxins.
Beneficial properties of hibiscus flowers
Sudanese rose is a plant that has a number of exceptional medicinal properties. Tea made from its flowers has beneficial effects on the entire body, including:
- strengthens blood vessels, qualitatively regulating their permeability;
- reduces the content of “bad” cholesterol in the blood due to the high content of gammalinolenic acid;
- has antibacterial properties;
- acts as a mild diuretic and laxative;
- acts as an antispasmodic;
- influences the strengthening of the body's resistance to infections and viruses;
- cleanses of toxins, heavy metal salts;
- known for its high P-vitamin activity, which has a beneficial effect on the condition of the heart and blood vessels.
Important! The beneficial properties of hibiscus tea allow it to be used as a means of treating and preventing atherosclerosis, hypertension, liver diseases, and gastrointestinal tract diseases (with low acidity).
The drink is drunk in case of poisoning, including alcohol poisoning, to strengthen the immune system, including in children. This versatility allows almost everyone to enjoy the taste of their favorite drink with tangible health benefits.
Effect on blood pressure indicators
On many forums dedicated to the topic of health, you can come across the statement that a hot drink raises blood pressure, and a cold drink lowers it. It is possible that some people were able to experience a similar effect of tea. However, this fact has not been proven by science. But the experiments of American scientists prove the opposite, that the temperature of the drink does not affect its beneficial properties.
Under the supervision of a doctor, for two months, patients drank hibiscus tea three times a day. Experimentally, we were able to figure out whether this drink lowers or increases blood pressure.
The experiment revealed that regular consumption of red tea helps reduce blood pressure by about 7 units. But it is important to remember how to drink and how to brew tea correctly. To reduce pressure, you need to pour tea leaves with water at room temperature and leave for 2-3 hours.
Thus, we managed to find out how to drink hibiscus with high blood pressure. And also in order to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and make them more elastic, to prevent the formation of cholesterol plaques in them, which over time turn into blood clots.
If the water temperature is above 60 degrees and the leaves are heavily steamed, the effect will be exactly the opposite, namely, it will increase the pressure.
Scientists recommend drinking the drink regularly as a preventive measure against heart attack and stroke. This will be useful for those who suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular system. And also for people who care about their health. However, everything must be done in moderation, without fanaticism. Two cups of aromatic drink a day will be enough.
Drink against illness and thirst
A drink made from hibiscus flowers is the national drink of Egypt. In local climatic conditions, the fact that hibiscus copes well with thirst is especially appreciated. And the ancient Egyptians considered the plant a source of vitality. Hibiscus flowers have even been found in noble tombs.
Hibiscus has become an integral part of the culture of the state of Hawaii. On the islands, the Sudanese rose is a symbol of female beauty. Here it is customary to decorate hairstyles with this flower. The famous Hawaiian “beads” are often made from it.
Hibiscus is especially popular in hot countries. In our area, if you believe the statistics of manufacturers, the drink is still inferior to black and green teas, coffee and even herbal teas. But, according to reviews from lovers of Chinese rose decoctions, this state of affairs is unfair. After all, the drink not only has an unusual taste, but the health benefits of hibiscus are invaluable.
Chinese rose tea strengthens the immune system, has a positive effect on the liver, kidneys and heart, and helps with high blood pressure. Eliminates heartburn, has an anti-inflammatory and diuretic effect. The product tones, but does not lead to overstimulation. Therefore, hibiscus tea is drunk even before bed and brewed for children. Hibiscus is good at restoring strength after physical exertion, so it is especially suitable for athletes. It's also a good hangover cure.
How to brew to reduce indicators?
You can’t boil hibiscus for two reasons׃
- tea loses its amazing color and becomes cloudy gray;
- beneficial substances disintegrate when boiled.
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Therefore, tea is brewed in the usual way, using only porcelain or glassware for this procedure. There is no need to use metal containers to brew healthy tea. Also, the infusion will take on a green tint if you use too hard water for brewing.
To get a tasty and aromatic drink with a beautiful color, you need to take a heaped teaspoon of crushed leaves for a glass of boiling water. The drink is consumed cool or hot, depending on personal preference and the time of year.
Which hibiscus is better to buy?
As a drink base, hibiscus can be available in different forms:
- dry flower petals for brewing;
- tea bags;
- liquid extract;
- encapsulated powder;
- ready-to-drink liquid tea in bottles.
In Russian stores you can most often find the first two types. In this case, it is better to give preference to whole petals, which are the most versatile and safe product in terms of contraindications. In terms of price, it is better to focus on the middle segment - this will allow you to avoid unnecessary expenses and at the same time not be mistaken with quality.
As for the appearance of the petals, choose the most solid, non-crumbling flowers of a bright burgundy color.
Effect on hypertensive patients
For hypertensive patients, this tea is a great find, since with regular use it can become an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs, which often have an endless list of contraindications. It has a strong beneficial effect if the disease is only in the initial stage.
Antioxidants, which are present in Sudanese rose flowers, have a protective effect, preventing the destructive “work” of free radicals.
A drink made from hibiscus petals helps reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious heart diseases. That is why it is so useful as a preventive measure against blood pressure.
You should not get too carried away with drinking red tea, as this can cause a drop in blood pressure. As a result, unpleasant symptoms arise
- dizziness;
- weakness;
- pulse surges;
- nausea;
- cardiopalmus.
To avoid unwanted consequences, drink no more than two cups per day. Only after eating. This drink can be safely consumed by older people, children and pregnant women.
Conclusion
Hibiscus is not just a colored exotic from the warm region of our planet, it is also a vitamin complex that cleanses the body, improves well-being, promotes rejuvenation, and improves metabolic processes. The drink is universal, as it is suitable for drinking hot on frosty, winter evenings and cold on hot summer days to quench thirst. To preserve the rich color, delicate aroma and maximum useful components, you need to understand how to properly prepare hibiscus. The above tips will help you enjoy the fully developed, sweet and sour taste of a rich viscous liquid. Before purchasing raw materials, carefully inspect the contents. Even compliance with all stages of brewing does not guarantee the expected aftertaste if the drying and storage technology is violated and the integrity of the buds is lost.
How to drink tea with high blood pressure?
Doctors write about the beneficial features of hibiscus and claim that if you drink 300 ml of the aromatic drink daily, you can reduce the likelihood of developing hypertension by 40%.
How to brew tea to reduce high blood pressure? In this case, Malaysian rose petals are brewed differently. The flower inflorescence is boiled for about 7–10 minutes. Take 1-2 teaspoons of petals per 250 ml of water. For these purposes, only enamel dishes or fireproof glass pans are suitable.
How to brew hibiscus so that it does not lose its beneficial properties? The inflorescences are placed in a glass container, poured with cold boiled water and infused for several hours. The richness of the tea will depend on the aging time. Hibiscus tea is always stored in the refrigerator.
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Contraindications
Sometimes excessive passion for hibiscus can bring not only benefits, but also harm. Tea should be consumed with caution by people with gastrointestinal problems. However, they can safely drink tea after meals twice a day.
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People who are allergic to it, as well as those who suffer from low or unstable blood pressure, should avoid the red drink.
It has almost been proven that the effect on blood pressure of hibiscus is much stronger than that of ordinary tea or green tea. Regular consumption of the drink can have a therapeutic effect and reduce blood pressure by 7-13 units.
