A drink made from hibiscus has a rich, sour taste. The scientific name of this plant is “hibiscus”, in the people it is also called the Sudanese rose. And in Egypt, tea is called the “drink of the pharaoh.” Tea has a huge amount of nutrients and it helps to cope with a number of diseases.
There are over 150 types of hibiscus. For medicinal purposes and in cooking, only two varieties are used: sabdariffa and rosella . But you can use absolutely all parts of the plant. In some countries, the leaves of the plant are used to make salads, and jams are made from the inflorescences and tea is brewed from them.
| Calories per 100 g, (kcal): | 5 |
| Protein in 100 g, (g): | 0.3 |
| Fats in 100 g, (g): | 0.0 |
| Carbohydrates in 100 g, (g): | 0.6 |
| Glycemic index: | 0 |
The composition and calorie content of hibiscus tea, vitamins and minerals
The bright red color of the drink is due to the rich presence of anthocyanins. This pigment has a huge number of useful properties. The plant itself has a low calorie content, in 100 ml of the drink there are only about 4-5 kcal.
There are many vitamins in the Sudanese rose: PP, A and C, vitamins of group B. The plant has excellent antioxidant properties, it has a lot of dietary fiber, so after drinking the drink, it is recommended to eat the leaves.
Hibiscus is rich in iron, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, sodium and citric acid. It also contains other organic acids, including tartaric acids. Of the unsaturated fatty acids, stearic and palmitic can be distinguished. The plant contains 13 amino acids, six of which are essential.
What is useful hibiscus tea
First of all, hibiscus quenches thirst and helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels. The drink helps lower blood pressure and stimulates the production of bile. It has an antibacterial effect on the entire body.
With the help of tea, you can strengthen the immune system and get rid of the common cold. It reduces nervous strain and stimulates the work of the heart muscle.
Drinking a drink has a positive effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract, but it is not recommended to use it with increased acidity of the stomach. Hibiscus helps to cleanse the body of toxins and even normalizes the “stool”.
It should also be borne in mind that tea constricts blood vessels when hot, and expands when cold.
Benefits of hibiscus tea for women
With the help of hibiscus, bleeding can be reduced, so it is recommended to use it during menstruation. Tea is useful in the presence of varicose veins.
It is advisable to use it during pregnancy. The drink will reduce pressure, cope with stomach problems. It will help you get rid of a cold.
The benefits of hibiscus tea for men
Hibiscus is considered a real male plant, as it allows you to cope with male diseases. It does not have a direct effect on the genital area, but improves blood circulation. Thanks to hibiscus, you can remove cholesterol, improve blood clotting.
Tea will be useful for men whose work is associated with high emotional experiences and intellectual work. The drink will prevent emotional exhaustion, prevent insomnia.
Hibiscus has a pronounced diuretic effect, thanks to which it allows you to cope with diseases of the urogenital area. In addition, it has antibacterial properties, so it is recommended for infectious diseases.
Anthocyanins, which are contained in the plant in large quantities, will prevent the occurrence of diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
Hibiscus tea during pregnancy and breastfeeding
During pregnancy, the main thing is to follow two rules – the norm and quality of the product. It is acceptable to use 1-2 cups of hibiscus per day. You need to buy tea without flavorings and other additives. Compliance with these simple rules will not harm the body of the baby and mother. Do not brew too strong tea either. The drink itself can be drunk hot or chilled.
Hibiscus allows women who are waiting for the birth of a new life to improve immunity, cope with the manifestations of toxicosis and normalize the work of the stomach. The drink allows you to saturate the body with almost all useful vitamins and minerals.
During lactation, hibiscus is also not prohibited for use. But you should follow the same rules as before childbirth, that is, drink tea in small quantities and purchase tea without chemical additives.
You should be careful if the mother is allergic to any plants. There is a high probability that the baby will also have similar problems, so you should carefully monitor the child’s condition after eating hibiscus. There is also a risk that hibiscus will cause colic in the baby.
Can hibiscus tea be given to children
For the child’s body, the drink will also be useful, but on the condition that he drinks no more than one cup a day. The drink itself should be lightly brewed. Introducing hibiscus into the diet is allowed no earlier than 3 years.
It is unacceptable to introduce a Sudanese rose if the baby has stomach problems.
Is hibiscus tea good for weight loss
The benefits of hibiscus in the process of losing weight have been recognized by almost all scientists in the world. The plant contains the optimal amount of pectins, fruit acids and antioxidants, which allow you to get rid of excess fat and weight.
As a cleanser, the drink should be consumed daily for 20-30 days. You will have to drink 3 cups per day.
The plant has unique features in general. It contains a substance called “amylase”, which stimulates the breakdown of complex fats and carbohydrates in the body. Vitamin C and calcium allow you to stabilize the “stool” and remove excess fluid from the body. Thanks to bioflavonoids , the body’s metabolism is stabilized and blood flow is accelerated.
Hibiscus tea for diabetes
In the presence of sugar disease, hibiscus is even recommended for use. The fact is that scientists managed to detect in the composition of the plant captopril , which reduces the concentration of glucose in the blood. However, tea will have to be drunk without the addition of sugar and other sweeteners.
Drinking tea prevents the development of concomitant diseases, in particular, obesity. Eliminates foci of inflammation and improves heart function, strengthens blood vessels.
Hibiscus tea raises or lowers blood pressure
Hibiscus helps reduce blood pressure, so it is not recommended for use in the presence of hypotension.
How to take hibiscus tea for medicinal purposes
There are two main ways to make tea. The hot method assumes that 3-4 inflorescences are poured into 300 ml of boiling water and infused for about 6 minutes. But it is better to refuse the use of such a drink with an “empty” stomach.
Cold method – the proportions are the same as for the hot method of cooking. Only cold water is used instead of boiling water. It is necessary to insist such a mixture for 3 hours. It is this method that allows you to save the maximum amount of nutrients and vitamins in tea.
Hibiscus tea harm and contraindications
You will have to stop drinking the drink for people who have gastritis with high acidity. At the stage of exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, tea is also contraindicated for use. Tea will provoke heartburn, additionally irritating the gastric mucosa.
You should not drink a drink during an exacerbation of urolithiasis. You should not drink it if you have gallstones.
It should be remembered that hibiscus quite often causes an allergic reaction, so tea should be introduced into the diet with caution. In childhood, it is not recommended to administer it in the presence of diathesis.
How to choose and store hibiscus tea
High-quality hibiscus has large inflorescences and petals. Refuse to buy tea if it is ground or in bags.
If the plant is properly dried, then it has a bright burgundy color. A dark or pale shade indicates that the plants did not follow the technology when drying.
You can store tea for up to 1 year in a glass container, which is placed in a dark place.
Hibiscus tea is very useful for the human body, but you should always remember that it is recommended to brew tea from it in clay or glass containers. Upon contact with metal, the plant releases harmful substances. In the absence of contraindications, hibiscus tea can be consumed every day.