January 11th, 2012 -- Posted in herbal remedies |
Hibiscus tea, a very popular herbal beverage, can be used as a mild medicine (because it provides numerous health benefits). However, since it’s a herbal medicine, there’s always a risk of side effects. Although the tea is generally safe and most people can safely consume it on a daily basis, there are some possible adverse side effects. In this article I’ll share them with you.
1. Side effects for the baby
Because possible side effects for the baby aren’t known yet, if you’re pregnant or if you’re breastfeeding, you should stay on the safe side and avoid drinking the tea. Some experts believe that hibiscus (in large amounts) can stimulate the uterus and induce miscarriage. When pregnant, avoid consuming hibiscus in any way!
2. People with hypotension (low blood pressure)
People who have low blood pressure shouldn’t drink the tea. The reason is very simple: drinking the tea on a regular basis can reduce your blood pressure. When you have low blood pressure, blood pressure lowering medicine (such as hibiscus tea) can cause many dangerous side effects such as damage to the brain and heart.
3. Adverse reaction when consuming the tea for the first time
One of the common side effects of drinking the tea may be an effect that is similar to being intoxicated or to experiencing hallucinations. Some people may also feel sleepy. Keep this in mind while drinking the tea for the first time and don’t go for driving if it’s your first consumption of the tea.
4. Estrogen levels and hormonal changes
Certain chemicals in the hibiscus flower affect the estrogen levels. This means that people who are or who had undergone a hormone replacement therapy (and also women who are taking birth control pills) shouldn’t drink the tea.
5. Interactions with other drugs
There are a few possible interactions that may occur while drinking the tea and taking some medicine. First and foremost, the tea can interact with antihypertensive (blood pressure lowering) drugs. Secondly, it can interact with some anti-cancer drugs. Moreover, it can interact with diuretics. Last but not least, it interacts with acetaminophen.
Please don’t forget that although there’s low potential for side effects and most people can drink a few cups of the tea each day safely, scientists still don’t know everything about hibiscus tea. There may be other adverse side effects which aren’t known yet. Bear this in mind and always consult with your doctor first before drinking the tea or consuming hibiscus in any other form.
If you’re interested in learning more about hibiscus tea, read this article about hibiscus tea facts.
January 6th, 2012 -- Posted in herbal remedies |
While hibiscus tea isn’t a very popular tea in the Western world (with some exceptions), it’s a very popular beverage in other parts of the world: South East Asia, North Africa, West Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. What is the reason of its popularity? In this article I’ll share with you five possible reasons.
1. It has many medicinal effects
Hibiscus tea is traditionally used by many people as a mild herbal medicine. One of its most important health benefits is its ability to reduce blood pressure. Studies confirm that the tea is indeed very effective for people with mild to moderate hypertension (keep reading to learn more about its blood pressure lowering effect). Moreover, a study performed by researchers from Shan Medical University’s Institute of Biochemistry in Taiwan show that extract from the hibiscus flower reduces both LDL cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease.
2. It has blood pressure lowering effects
Researchers from the Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle, Washington conducted a study in which one group of people were drinking two cups of hibiscus tea each day and another group of people were taking 25 mg of captopril (which is a blood pressure lowering drug). After four weeks, the diastolic blood pressure was reduced by at least 10 points in 79% of the people drinking hibiscus tea and 84% of those receiving captopril.
3. It can help you lose weight more easily
If you’re on a diet and don’t feel full after a meal, drink some hibiscus tea. It increases post-meal satiety and makes you feel fuller. Moreover, it helps in breaking down sugar and starch which eventually aids in weight loss. And last but not least, it’s a diuretic so it can help you get rid of excess water in the body.
4. It’s great for many occasions
Hibiscus ice tea (which you can make in 20 minutes) is a great healthy beverage in the summer. It’s definitely healthier and more refreshing than sodas (even if you sweeten it). Moreover, it’s high in electrolytes so you can use it as a post-exercise drink instead of unhealthy sports drinks. And if it’s winter, hot hibiscus tea will surely warm you up!
5. It has a distinct flavor
Flavor-wise, hibiscus tea definitely stands out for its tart flavor similar to cranberry juice. However, it isn’t the only way to drink this tea. Many people sweeten it with a tablespoon of sugar or honey, it’s also very common to add spices such as ginger or cloves. Many ways to do it = many ways to enjoy it!
Although hibiscus tea isn’t very popular in the Western world, you should easily find it all over the world either on a local market or in a tea store. I hope I convinced you to try it!
If you want to get more information about hibiscus tea, check out this article about hibiscus tea facts.
January 6th, 2012 -- Posted in herbal remedies |
Would you be willing to make one small change in your life to improve your health? If so, keep reading. In this article I’m going to write about hibiscus tea which is a very popular herbal tea and a mild medicine. Introducing this tea into your diet (and eliminating unhealthy drinks) can greatly improve your health.
What would happen if you replaced unhealthy sodas with a herbal tea? In this article I want to give you some basic facts about hibiscus tea and its health benefits to show you how introducing this tea into your diet can improve your health.
What is exactly hibiscus tea? It’s a herbal tea very popular in the Caribbean, Mexico, Panama, Egypt, Sudan, Senegal, Thailand and Malaysia. It’s traditionally used by many people as a mild herbal medicine.
So, what would probably happen if you replaced unhealthy drinks with hibiscus tea? You’ll probably tremendously improve your health:
1. You would reduce your blood pressure
Studies (a study by scientists from Tufts University of Boston) have shown that consuming three cups of the tea daily for six weeks reduces blood pressure in people with mild to moderate hypertension by an average of seven points. As you can see, its effectiveness can be similar to some antihypertensive drugs.
2. You would lower your LDL cholesterol levels (and the risk of heart disease)
A study performed by Shan Medical University’s Institute of Biochemistry in Taiwan has confirmed that hibiscus tea is indeed effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels (in some countries people use this tea traditionally to lower their cholesterol levels) and the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
3. You would increase antioxidants in your diet
The tea has many antioxidants that can support the body in slowing down the aging process. Antioxidants destroy free radicals which cause damage to cells in your body and as a result, increase the risk of some types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and other serious illnesses.
4. You would be thinner
Replacing sodas with hibiscus tea means that you’ll consume less fluid calories (especially if you drink unsweetened tea). Moreover, hibiscus tea may increase post-meal satiety which is especially helpful if you’re on a diet.
5. You would improve your overall state of well-being
Sodas are unhealthy primarily because they are highly processed and man-made. In contrast, hibiscus tea is 100% natural. A diet rich in natural foods and drinks will make you feel better.
Now that you know these five health benefits of hibiscus tea, don’t you think that it’s time to introduce hibiscus tea into your life? Don’t postpone this decision – it can greatly improve your health!
If you’d like to read more about hibiscus tea, visit my hibiscus tea website.
January 2nd, 2012 -- Posted in herbal remedies |
Most teas are known to provide numerous health benefits ranging from aiding digestion, decreasing cholesterol levels and blood pressure to reducing the risk of developing cancer. Hibiscus tea is no exception. In this article you’ll read about five health effects of this great tea. Here they are:
1. It doesn’t contain caffeine
Hibiscus tea doesn’t contain caffeine which consumed in large amounts can have numerous adverse effects such as headaches, nervousness or sleep deprivation (too much caffeine doesn’t allow you to have deep restful sleep). Caffeine is also dangerous for people with hypertension, because it raises blood pressure. Hibiscus tea is a great alternative for people who want to improve their health by cutting down caffeine intake.
2. It can be as effective as antihypertensive drugs
Drinking 16 ounces of hibiscus tea each day for four weeks can produce the same blood pressure lowering effects as taking 25 mg of captopril (a blood pressure lowering drug). What’s more, hibiscus tea is mostly safe – there’s a low risk of adverse side effects (but you shouldn’t consume it if you’re pregnant or if you’re using birth control pills). Last but not least, it’s definitely healthier to drink natural delicious tea than to take drugs, don’t you think?
3. If you’re on a diet, it can help you stick to it better
Every tea, especially consumed after a meal, can increase your satiety. That will help you control appetite and stick to your diet better. Moreover, drinking the tea after a meal will help in breaking down sugar and starch. All of these things will tremendously help you lose weight faster and in an easier way.
4. It lowers the risk of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases
Most teas are rich in antioxidants which eliminate dangerous free radicals which attack the cells of the body (and can cause many health problems and possibly also shorten your lifespan). If you want to lower your risk of developing cancer, cardiovascular or neurodegenerative diseases, you should have a diet rich in antioxidants. Hibiscus tea is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C that can improve your health.
5. It has a diuretic effect
Diuretics help to get rid of excess water in the body. They are used to treat hypertension, kidney diseases or heart failure. Moreover, getting rid of excess water in the body can help you look thinner.
Hibiscus tea is one of the healthiest teas that you can drink on a daily basis to improve your health. Moreover, there are many ways to prepare it – you can drink it hot, cold, sweetened or not, with spices or without them. Try it today!
Be sure to read more about hibiscus tea. Check this website – hibiscus tea – to read more about it.
January 2nd, 2012 -- Posted in herbal remedies |
Have you ever heard about hibiscus tea and its numerous medicinal effects on health? If not, you should read on. In this article you’ll find five most important facts about this tea.
1. It’s consumed by people all over the world
Most people who live in the Western world probably don’t know hibiscus tea, because it’s not very popular in Europe or the United States. However, it’s very popular in South East Asia in countries such as Thailand and Malaysia. It’s also consumed on a daily basis in Africa: in Egypt, Sudan, Senegal, The Gambia and Nigeria. The tea is also popular in Mexico, Panama and Caribbean countries.
2. It has many medicinal uses
Many people drink hibiscus tea because of its numerous health benefits. Firstly, it can lower your blood pressure as effectively as drugs (more on that later). Secondly, it lowers your risk of heart disease because it lowers “bad” LDL cholesterol levels. Moreover, it’s rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants eliminate free radicals that can cause many health problems and shorten your lifespan. The tea also helps in weight loss because it helps in breaking down sugar and starch. It’s also a mild diuretic and a laxative.
3. There are many ways to change its flavor
There are many recipes for hibiscus tea. Some people like it hot, others like it cold. Some people sweeten it with sugar or honey, others prefer its tart cranberry-like flavor. Some people add chopped ginger, others add clove, cinnamon or nutmeg. As you can see you can make it in many ways and each time get a different flavor.
4. It doesn’t have many negative side effects
Most teas contain caffeine which when consumed in large amounts can cause many adverse side effects. That’s not the case with hibiscus tea, because it’s caffeine-free. You can safely drink it even in large amounts. However, there are some people who shouldn’t drink it – people with hypotension (low blood pressure) and women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or who are using birth control pills.
5. It’s a natural herbal blood pressure lowering medicine
If you suffer from high blood pressure, hibiscus tea can be a great natural alternative to drugs for you. According to different studies, it reduces blood pressure by an average of seven to ten points after four to six weeks of consuming at least three cups a day. Replace your black tea or coffee with hibiscus tea and you’ll quickly notice a difference!
To sum up, hibiscus tea is one of the healthiest beverages that you can safely drink even in large amounts on a daily basis. Why not have some of it today?
To read more about hibiscus tea, check out this article about hibiscus tea facts.
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