Hibiscus plants have beautiful and brightly colored blossoms and are often used as landscape shrubs. Yet, the results of the study showed that these pretty flowers can also be used to make tea.
High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition that may cause life-threatening problems, such as heart attack. One of the effective and natural ways that can help lower blood pressure is by drinking hibiscus tea.
In a Nigerian study published in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology, it was found that hibiscus tea can help lower levels of ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme). Aside from this, it can also reduce both diastolic and systolic blood pressure without any side effects.
According to scientists, the effects of hibiscus tea has the ability to inhibit ACE like conventional blood pressure medication. Cherry juice, another alternative, can also reduce systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
The findings of the study are necessary since high blood pressure when left untreated, can cause serious conditions like heart attack, stroke, dementia, and kidney disease.
In a separate study conducted last 2016 and was published in the Journal of Human Hypertension, it was found that beet juice can also reduce blood pressure. Simply drink a cup of beet juice every day to minimize inflammation and hypertension symptoms. Researchers concluded that consuming beet juice regularly can help improve blood vessel flexibility.
Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Lower Blood Pressure
If you want to avoid the negative effects of hypertension medication, it’s best to drink hibiscus tea made from red Hibiscus sabdariffa flowers. Along with this, you must also have some lifestyle changes which can significantly improve your condition, such as:
- Calorie restriction
- Consuming more organic fruits and vegetables
- Reducing meat, processed foods, and simple sugar consumption
- Slower (deeper) breathing exercises
- Yoga
- Exercising regularly
- Meditating
There was also a study suggesting that you can visit a sauna in order to lower your blood pressure naturally. Visiting sauna regularly for at least four times a week has been found to reduce stroke risk by 50%.
Moreover, eating bitter or dark chocolate is another natural remedy for high blood pressure. You can enjoy its health benefits by eating less than an ounce of dark chocolate per day. Some other foods to lower blood pressure are turmeric, kale, garlic, pomegranate, and organic green tea.
Though you don’t have hypertension, it is recommended to live an anti-inflammatory lifestyle in order for you to effectively lower your blood pressure. Instead of taking prescription medicine, try to follow a healthy diet, stay active, and drink hibiscus tea.
How To Make Hibiscus Tea
Things you need:
Dried hibiscus flowers
Lemon (optional)
Honey (optional)
Boiling water
Steps:
- Add the dried hibiscus flowers to a teapot and pour boiling water over them.
- Let the flowers steep for five minutes, then strain.
- Add some honey or a squeeze of lemon juice to sweeten the hibiscus tea before drinking.
Hibiscus tea has a tart taste just like cranberries. You can consume it either cold or hot.
