Hibiscus Sabdariffa is a very ancient medicinal plant. But do you really know this plant? Which Hibiscus flower can you drink? In which countries do people drink Hibiscus? Do you know its benefits?
Hibiscus Sabdariffa is a very ancient medicinal plant
Botany refers to it as "Hibiscus Sabdariffa" when Africa calls it Karakandji or Foléré. The West Indies named it Groseille Pays (Gwozey peyi in Creole) and Egypt, Karkadé. The best-known drink is Bissap, a very sweet infusion of Hibiscus, raised with Mint.
If it has so many vernacular names - probably more than a hundred around the world - it is because this prodigious flower is a universal panacea that has crossed all continents from the antiquity of the Pharaohs to Europe, through the Spain of the Moors.
Hibiscus is a flower that relieves many small ailments and in particular, those of women.
Let's embark on a little overview of this tangy and wonderfully refreshing treasure.
What Hibiscus flower can be drunk?
Hibiscus is a tropical plant of the Malvaceae family where we also find the Mauve and the Rose Trémière. There are more than 500 species, but only the "Sabdariffa" is consumed as a drink; so above all, do not try to infuse the flowers of your gardens! In its traditional use, all parts of the plant are used: leaves, seeds, and calyxes.
In which countries do we drink Hibiscus?
Today, cultivated in Africa, but also in India and the West Indies, Hibiscus is, for example, in Senegal and Burkina Faso, a women's business; in these countries, they join forces in agricultural groups to carry out its preparation by sorting its flowers and its transformation into the manufacturer of drinks sold locally. This crop is gradually replacing groundnuts as a new source of income.
The benefits of Hibiscus herbal tea (Bissap)
Hibiscus sabdariffa has many beneficial properties on health. Hibiscus juice has a reputation for providing the following benefits:
Decrease hypertension
Decrease the level of bad cholesterol and triglycerides
Facilitate weight loss by accelerating metabolism
Being antioxidant thanks to its richness in vitamin C and anthocyanins
Stabilize and maintain good blood sugar levels
Be diuretic and limit water retention
Be a powerful ally in case of urinary tract infection
Effects of Hibiscus on cholesterol
Hibiscus has a reputation for lowering the level of bad cholesterol. One study showed that hibiscus extract was a good natural remedy for reducing cholesterol and triglycerides in people with metabolic syndrome.
This study was, however, carried out with concentrated hibiscus extract, not hibiscus herbal tea.
There are therefore currently no studies that strictly prove the effect of hibiscus tea on cholesterol. So take it as a boost!
Slimming Benefits of Hibiscus
A 10-week animal study and a 12-week human clinical trial (3, 4) demonstrated that a hibiscus extract with a high polyphenol content can help:
Inhibit the accumulation of fat in the liver
Slightly reduce body weight, BMI, and waist-to-hip ratio
Decreased levels of free fatty acids in the blood
Another study (5) indicated that hibiscus extract could inhibit pancreatic amylase, an enzyme produced by this organ to digest carbohydrates and carbohydrates.
However, when digested, a sugar that is not used for the body's needs will be stored in the body as fat.
However, these studies were carried out with concentrated hibiscus extracts, not herbal tea!
Does hibiscus make you lose weight?
There are therefore currently no studies directly proving the effectiveness of hibiscus weight loss... But what is certain is that if we do not add sugar, it is that if we do not add sugar that has its place in a diet!
Do you know the benefits of "bissap"?
Favorite for an exceptional "juice"
Because you have to drink regularly to feel good, the infusion of Hibiscus - which really looks like a juice - is above all a healthy and natural way to quench your thirst; this red beverage is well tart but in its traditional version, it remains too sweet. New refreshing Hibiscus drinks have emerged that do not use any added sugar (or agave syrup which is also an artificial sugar), but infused flowers and fruit juices. Natural source of vitamins and antioxidants, Hibiscus is an interesting alternative to the classic morning fruit juice (2 to 4 times less sweet than an industrial juice), a concentrate of peps in a light version!
Drinking also has a draining effect and promotes elimination; in the case of Hibiscus, it will acidify urine and prevent kidney stones. But that's not all!
Hibiscus and digestion
Its role in digestion is also interesting: it would fight against liver disorders and stimulate the production of bile with the additional benefit of restoring the acid-base balance so dear to our digestive bacteria. It complements its action on transit with a slightly laxative effect.
Hibiscus and women
Hibiscus infusion contains molecules that would limit the action of prostaglandin responsible for the contraction of the uterus and menstruation pain.
Polyphenols - especially the red anthocyanins of Hibiscus - also complement this pain-relieving action by calming the game with their anti-inflammatory effect.
And to complete this picture, the vitamin C of the infused Hibiscus, passing through the bladder and urine, will decrease the bacteria responsible for infections such as cystitis.
Hibiscus, a universal panacea!
Its reputation as a beneficent drink has spanned continents and centuries. Think about it when you feel a little bit of temporary fatigue; sipping an infusion of Hibiscus, just warm and softened with a touch of honey can help to pass a light cold or sore throat.
Effects of Hibiscus on blood sugar levels
Blood sugar levels are controlled by insulin, a hormone that is absent or deficient in diabetes.
Studies have shown that hibiscus infusion has favorable effects on insulin resistance (6, 7, 8):
A clinical trial in patients with type 2 diabetes analyzed the effect of consuming three cups of hibiscus tea per day for 30 days. The results showed that participants who consumed hibiscus had an increase in fasting insulin levels at the end of the study.
In a trial using diabetic rats, hibiscus polyphenols improved glucose utilization in the body. As a result, rats had lower blood glucose levels.
Hibiscus infusion, therefore, appears to have a beneficial effect on insulin resistance and blood sugar regulation
Hibiscus, rich in antioxidants and vitamin C?
To understand the full potential of hibiscus in this matter, a small explanation of biochemistry:
Antioxidants are molecules that protect the human body from so-called free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable molecules produced naturally by the body, but increased, in particular by the sun, pollution, stress, cigarettes, or other factors... They oxidize the other atoms of the body: this is called oxidative stress. This phenomenon accelerates the aging of our cells and causes irreversible damage to our organs and DNA, causing cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, etc...
Antioxidants react and stabilize free radicals, which then become harmless.
In 2010, a study was conducted by researchers at the University of Oslo on the antioxidant properties of 283 drinks. The results were published in the Nutrition Journal (9) and to everyone's surprise, it is not green tea the big winner but... The bissap!
Indeed hibiscus is rich in vitamin C and polyphenols called anthocyanins, antioxidants. Anthocyanins are also found in red fruits (black-currant, blueberries, raspberries...). It is they who are responsible for the beautiful purple color of bissap!
One study found that the consumption of hibiscus infusion increased the load of antioxidants in the blood, and reduced the amount of compounds that contributed to oxidative stress.
Diuretic properties of hibiscus
The body contains between 65 to 70% water. In a normal state, fluids are distributed throughout the body in a balanced way. In some cases, the body may retain water. And body tissues accumulate a much larger amount of fluid than normal.
Diuretics are foods that promote diuresis, the elimination of excess fluid in the body.
Hibiscus is one of the plants with interesting diuretic properties: in case of water retention, hibiscus herbal tea helps to deflate by removing excess salt and water.
Hibiscus: a powerful ally in case of urinary tract infection
Hibiscus contains antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant polyphenols.
One component, in particular, gossypetin, a flavonoid, has been identified as a specific antimicrobial component that is active against certain bacteria that cause urinary tract infection.
According to in vitro research, hibiscus reduces contamination with E.Coli and Candida albicans. The antimicrobial effect was immediate and complete after only one day.
Compared to cranberry extract in vitro, hibiscus extract has a more potent antimicrobial effect, particularly against C. Albicans.
Studies have confirmed the beneficial effect of hibiscus extracts in patients with regular cystitis.
Like cranberry juice, drinking hibiscus herbal tea will help you heal faster in case of a urinary tract infection, sugarless!
Danger and contraindications of Hibiscus infusion
Hibiscus infusion is harmful to the liver in high doses. However, the toxicity of hibiscus appears at such high concentrations that it would be difficult to consume so much in infusion. It is generally recommended not to drink more than 1.8L daily, or more than 7 cups!
Hibiscus is also not recommended during pregnancy. Hibiscus has a reputation for triggering rules and in this case, one cannot rule out the hypothesis that it could promote a miscarriage.
Due to the lack of reliable information about the safety of hibiscus tea during pregnancy, it is better to avoid it completely. In general, it is also not recommended to consume it at the time of breastfeeding.
If hibiscus has beneficial effects on hypertension, then be careful not to abuse it, then in case of low blood pressure ...
Finally, thirst-quenching and not very sweet, the natural infusion of Hibiscus is also suitable for the little ones or the old, if they have difficulty drinking, to maintain good hydration!
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