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                      The Happy, Healthy Benefits of Hibiscus

                      Published by Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO

                      glass teapot with hibiscus tea and cup with spoon on table

                      You may have noticed food trend hibiscus popping up on local restaurant menus in the past couple of years. From hot and cold tea and infused beverages to being added to salads and even quesadillas and desserts, this beautiful purple edible flower also promises some interesting health benefits. You’ll commonly encounter hibiscus in warmer climates as it is native to Central and West Africa, India and Southeast Asia and the West Indies.

                      Medicinally, hibiscus is used for:

                      • cardiovascular disease
                      • high blood pressure
                      • high cholesterol
                      • diabetes
                      • anxiety
                      • loss of appetite
                      • colds and upper respiratory tract infection
                      • urinary tract infections (UTIs)
                      • kidney and bladder stones
                      • stomach mucous membrane inflammation
                      • circulatory conditions
                      • cancer
                      • a gentle laxative and diuretic
                      • weight loss
                      • liver health
                      • promoting breast milk
                      • anemia

                      Petals of tea on a wooden spoon close-up. Macro photo of red petals of Sudanese rose, hibiscus flower. Tea composition from tea petals of the Sudanese rose located in a spoon on a natural background.

                      Nutritionally, there are many culinary uses for hibiscus. It is used as both a natural food coloring and flavoring. Parts of the plant are also used to make drinks, jams, spice mixes, soups, and sauces. There are recipes available on how to use hibiscus flowers in enchilada and bread recipes in addition to tea and juice. Any way you incorporate hibiscus as part of the diet is generally safe.

                      The strongest evidence on the benefits of hibiscus is in the cardiovascular health category. There is evidence that drinking hibiscus tea daily can modestly lower blood pressure after 2-6 weeks. There are also some studies that suggest drinking hibiscus tea may be able to lower total and LDL/bad cholesterol and triglycerides. While this may not be a first-line intervention like changing the diet, weight loss and visiting the doctor, it is a promising natural support to these chronic conditions. There have also been some studies done on people drinking hibiscus tea experiencing a decreased amount of urinary tract infections.

                      Cup of hibiscus tea on the leaves.Research shows that hibiscus does contain antioxidants including anthocyanins, delphinidin and cyanidin which may contribute to come of the potential health benefits. This is one reason why the hibiscus plant has been used in folk medicine for the prevention of disease for years. In research, the red variety of hibiscus exhibited more antioxidant effects than white and both showed a decrease in inflammatory pathways similar to aspirin and ibuprofen.

                      There is a moderate potential interaction with using hibiscus in supplement/extract form with anti-diabetes or blood pressure lowering drugs. It has a major interaction with chloroquine, a drug used in anti-malaria medications so definitely discuss the use of hibiscus with your doctor if you are on any of these medications. Using it in food or even moderately in tea will likely not be concentrated enough to yield a concern about medication interactions.

                      HibiscusWhether you use hibiscus in a sauce, seasoning, savory dish, dessert or tea this summer, it could be a very healthy food to include. Given the versatility of hibiscus, how will you incorporate it into your diet?

                      Resources

                      Christian KR, Nair MG, Jackson JC. Antioxidant and cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity of sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa). Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 2006;19(8):778-83.

                      Natural Medicines Database. Hibiscus. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=211. Updated 6/22/2018. Accessed 6/30/17.

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                      Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
                      Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
                      Ginger Hultin MS RDN CSO is a Seattle-based Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and long time contributor to nutrition content on Foodtrients®. She is the owner of the concierge, virtual nutrition practice Ginger Hultin Nutrition where she helps clients with complex health conditions through an integrative approach. She specializes in anti-inflammatory diets for integrative oncology nutrition, people with gastrointestinal disease, and autoimmune issues. Her 10-year partnership with Foodtrients® has focused on evidence-based anti-aging nutrition, healthy recipes, and "top foods" lists in many categories from blood sugar control to healing your gut. Ginger serves as adjunct clinical faculty at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle. She is the director of communications at the Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a past Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and past-chair of the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group. She has authored two nutrition books: Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Prep and the How to Eat to Beat Disease Cookbook. Ginger is a graduate of the University of Washington and Bastyr University and is currently pursuing her doctorate of clinical nutrition at the University of North Florida.

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                      This website is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. FoodTrients – A Recipe for Aging Beautifully Grace O, author and creator of FoodTrients® -- a philosophy, a cookbook and a resource -- has a new cookbook dedicated to age-defying and delicious recipes, The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World, which provides one hundred-plus recipes that promote health and well-being. The recipes are built on foundations of modern scientific research and ancient knowledge of medicinal herbs and natural ingredients from around the world. Since the publication of her first anti-aging book, The Age GRACEfully Cookbook, Grace O has identified eight categories of FoodTrients benefits (Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Immune Booster, Disease Prevention, Beauty, Strength, Mind, and Weight Loss) that are essential to fighting aging, which show how specific foods, herbs, and spices in the recipes help keep skin looking younger, prevent the diseases of aging, and increase energy and vitality. Grace O combines more exotic ingredients that add age-fighting benefits to familiar recipe favorites.

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