Yes. If consumed in a moderate quantity, hibiscus tea is safe to drink every day. This tea is made with dried petals of hibiscus flowers and has a very distinctive colour and tarty flavour. Hibiscus tea is rich in antioxidants and has a lot of health benefits to offer.
Today, our article is about what are the potential benefits and side effects of hibiscus tea and how much hibiscus tea is safe to consume every day.
How Much Hibiscus Tea Is Safe to Drink Every Day?
Well, you can safely consume up to 3 cups of hibiscus tea and extract its health benefits. However, we advise not to directly start with three cups per day. Start with one cup and gradually increase the amount(if you want to). Also, before starting hibiscus tea, know your health condition and if it is safe to drink hibiscus tea at all.
What Are the Health Benefits of Drinking Hibiscus Tea Daily?
Well, if you are starting to drink hibiscus tea daily, know that
It Is Rich in Antioxidants
Like other plant teas, hibiscus tea is also rich in flavonoids and anthocyanins. These are antioxidants which help combat oxidative stress in the body. The antioxidants in hibiscus tea help in improving heart conditions and diabetes. It also fights cancer cells in the body. (Hibiscus tea is not a cure. It must be used to aid diet).
Hibiscus Tea Lowers Blood Pressure
Hibiscus tea is known to affect blood pressure. Regularly drinking hibiscus tea reduces both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels in individuals. So Drinking hibiscus tea daily will significantly impact your blood pressure. If you are already on blood pressure-lowering medications, consult a doctor before including hibiscus tea in your diet regimen.
Supports Weight Loss
Well, all plant-based teas support your weight loss. Hibiscus tea is also not an exemption. It doesn’t magically work on weight loss but it does promote fat breakdown in the body which improves metabolism. Improved metabolism helps in weight reduction. When you combine hibiscus tea with your diet and healthy exercise, it can boost your weight loss process.
It is Good For Heart Health
Hibiscus tea can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. This means it can support heart health. If you will add hibiscus tea to your everyday diet, it will reduce your risk of heart disease.
Helps in Digestion
Hibiscus tea is a diuretic which means it promotes in removal of waste materials from the body. It is also a mild laxative. Hibiscus tea helps the body in removing excess sodium and water. It can be helpful in relieving constipation, bloating and indigestion.
Helps In Managing Diabetes
Hibiscus tea is also significant for people with diabetes type 2. It can lower blood sugar levels. The antioxidants in hibiscus tea reduce insulin resistance in the body and glucose levels stay normal.
Potential Risks of Drinking Hibiscus Tea Every Day
Though hibiscus tea is very beneficial if you consume it in large quantities every day,
It Can Lower Blood Pressure Too Much
Though hibiscus tea is good in regulating your blood pressure and helps people with high blood pressure, it can also be risky if you have low blood pressure. Drinking large quantities of hibiscus tea can also result in hypotension so people who are already on blood pressure medicines must watch their intake carefully.
Interaction with Medications
Hibiscus tea must not be consumed if you are on
- Antihypertensive drugs such as the tea may enhance the blood pressure-lowering effects.
- Diuretics because the tea’s diuretic properties may increase the effects of these medications.
- Diabetes medications because Hibiscus tea can lower blood sugar levels. This can interfere with drugs that lower blood glucose.
In Pregnancy
Hibiscus tea is not recommended for pregnant women. In the early stage of pregnancy, hibiscus tea can stimulate uterine contractions and menstruation. This can be dangerous as it may lead to miscarriage
Can Trigger Allergic Reactions
Some people may be allergic to hibiscus. If you experience symptoms like itching, swelling, or difficulty breathing after drinking hibiscus tea, discontinue use and consult a healthcare provider. Although these reactions can be pretty much due to other things if you have just started hibiscus tea and have these allergies, better to be safe than sorry.
It Affects Estrogen Levels In Body
Hibiscus tea interacts with hormonal levels in the body. It may reduce estrogen levels in the body, which could impact women who are on hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills. So if you are on these treatments, it is important to consult a doctor before drinking hibiscus tea regularly.
How to Make Hibiscus Tea?
Hibiscus tea is very easy to make and is refreshing and healthy. You can enjoy it both hot and cold. It’s made from the dried petals of the hibiscus flower and has a tarty cranberry-like flavour. Here’s how to make it
Hibiscus tea Recipe
You will need
- 2 tablespoons of dried hibiscus flowers (or 2 hibiscus tea bags)
- 4 cups of water
- Sweetener (optional, such as honey or sugar)
- Lemon or lime slices (optional, for added flavour)
- Mint leaves (optional, for garnish)
First, boil 4 cups of water in a medium-sized pot or kettle. Once the water reaches a boil, remove it from the heat and add the dried hibiscus flowers to the hot water. Let it steep in the tea for 5 to 10 minutes. The longer you let it steep, the more strong flavour it will have. Now strain the tea and if you want add sweetener. (though not very much recommended). You may also add lemon as extra flavour.
If you want to drink it hot, serve it immediately and if you want hibiscus tea served cold, refrigerate it and pour ice and fresh mint leaves before serving it. You can also add flavours by adding cinnamon sticks, cloves, or ginger during the steeping process. Adding fresh fruit slices like oranges or berries gives it a fruity twist, especially in iced hibiscus tea.
Is It Safe to Drink Hibiscus Tea Every Day?
Normally, we would say yes. Hibiscus tea has lots of benefits to offer and is safe to drink in moderate quantities. However, for some people who are on medications, have allergic reactions or are pregnant, drinking hibiscus tea can mess up the medication and the body’s hormonal levels. So be mindful about it before adding it to your diet.