Hibiscus: Health Benefits, Uses & Side Effects

Hibiscus, scientifically known as Hibiscus Sabdariffa, comes under the umbrella of the Malvacae family of plants. There are a hundred or more species of this plant. The flower also comes in different natural colours, such as red, yellow, orange, pink, and white.

It holds numerous nutrients that contribute to good health and the healing process.

The Flower (Calyx)

• Vitamin C: 17 mg

• Protein: 2 g

• Fat: 0.1 g

• Carbohydrate: 10.2 g

• Calcium: 150 mg

Seeds

• Vitamin C: 9 mg

• Protein: 28.9 g

• Fat: 21.4 g

• Carbohydrate: 25.5 g

• Calcium: 350 mg

Leaves

• Vitamin C: 2.3 mg

• Protein: 3.5 g

• Fat: 0.3 g

• Carbohydrate: 8.7 g

• Calcium: 240 mg

• All parts of the plant, the calyx, seeds, leaves, and stems, have herbal properties that add value to human life and health.

• Hibiscus contains the following:

• Anthocyanins

• Flavonoids

• Phenolic Acids

• Organic Acids

• Antioxidants

• Magnesium

• Potassium

• Vitamin B

• Its potent bioactive compounds make it a natural, low-maintenance remedy for various ailments. Let us move forward and comprehend the health benefits of hibiscus flowers and plants.

Skincare Agent

Hibiscus is rich in antioxidants that help your skin combat free radicals. This property enhances your skin's elasticity, plumpness, and moisture. The flower's acid content promotes gentle exfoliation that advocates new cell generation, revealing fresh and new skin. Your skin exudes a glow and becomes radiant, even-toned, with no wrinkles or dark spots.

Skincare proves to be one of the best hibiscus flower benefits. You will find multiple creams and serums that are infused with the goodness of the hibiscus flower. Incorporate these products into your daily skincare routine.

Enhanced Hair Health

Making hair care products is one of the top uses of hibiscus leaves and flowers. Hibiscus leaves and calyx contain a high level of vitamin C and amino acids. These two nutrients promote hair growth by stimulating good health in your scalp. Hibiscus benefits for hair include reduced hair fall, a healthy scalp, strengthened hair strands, and healthy hair growth.

Among the many uses of hibiscus leaves and flowers, making hair oil, masks, natural conditioners, or rinses is a very common one. These products add shine to your hair and improve its overall health.

Weight-loss Properties

Have you ever had hibiscus tea for weight loss? You should! One of the major health benefits of drinking hibiscus tea is its effect on weight regulation. If your body supports its functions, hibiscus herbal tea has the potential to support your wellness and weight loss journey.

The plant’s flavonoid and enzyme content helps your body to break down carbohydrates and prevent the accumulation of bad fat cells.

The health benefits of drinking hibiscus tea made of hibiscus extract can curb your hunger and reduce your appetite. Hibiscus tea for weight loss works towards managing weight by regulating metabolic function, improving digestion, and reducing bloating.

Boosts Immunity

Immunity is the backbone of your overall health. If your immune system weakens, you are more likely to get infected by viruses and infections. One of the many health benefits of hibiscus flowers is that it boosts your body’s immunity.

Hibiscus is packed with vitamin C, antibacterial properties, antioxidants, and antiviral components. Vitamin C enhances the production of white blood cells, which help combat infections and external viruses.

You can also incorporate the tea made from hibiscus flower or extract when you are affected by common flu, colds, and coughs! Fighting these viruses is one of the health benefits of drinking hibiscus tea.

Adaptable and Flexible

Hibiscus is versatile, allowing you to use it flexibly. The plant can be used for various health benefits of the hibiscus flower. You can add the flower petal to your everyday meals and recipes to enhance the nutritional value and taste of your food! You can make iced tea, tarts, vegetable curry, smoothies, desserts, and other savoury dishes from the flower.

Contains Antioxidants

There are times when your body needs to reduce or neutralise the free radicals. These molecules usually harm the body by damaging the DNA and increasing the chances of cancer. One of the best ways to fight these free radicals is by increasing the number of antioxidants in your body.

Hibiscus is an antioxidant-rich plant containing flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds. If you treat your body to a good dose of hibiscus extract tea, it will protect your body by releasing its antioxidants. With this, you get benefits like anti-ageing, combating free radicals, providing anti-inflammatory benefits, supporting better joints, and leading to overall well-being.

Controls Blood Pressure

Hypertension in your body, or high blood pressure, is a common medical condition. One of the health benefits of hibiscus flower plants is their ability to regulate and control hypertension. Studies show that hibiscus tea can significantly reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

The compounds present in the flower eliminate excess sodium from the body, reduce blood pressure, and lower it to the baseline. The health benefit of drinking hibiscus tea regularly is that it keeps your cardiovascular functions healthy!

Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

If you are someone struggling with diabetes, this is for you. Hyperglycemia signifies the increased levels of glucose in your blood and body. In a normal body, insulin works to reduce the sugar into waste and takes it out of the body.

However, excess glucose needs excess help. Hibiscus can help manage your diabetes. It enhances your body’s insulin sensitivity and reduces blood sugar levels effectively.

Boosts Liver Health

Studies have proven that hibiscus has a positive impact on your liver. The studies pertaining to hibiscus and its effect on the human body’s liver are limited. However, they are also realistic. It shows that hibiscus reduces the inflammation and oxidative damage of your liver.

Hibiscus tea can be used as a preventative measure to avoid any potential liver-related disorder. It also increases the body's metabolic function.

Improves Digestion

As mentioned earlier, hibiscus contains properties like antioxidants, organic acids, and other bioactive compounds that stimulate the production of enzymes. The enzyme is an element that initiates and proceeds your digestive process. Since hibiscus stimulates the secretion of enzymes, your body receives great support to perform its functions.

If you are experiencing indigestion or a bloated stomach, you can drink hibiscus tea or add hibiscus flowers to your meal. It will not only align your digestive system but also actively work towards metabolic functions, aiding weight loss.

Potential of Preventing Cancer

Many studies show that hibiscus has the potential to prevent cancer and, hence, proves to be of superior medicinal use. As mentioned above, hibiscus is an antioxidant-rich plant. Antioxidants are known for their ability to fight free radicals that damage your body’s DNA and increase the chances of cancer.

If you regularly consume hibiscus in any form, you are potentially preventing the chances of getting detected with cancer. However, these studies are limited and in process. So, the information in relation to those is also limited. However, drinking hibiscus tea will not harm your health in any way unless prescribed otherwise!

Relieves Constipation

In many cultures, it is recommended to drink hibiscus tea to deal with constipation and indigestion. Since hibiscus works wonders with digestion, relieving constipation is one of the health benefits of hibiscus flowers.

Hibiscus has a certain amount of fibre content. Enzymes ease the digestive process, and fibres promote normal bowel movement.

Protects Kidney

Hibiscus successfully protects your kidney and its functions from free radical damage. Regular intake of hibiscus in any form promotes a good supply of antioxidants to deal with the kidney’s oxidation damage. Apart from that, the plant also aids the excretion of uric acid from your body, preventing any chances of kidney stones.

That being said, the above-mentioned scenario might not be the case for everyone. This is because the studies pertinent to hibiscus health benefits for humans are limited.

Relieves Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual cramps and pain can be very painful for a majority of women. However, hibiscus tea has been traditionally used to ease the cramps and gain comfort.

Hibiscus allows the body to relax and restore hormonal balance. It also helps your body in dealing with menstrual habits like overeating, depression, and mood swings.

The warmth and comfort that the tea offers can be considered an important health benefit of drinking hibiscus tea.

Works as an Antidepressant

Hibiscus has nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that help your brain deal with depression. It contains flavonoids, vitamins A and C, and carbohydrates that are important for healthy brain functioning.

Even if a cup of hibiscus tea cannot reduce or heal depression, it can ease the brain and let it function well. Along with depression and hypertension, hibiscus tea also works its way around anxiety and stress.

• People who have lower blood pressure or hypotension should avoid the consumption of hibiscus in any form. Since the flower contains properties that aid the reduction of blood pressure, it has adverse effects on people with low blood pressure. In such cases, it may result in heart problems.

• People who are on medications for low blood sugar levels should avoid consuming hibiscus tea since it will cause a reaction to the medications.

• Pregnant women should stay away from the plant. If consumed, hibiscus affects the level of oestrogen in the female body. If you are on birth control or hormone replacement treatment, you should avoid any consumption of hibiscus.

• For some people, hibiscus can cause an allergic reaction to their body or respiratory system. One can experience excessive sneezing, breathing problems, rashes, or swelling. Avoid consuming or applying any hibiscus product in that case.

• All-in-all, barring the contraindications, hibiscus is a highly effective and productive plant that adds value to our lives, along with colours. If you have one planted in your front yard or balcony, go ahead, smell it, pluck it, make a cup of tea, and enjoy all the health benefits this hearty and warm drink has to offer. It will help you in your well-being and healing process!

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Hibiscus is a remarkable plant that exhibits healing properties and enhances the ways of life for people. It can be your skin’s best companion, heal your gut and liver, make a positive impact on your immunity, and help you get healthier.

Using hibiscus on a daily basis for various reasons will prove to be beneficial for you. You can drink a cup of hibiscus tea, apply a face cream made of hibiscus, or add the flower to your favourite recipe. But that being said, you will have to be aware and careful of the potential side effects of hibiscus and its utility.

Be mindful and make the most out of this presentable and beautiful plant, hibiscus!

Can hibiscus interact with medications?

Yes. Hibiscus interacts with specific medications that pertain to diabetes, high blood pressure, birth control, and anti-malaria. The interaction may cause trouble for your liver health. Please take appropriate prescriptions before consuming the tea with the mentioned medicines.

What is hibiscus famous for?

Hibiscus is famous for its decorative prowess, brightening up the space it is kept in. Apart from that, the flower and plant have many medicinal health benefits to offer. The red hibiscus is also associated with divinity, good luck, and stability in the joys of life.

Does hibiscus bloom with a lot of sun?

Hibiscus certainly loves the sunlight. If you plant them in a shed, they will still bloom. However, it will flourish in hot summers and bright sunlight.

Disclaimer: This is a general guide on Hibiscus: Health Benefits, Uses & Side Effects. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. It is advisable to consult a qualified health professional for treatment in severe cases.