Ever Thought You Might Drink Your Garden?

Ever heard of the hibiscus flower? Have you ever thought about eating it or drinking it as a tea? I have been able to travel south where these flowers bloom daily and man do they smell beautiful! I hadn’t heard of eating or drinking them to improve my health until I was in Mexico a few years ago and had hibiscus tea. It was amazing, so amazing in fact that I continued to drink it for the duration of my trip and mourned not having the ability to find it easily when I got home.

A few months later I started to do my research. I was missing hibiscus and although I could find it online, I wasn’t sure what exactly I was buying. When I found all the benefits and the healthy properties of this awesome flower, I knew why my body was craving it. Just a few days ago I was once again thinking about hibiscus and the very next day I was gifted with some tea that I have been enjoying ever since!

If you have never had hibiscus tea it tastes a little bitter but can be sweetened up to taste. It reminds me a little of cranberry. It’s packed with antioxidants which are those awesome fighters of the free radicals we hear so much about that can contribute to aging, inflammation, and illness.

A study done in 2010 and published in the Journal of Nutrition claims that hibiscus can help lower high blood pressure. High blood pressure is said to be a silent killer as many people don’t even know they are dealing with blood pressure issues. If you know you have high blood pressure drinking this tea may be a helpful tool. This is also a caution if you have low blood pressure that drinking too much of this might not be best.

Hibiscus has also been studied with regards to its effects on blood lipid profiles, most specifically with cholesterol. The study found that it had the most effect on raising good cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and improving triglyceride levels in the blood.

If that was not enough, it has also shown to have positive effects for individuals trying to lose weight. More studies are needed to prove this, but it has been proven to support liver health and with improved liver health comes improved metabolism of hormones and toxins both of which contribute to weight gain.

Another feature of this flower is that it may help to balance your microbiome. This hasn’t been proven in the human body, just in a test tube, but so far, the science is promising and with all the other positive benefits my fingers are crossed that the research will continue on this edible flower.

So, how should you consume hibiscus? If you grow the flowers you can dry them and boil them to make a tea. You can purchase hibiscus tea online or you can get it in powder form and boil it. It’s not a “true” tea, but nutritious and delicious. It’s a great new food to add to your repertoire for flavor, color and for health!

Want to get even healthier? If you’re looking to introduce fresh new foods and change the way you eat – in a way that’ll help you improve your health, appearance, and everyday performance, let’s talk! Schedule an initial complimentary consultation with me today—or pass this offer on to someone you care about! Visit www.noshoesnutrition.com and sign up for a FREE consultation.  I work with people from all over the world individually or in groups so don’t let anything hold you back!