Reduces Cholesterol Levels
Cholesterol is a type of fat that circulates throughout the body. Cholesterol is essential for the body to function correctly, but high levels can lead to heart disease. The mineral magnesium found in hibiscus has been known to lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting its absorption from food sources.
Hibiscus tea also contains antioxidant flavonoids called anthocyanins and polyphenols, which help eliminate bad cholesterol in the body. LDL cholesterol is known as the bad cholesterol and HDL cholesterol as the good cholesterol. High HDL cholesterol levels can help lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, while high LDL cholesterol levels increase the chances of developing these conditions.
One study found that people who consumed hibiscus tea daily had lower LDL cholesterol levels in their blood than those who didn’t. As a result, hibiscus tea can be used as an alternative to statin drugs for lowering blood pressure.
Another study found that drinking hibiscus tea for three months helped reduce LDL cholesterol levels by as much as 25 percent. The percentage of people who experienced a reduction in LDL cholesterol levels was the same regardless of whether they drank hot or cold hibiscus tea, which means anyone can drink it either way.
