Amazing uses of Hibiscus....

Hibiscus is a beautiful plant that can brighten up any garden. This flowering plant primarily grows in tropical and warm regions, but it can also be grown seasonally in other areas where the climate is only warm for part of the year.

Fresh and dried hibiscus flowers are edible. They are most commonly used to make herbal tea. The tea contains vitamins C and A, zinc and several minerals. It also contains 15 to 30 percent organic acids, including citric acid, malic acid and tartaric acid. It also contains polysaccharides and flavonoids. The dried flowers can also be candied and used as a garnish, usually for dessert .

Apart from décor and dietary uses; there are a lot of medicinal uses of hibiscus leaves and flowers. In Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, they have been used for treating several ailments and conditions for centuries.

The best way to derive the health benefits from this herb is to prepare hibiscus tea.

Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of dried hibiscus petals to 2 cups of water.

Bring it to a boil, and then let it simmer for 5 minutes.

Strain it, and add raw honey and a little lemon juice for taste.

Drink this tea on a regular basis to boost your health.

Here are the top 5 surprising benefits of hibiscus.

1. Lowers Cholesterol Levels

Hibiscus tea is very effective in lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol) levels. It is particularly helpful for people with Type 2 diabetes. Also, it prevents plaque buildup in the arteries, thereby lowering your cholesterol levels and preventing atherosclerosis and heart disease.

2. Regulates Blood Pressure

Hibiscus is also beneficial at controlling high blood pressure.

It contains potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce blood pressure levels significantly. Being diuretic in nature, it also increases urination that helps lower blood pressure

Drink tea prepared from fresh or dried hibiscus flowers 2 or 3 times a day to keep your blood pressure in check.

3. Fights Hair Loss

If you are worried about hair loss, hibiscus can help fight it.

Being rich in vitamins A and C as well as amino acids, hibiscus can combat hair loss and induce hair growth. It also cures dandruff, prevents split ends and prevents premature graying.

Hence, it may be used in the future as a hair-restoring agent for men suffering from alopecia.

Add 8 to 10 Chinese hibiscus leaves and flowers to 2 cups of extra-virgin coconut oil.

Heat the solution until the flowers turn black.

Strain the oil and allow it to cool.

Apply the oil on your hair before going to bed and do a thorough massage

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Wash your hair in the morning.

Repeat this a few times a week.

4. Encourages optimal digestion

One traditional use of hibiscus tea is as a digestive aid. This tea has diuretic properties, and can thus encourage your body’s production of urine, along with helping to combat constipation. If you’re feeling blocked up, a cup of hibiscus tea may help a lot.

5. Hibiscus powder for cold

Did you know hibiscus flower and powder can treat your cold and stop that sneezing? Hibiscus powder and flower is being used since age to cure cough and cold and can be used with honey and ginger

 Though I know it is not very good to taste, you want to be healthy, right?

CONCLUSION

All in all, hibiscus tea is simple to make, easily available ingredients, and can be useful in many ways. Looking at its general availability in many parts of the world and also many advantages.

Also, it being a herbal product, overall it can be said to cause no harm in the long run.

As normal tea or coffee is a common beverage in everyday life, still they have their advantage and limitations, similarly does hibiscus tea.