Ever heard of roselle tea? This one tea is not brewed with tea leaves (Camellia sinensis), but from a mixture of petals, leaves, and rosella flower shoots (Hibiscus sabdariffa).
Roselle itself is a tropical plant from Africa which is now well known in various parts of the world, including Indonesia. Roselle is an annual plant with one production period.
The sour taste of roselle tea makes this tea nicknamed sour tea. When brewed, roselle tea has a beautiful red color. Besides having an attractive color, the benefits of roselle tea are no less attractive. Want to know some of the properties of this tea? Check out the following article.
1. The anthocyanin content makes roselle tea a beautiful red color and a source of antioxidants
roselle tea illustration (pixabay.com/Natalia Osipova)
Roselle contains anthocyanins which act as antioxidants. Reported HealthlineAntioxidants themselves function to fight free radicals which can cause various complications of diseases such as heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, and so on.
By consuming roselle tea, it is hoped that it can help the body to fight free radicals in the body, thus avoiding unwanted diseases.
Also Read: 5 Benefits of Japanese Shincha Tea for Health, Not Ordinary Green Tea
2. Roselle tea can help lower blood pressure
illustration of a person having their blood pressure checked (unsplash.com/Mufid Majnun)
Rosella tea is efficacious to help lower blood pressure. A study published by the journal The Journal of Nutrition in 2010 revealed that in subjects with pre-hypertension and mild hypertension who consumed roselle tea for six weeks, their blood pressure could decrease.
This blood pressure-lowering effect is likely because the roselle content can reduce stiffness in blood vessels, dilute blood flow, and widen blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure. In addition, someone who has normal blood pressure can consume roselle tea to prevent hypertension, as well as control blood pressure.
3. In prediabetic patients, roselle tea can help lower blood sugar
illustration of a person checking blood sugar (pexels.com/PhotoMIX Company)
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Rosella tea is also potentially efficacious for lowering blood sugar. This is certainly useful for preventing diabetes and helping control blood sugar in people with pre-diabetes.
Flavonoids contained in roselle can act as antioxidants. Where later it can help reduce damage to pancreatic beta cells (cells that secrete the hormone insulin) and increase insulin action (a hormone that regulates blood sugar).
A study published in Journal of American College of Nutrition in 2018 revealed that rosella tea combined with stevia can reduce fasting blood sugar levels in women with pre-diabetic criteria.
The hibiscus acid content in roselle is thought to inhibit the enzymes alpha glucosidase and alpha amylase, which are enzymes that break down carbohydrates into smaller forms of sugar and can increase blood sugar levels. However, it should be noted that if there are signs of pre-diabetes, it is better to consume unsweetened roselle tea.
4. Another benefit of roselle tea is that it can help lower bad cholesterol
illustration of a person holding a cholesterol check (pexels.com/Nataliya Vaitkevich)
Roselle tea can help lower blood fat levels, which is another risk factor for heart disease. Launch Healthlineroselle tea can improve the fat profile of patients with diabetes.
Roselle tea increases HDL or good cholesterol and lowers total cholesterol, LDL or bad cholesterol, and triglycerides. One study shows. that patients with metabolic syndrome who consumed roselle extract were associated with decreased total cholesterol and increased HDL.
Also Read: 5 Benefits of Oolong Tea for Weight Loss, Healthy Too!
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