In a Type 1 diabetes-induced rat model, hibiscus extract of 1.75 grams per kilograms by weight was used as treatment -- decreasing degeneration and necrotic changes found in pancreatic cells, showing the antidiabetic mechanism of hibiscus.[i]
Data from an alloxan-induced Type 1 diabetic rat study demonstrated that hibiscus extract possesses strong hypolipidemic as well as antioxidant properties and could prevent atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular pathologies associated with Type 1 diabetes.[ii]
In a trial of 60 Type 2 diabetes patients, participants consumed either hibiscus tea or black tea two times a day for one month. Those in the hibiscus tea group increased their high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and significantly decreased total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B (Apo-B100) deficiency (overall positive effects on their blood lipid profile) compared to the control group.[iii]
2. Reduces Obesity and Abdominal FatSubjects with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or greater between the ages of 18 and 65 years were randomly divided into 17 control and 19 hibiscus extract treated groups for 12 weeks.
Consumption of the hibiscus extract reduced obesity, abdominal fat and serum free fatty acid, improved liver steatosis and could help to prevent obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.[iv] Both hibiscus and lemon verbena extracts were used with 54 overweight subjects and effectively helped to manage their weight as measured by energy expenditure, appetite control and lipid profile.[v]
3. Lowers Blood PressureFive studies with 390 participants were meta-analyzed for effects of hibiscus supplements with significant results for lowering both systolic blood pressure (by an average of nearly eight millimeters of mercury (mmHg)) and diastolic blood pressure (by four mmHg).[vi]
A total of 46 stage 1 high blood pressure (systolic from 130 to 139; diastolic from 80 to 89) patients participated in a control study given lifestyle and dietary advice while the treatment group added two cups of hibiscus tea every morning for a month. Both the control and treatment groups reduced systolic blood pressure but the mean reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the group drinking hibiscus tea.[vii]
A total of 80 subjects with stage 1 high blood pressure of both sexes were studied and treated either with placebo or a hibiscus extract over 84 days. The results showed the hibiscus extract significantly reduced the daytime systolic blood pressure and variation throughout the day compared to the control group.[viii]
4. Fights InflammationHibiscus has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In an in vitro study, hibiscus was found to decrease the inflammasome (which puts into motion inflammatory responses to infections and cell damage) nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3). NLRP3 is associated with several human disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and autoimmune encephalitis[ix] and the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, infectious cardiac diseases and heart failure.[x]
In a review of research articles on hibiscus and chronic diseases, scientific evidence shows the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms by which hibiscus improves high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, obesity, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.[xi]
5. Reduces Oxidative StressAn extensive research review shows hibiscus is effective in curing various degenerative diseases like high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, cancer and other inflammatory liver and kidney diseases.
Most studies supported the scientific evidence that hibiscus can help prevent chronic and degenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral slerosis (ALS), and cancers.[xii],[xiii] These diseases are characterized by extensive oxidative damage to lipids, proteins and DNA.[xiv]
A review of in vitro and in vivo studies on hibiscus showed the significant therapeutic properties of the extracts and phytochemicals derived from hibiscus sabdariffa as antimicrobial, anti-parasitic and anticancer agents without the undesirable side effects, toxicity and drug resistance of current treatments.[xv]
Cell cycle regulation is an important issue in cancer therapy and hibiscus extract arrested cell cycle activity in human leukemia cell lines, indicating that this compound could be a promising anticancer agent.[xvi]
6. Reverses Metabolic SyndromeInsulin resistance, obesity, high blood pressure and imbalanced lipids are strongly associated with metabolic syndrome, which is considered to be a reversible clinical stage before its evolution to coronary heart disease and diabetes. A total daily dose of 100 milligrams (mg) of hibiscus extract powder was orally administered in capsules for one month and compared with a cholesterol balancing diet.
The metabolic syndrome patients treated with hibiscus extract had significantly reduced glucose and total cholesterol levels, increased HDL cholesterol (HDL-c) levels, and an improved TAG/HDL-c ratio, a marker of insulin resistance. Additionally, a triglyceride-lowering effect was observed in metabolic syndrome patients treated with hibiscus plus diet and in individuals without metabolic syndrome treated with hibiscus alone.[xvii]
Forms of HibiscusHibiscus comes in the form of dried flowers, powder, tea or extract capsules (250 to 400 mg doses) as well as oil. The dried flowers or powders (1.5 teaspoons) can be steeped in 3/4 cup of hot water to make tea but should be USDA organic and limited to three times a day.[xviii] Further boiling reduces the tea to a syrup.
The hibiscus plant can be used as a natural colorant for food and capsule extracts from dried flowers show bioactive compounds that are antioxidant, antimicrobial, lipid peroxidation inhibitors, antibacterial and antifungal.[xix]
Anthocyanins from the petals of the hibiscus plant are believed to stop inflammatory processes in the body.[xx] A study of rats showed hibiscus, in the form of the oil extracted from the roselle seed, balanced lipids and cholesterol[xxi] and served as a good source of lipid-soluble antioxidants.[xxii]
From in vivo and in vitro studies, the leaf extract of hibiscus exhibited more potency on hair growth compared to the flower extract.[xxiii] Hibiscus' bright red calyces are nutrient dense and used in jams and juices for coloring and its leaves and young shoots are fiber-rich superfoods that can be used in cooking, such as in curries, soups, stews and stir-fries, or eaten raw in salads, offering many nutritional benefits.[xxiv]
Strong Health Protections of Hibiscus Enjoy hibiscus' medicinal properties as antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, lipid and cholesterol balancers and antibacterial -- by consuming its flavorful tea or adding other parts of the flowering plant such as leaves, calyces and seed oils to your healthy habits. Using hibiscus as a therapy may also help to reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, cancers and cardiovascular and degenerative chronic diseases. Read more at: GreenMedInfo.comMEDICAL BOMBSHELL: FDA admits Covid mRNA ‘Vaccines’ CAUSE CANCER
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