https://www.epicnaturalhealth.com/10-... If you fancy subbing your usual cup of tea for something new, it's well worth considering hibiscus tea. This herbal tea is made from soaking parts of the hibiscus flowering plant in boiling water. It has a slightly sweet, sharp flavor, a little like cranberry juice. You can enjoy it either hot or cold - and it has a whole host of benefits. In this guide, you'll learn the health benefits of hibiscus tea leaves and juice, as well as the uses of hibiscus tea. 1. Antioxidant-Rich Hibiscus tea is rich in antioxidants, which are essential for helping our bodies to fight free radicals, that can cause oxidative cell damage. When free radicals attack the body's cells, they can exacerbate aging, resulting in skin wrinkles. More dangerously, these invaders can also increase a person's risk for certain diseases and illnesses. Multiple studies have found that diabetes, dementia and cardiovascular disease can be caused by free radicals. One of the best health benefits of hibiscus tea, therefore, is its ability to fight free radicals with its high antioxidant content. Not only can these antioxidants slow the aging process; they can also reduce inflammation in the body, lowering your risk of illness and helping you to maintain youthful, dewy skin. 2. Heart-Healthy Studies show that drinking tea made from hibiscus on a daily basis can help to improve heart health, and may even lower blood pressure. One study of adults with high blood pressure found that consuming three servings of 8-ounce cups of hibiscus tea every day for six weeks decreased overall blood pressure. An additional review found that drinking herbal tea could reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Of course, before stocking up on hibiscus tea and using it as an alternative to your doctor's prescribed heart medication, be sure to seek advice from a healthcare expert first. While hibiscus tea might be a natural option to consider if you want to lower your blood pressure, it may interact with certain diuretics used to treat high blood pressure. Additionally, evidence to suggest that hibiscus tea is capable of maintaining heart health as effectively as medications is lacking. 3. May Lower Cholesterol According to one study, hibiscus tea is capable of increasing HDL or "good" cholesterol, while reducing LDL or "bad" cholesterol and triglyceride levels. While this evidence is still relatively new, and more studies are needed to confirm the findings, it's promising news for those who make drinking hibiscus tea a daily habit. 4. May Support Weight Loss Of course, if you're trying to lose weight, drinking hibiscus tea alone won't provide you with the benefits you're looking for. But hibiscus tea may be effective in aiding weight loss when used in conjunction with a healthy diet and lifestyle. This is largely thanks to the diuretic properties hibiscus tea is said to have. One study found that drinking hibiscus extract for 12 weeks could reduce body weight, BMI and abdominal fat in obese and overweight participants. However, it's worth noting that hibiscus extract is stronger than hibiscus tea, so you likely wouldn't get the same results from consuming hibiscus tea. Additionally, because it's an anti-inflammatory, hibiscus tea may be effective in reducing cortisol, the stress response hormone. Hibiscus flowers contain many polyphenols and antioxidants that can be found in fruits and veggies, and can help to prevent inflammation and disease in the body. Finally, if you drink hibiscus tea when you're craving something sweet, you'll be able to ward off cravings by changing the taste in your mouth. If you do find that the beverage is too sharp for your liking, you can make hibiscus tea with some honey to sweeten it up. 5. Boosts Digestion The digestive health benefits of hibiscus tea result from its role as a diuretic. A diuretic can increase the amount of salt and water that the body expels in urine. As a natural diuretic, hibiscus tea may be effective in supporting the digestive system's role in directing salt out of the body. Additionally, having lower sodium levels in the blood can reduce blood pressure. Hibiscus tea is essentially flavored water that's free of both sugar and caffeine, so it'll keep you hydrated without putting anything that's difficult to digest into your body. Hibiscus tea counts towards your daily fluids. Drinking enough fluids every day helps to prevent constipation, a common digestive side-effect.