BY
IFY MGBEMENA
Zobo is a popular Nigerian beverage made from dried hibiscus petals, known locally as “sorrel” or “roselle.” It’s often prepared by boiling the petals with spices like ginger and cloves, then sweetened to taste. The resulting drink is enjoyed for its refreshing taste and vibrant red color, and it’s commonly served chilled. Zobo is not only a flavorful beverage but also has potential health benefits due to the antioxidant properties of hibiscus.
However, different regions in Nigeria may have unique variations, adjusting spice levels or incorporating local ingredients. In some settings, Zobo is fermented to create an alcoholic variant.
Often compared to the flavor of cranberry juice, drinking hibiscus tea brings a wealth of health benefits. Loaded with nutrients, stuffed with antioxidants, and here to help you deal with everything from hypertension to reducing heart disease risks, weight loss, and complete immune system health, welcoming the floral grace of hibiscus tea into your daily routine is sure to boost your life in all the right ways. Take a look at all the heavenly hibiscus tea benefits.
Here are some facts about Habiscus tea:
LOWERS CHOLESTEROL
Yes, this unique little flower that is turned into hibiscus extract has been carefully studied to see if it had a positive impact on high blood pressure and cholesterol. The research showed that the 90 participants with high cholesterol who sipped hibiscus twice a day for 15 days had an increase in their HDL cholesterol levels.
FULL OF ANTIOXIDANTS
There are a lot of antioxidants in Zobo drink. Antioxidants help fight against oxidative stress caused by free radicals. This is due to the anthocyanins found in the plant, the natural pigments that make its flowers red. The oxidative effect of Zobo drink helps in the prevention of certain cancerous diseases like leukaemia.
PREVENTION OF KIDNEY STONES
Since zobo drink is a diuretic, it is studied in connection with the renal system and the urinary system. A study revealed that zobo drink would reduce the occurrence of compounds involved in forming kidney stones.
LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE
A study showed that just drinking three cups of tea in adults at risk of hypertension was enough to see a drop in their systolic blood pressure in comparison to those given a placebo. Full of anti-inflammatory properties, hibiscus tea is great for your heart health and can help to keep your blood pressure on the right side.
AIDS WEIGHT LOSS
While body weight is a complex issue and dealing with unhealthy obesity requires a proper schedule of exercise and lifestyle changes, hibiscus tea is considered to be a contender in helping with body fat. More studies are needed but from the info collected, it shows that sipping hibiscus tea for 3 months helped people to lower their body weight and cut down on abdominal fat. Not bad for something so delicious.
BOOSTS IMMUNE SYSTEM
Vitamin C is one of the major players in fending off colds and flu that come with seasonal changes. This vibrant red tea can keep you in tip-top shape thanks to its abundance of vitamins and minerals, the Vit C can also help your body to fend off all kinds of infections. In short, all it takes is a cup to feel as strong as an ox.
HELPS MANAGE BLOOD SUGARS
Research has shown that the extract of hibiscus lowered blood glucose by 12%. As hibiscus is also low in sugar and light in calories it won’t throw your levels off the charts. The added bonus of being able to encourage HDL cholesterol levels and lowering LDL levels brings another exciting angle for diabetics looking for a lush healing tea to help.
LIVER HEALTH
This pomegranate-colored beverage has been studied for helping to prevent liver damage as it can help increase the concentration of detoxifying enzymes. While these studies were conducted using hibiscus extract and more studies are needed, it stands to reason that hibiscus tea can be a useful tool in the fight against future liver problems.
HELPS FIGHT CANCER
Rich in polyphenols, hibiscus tea could serve as another sword in the fight against cancer. Polyphenols are compounds that are loaded with anti-cancer properties. In the test tube studies done, hibiscus extract was seen to reduce cell growth and help stop plasma cell and mouth cancer. Other studies also showed the tropical plant leaf from preventing prostate cancer growth from spreading and inhibited stomach cancer cells up to 52%.
FIGHTS BACTERIA
Not only does hibiscus tea come with a heap of antioxidants but it also brings antibacterial properties to the table too. Test tube studies have shown that hibiscus extract can inhibit E-coli and in other studies hibiscus was also seen to fend off eight different strains of bacteria.
LOADED WITH VITAMINS
While we already mentioned the fact that hibiscus tea is loaded with flu-fighting vitamin C, this dream drink doesn’t stop there. Not only will you find Vit C in this tea but you will also find Vitamin K which helps bone metabolism and blood clotting. Hibiscus tea also comes topped up with copper and potassium, which are an essential source of iron and keep our nerves and immune system functioning. Finally, it also has anthocyanins which are responsible for that rich ruby coloring but also helps to prevent chronic disease and are ripe with antibacterial benefits too.
LOWERS CRAVINGS
It seems that this sour tea can help to keep cravings at bay thanks to its sweet fruity notes and low-calorie count.
AIDS DIGESTION
We love a little after-dinner sip to stop us from feeling bloated, heavy, and ready for bed. Again, hibiscus tea makes an amazing aperitif every time. As hibiscus tea works as mother nature’s diuretic, it pulls salt from the body all while keeping you hydrated and as regular as can be. As it’s also low in sugar and not a caffeinated tea, you can sip it all night long without worrying about it interrupting sleep.
EASE KIDNEY STONES
Still doing good work from tip to toe, hibiscus tea also gets to work on keeping your kidneys flushed and fabulous. Studies have shown that hibiscus helped to prevent calcium crystals from turning into those tough and terrible kidney stones.
GOOD FOR HYDRATION
Besides containing carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamin C, zobo is rich in water. Therefore, it provides the necessary fluid and nutrient balance during fasting seasons.
MENSTRUATION REGULATION
Zobo affects estrogen, the sex hormone that regulates the reproductive system in women. Specifically, it encourages menstruation flow before it’s due, otherwise called the emmenagogue effect. This is especially useful for women struggling with irregular periods.
TACKLE MENSTRUAL PAIN
The contribution of zobo to the female reproductive system is one health benefit. Zobo is quite effective in lowering the discomfort of menstrual pain. Zobo helps by reestablishing hormonal balance in females to reduce menstrual symptoms like overeating, mood swings, and so on.
APPETISER
Zobo has anti-bacterial features that work in harmony to repair your digestive system and revive your appetite because zobo is filled with nutrients such as calcium, riboflavin, iron, niacin, thiamine, and fiber, amongst others.
Zobo also prevents the body from producing amylase, which absorbs starch and carbohydrates. Zobo also have anti-hypertensive properties that help control blood sugar levels.
ENHANCES KIDNEY FUNCTION
Regular consumption of organic acids, which include tartaric acid, maleic acid, citric acid, and so on, is useful for dealing with kidney disease. Zobo drink’s acid flushes away uric and oxalic acid, which are two waste products that can cause kidney stone disease. Consuming zobo drink will assist in enhancing kidney function.
PREVENTS CONSTIPATION
Zobo is loaded with powerful elements, in which fibre is one of them as earlier stated. Fibre is a digestive system enhancer. Zobo’s high fiber content makes it healthy for preventing constipation.
