Why Roselle?

Beautiful and restorative, the flower of this plant is gaining popularity for its medicinal advantages as we know more of its great. The Hibiscus sabdariffa, or roselle plants, are shrubs that were probably indigenous to the regions from W. Africa through to Sudan. It is now cultivated in countries of the tropical regions.

Also known as Luoshen Hua in Chinese, the plant has a lot of uses lately. The seeds, leaves, and roots are cooked in native dishes across Africa and Asia, while its calyces are often used to make colorings for red food, juices, jams, and craft beverages. When dried, the plant flower can be consumed as a fruit or to make tea.

One of the basic reasons for the farming of Roselle is to produce bast fibers, which are to be extracted from the stem and used as a substitute to jute. Hibiscus cannabinus is mainly cultivated in S. Asia for its fiber extraction purposes.

Roselle is an easy to cultivate shrub and reaches very tall heights. It can be identified easily with its unique bright red stems. It produces a lot of attractive flowers which have a unique look. And also, at every node, it gives a calyx. Fresh and dried calyces are an important part and are widely used in food preparation.

Hibiscus plant tea, made from dried parts of the herbaceous plant, is dark red. It has lovable and tart flavors, related to cranberry, and maybe eaten hot or iced. But does drinking its tea offer any health benefits?

Interestingly, there are approximately over a hundred species of hibiscus, ranging by the climate and location they grow in, but Hibiscus sabdariffa is most frequently used to make hibiscus tea.

Many folks0 are familiar with the beautiful flowers of this plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa). It originated from N. Africa and S. Asia but now widely grows in many tropical and subtropical regions. Folks around the world use different plant parts as medicine and food.

The Health Benefits of Roselle

The health benefits of this amazing roselle juice (hibiscus tea) are indeed amazing. Little did I  know until I began to come across a beautiful post describing how amazing this plant is. I was only drinking the tea because it is delicious, and because of its color? Some claim that it may even lower the risks of cancer. More research studies have been carried out in this area.

1. Antioxidant effect

The protective ability of a substance to inhibit the oxidative mechanism by scavenging free radicals and reactive oxygen is known as antioxidative activity. It shields lining organelles from premature cell damage and slows aging. A large number of Invivo and In-vitro studies have shown that Roselle calyxes carry potent antioxidants. According to a researcher, 38 of the entire anthocyanin-rich and aqueous extracts of Roselle are all effective antioxidants. Research has also proved that flavonoids, polyphenolic acid, and anthocyanins, which are all found in Roselle are potent antioxidants as well.

2. Food

This great plant is quite famous for its many fleshy calyces. These fresh calyces of Roselle are used to make a bright red-colored, good-tasting drink called the flor de Jamaica or roselle juice. Also, some persons all use the leaves of the Roselle in their salads. When these roselle leaves are supplement in salads, they affix a taste that is akin to spinach mixed alongside some sour fruitiness. The leaves always add an addition to pleasant flavor. The dried calyces and flowers of the plant are also used as a vital ingredient in various recipes.

3. Lower Blood Pressure

One of the most well-known benefits of hibiscus tea is that it has its ability to lower blood pressure. Over time, increased blood pressure can place extra stress on the heart and weaken it. High blood pressure is also linked with an increased risk of cardiac diseases.

Several research studies have discovered that hibiscus tea may help lower both diastolic and systolic blood pressure.

In a study, about 65 folks with high blood pressure were served either hibiscus tea or a placebo. After a month and a half, folks who took hibiscus tea had significantly reduced systolic blood pressure, in contrast to the placebo folks.

Similarly, another review of five studies deduced that hibiscus tea reduces both diastolic and systolic blood pressure by a mean of 3.53 mmHg and 7.58 mmHg, respectively.

While hibiscus tea remains a safe and natural way to lower blood pressure, it is nevertheless not recommended for folks taking hydrochlorothiazide, a type of diuretic medication used to correct high blood pressure, as it may interfere with the drug.

4. Need Vitamin C? Just Subscribe to “Roselle.”

The calyces of roselle flowers are very rich in ascorbic acid. You may know that ascorbic (Vitamin C) is good for you, but not so sure just how good? It is pertinent to keep our bodies working well. Vitamin C helps in collagen synthesis, wound healing and also, maintaining strong teeth and bones.

5. Anti Inflammatory Properties

Roselle juice has some anti-inflammatory properties, which aids in lowering blood pressure and treats some other inflammatory problems.

6. Cholesterol

A 2011 research compared the results of eating hibiscus versus black tea on human cholesterol levels.

About 90 folks with very high blood pressure ate either hibiscus or black tea two times daily for two weeks.

After a month, neither group had significant changes in their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol levels. However, both groups had considerable increases in their entire and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol levels.

However, some other studies have publicized mixed results. A review found that taking hibiscus tea did not decrease cholesterol levels.

Better detailed studies are still required to ascertain the impact of hibiscus intake on cholesterol levels.

7. Could Fight Bacteria

Most diseases we get are often caused by these notorious organisms. In other to address their deadly effects, some researchers have shown Roselle to own properties that could combat deadly bacteria. Another 2013 test-tube study proved that the extract from this plant was able to inhibit E.coli, a bacterium strain that may cause cramping and diarrhea.

Some of these studies have been limited to laboratory work, so we need to wait and watch how they translate to humans, but at least we now know there is good stuff to be discovered in these roselle plants, seeds, and even flowers.

8. Herbal Medicine Applications

Roselle is utilized in many human medicines. It is respected for its mild laxative ability, the capability to increase urination, ease during hot days, and treatment of cracks in the bilious, feet, sores, and wounds. Habitually in Sudan, Roselle has been used to relieve sour throat and curing wounds. In African human medicine, Roselle leaves are also utilized for their emollient, antimicrobial, diuretic, antipyretic, anthelmintic, sedative properties and as a comforting cough remedy, whereas in India, the leaves are salves on abscesses.

9. Skincare

With a remarkable reputation for anti-aging abilities, the roselle plant is popular in the cosmetic and skincare world. It has been used to produce facial steams, body/ face scrubs, clay masks, etc. The roselle flowers are advantageous because of the antioxidants packed in them; this helps to deactivate the effects of harmful free radicals and leave you with glowing, healthy skin.

10. Hypolipidemic Effects

According to a research study conducted among some hypercholesterolemic patients, two capsules of the leaves extract (1g), given 3 times daily (total of 3g/day), notably reduced serum cholesterol. Another scientific research also confirmed that ethanolic extract gotten from these leaves of Roselle notably exhibit hypo-lipidemic features. Roselle extract was also reviewed, some without and some with metabolic syndrome. Subjects receiving an ethanolic extract of Roselle had notably total cholesterol, reduced glucose, and low-density lipoprotein while raising high-density lipoprotein (i.e., the good cholesterol).

Steps in Preparation of Hibiscus Tea

• Firstly, collect some hibiscus fruits and clean them up, and dry them up in an oven at about 70 degrees Celsius for 3days.
• Peel off the calyx of the plant and store in air-tight plates.
• To make the tea, simply take 2g of the dried portion and crush them down into small pieces with a wooden roller.
• Put the crushed calyx in a tea bag or a net, then get your favorite mug, add 0.3Kg of boiling water, stair it for up to 3 minutes, add some sweetener if desired; you may also add other flavors of choice like lemon juice.