Hibiscus tea for weight loss, but it should be consumed in moderation

At the hibiscus teaflavor and benefits come together to ensure the well-being of those looking for a better quality of life.

In addition to contributing to weight loss, this exotic drink is full of nutrients and is naturally sweetened, which eliminates the need for sugar or sweeteners to be ingested.

However, both men and women should pay attention to some risks before inserting this tea in the menu – its regular consumption can alter hormone levels in the body and bring other complications.

See here how to lose weight healthily with Aromatherapy and Thetahealing.

what is hibiscus

Of African and Asian origin, the hibiscus flower used to prepare tea has the scientific name of Hibiscus Sabdariffa.

According to nutritionist Flavia Morais, this flower is different from the well-known garden hibiscus, whose scientific name is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Integrative Health coach Melissa Setubal explains that hibiscus is normally used in teas through its petals.

“In fact, we buy the dried petals of the flower to make the tea, which is a very strong dark red.

When brewing tea, this shade remains in the liquid. Hibiscus is a plant used for treatment in several countries, mainly in the Middle East and North Africa. This flower has been used for millennia”, explains Melissa.

Hibiscus tea helps to lose weight

The nutrients present in hibiscus tea are numerous. Calcium and magnesium are examples of them, but the drink is mainly characterized by its antioxidant action, according to Flavia Morais.

In 6g of the plant, the amount used to prepare 200 ml of tea, we have calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium, essential for bone health, muscle contraction and energy production.

Our body produces molecules called free radicals that, in excess, can damage our cells, causing premature aging and triggering chronic diseases.

You antioxidants – such as flavonoids, organic acids and vitamin A present in hibiscus – have the role of neutralizing the effect of free radicals, preventing cell damage and the onset of diseases, in addition to being related to fat burning”, details the nutritionist.

The help that hibiscus tea can offer to those who want to lose a few pounds does not stop there. Among the most studied effects of drinking this drink is weight loss.

According to Melissa Setubal, in addition to tea being an excellent antioxidant, it fights obesity, reduces the amount of abdominal fat and even prevents the so-called “fatty liver”, a disease that is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver.

“One of the most studied benefits of hibiscus tea is weight loss. The ancient knowledge about this drink already talked about it, but the efficiency of the tea in the treatment of obesity, in the elimination of abdominal fat and mainly in the prevention of “fatty liver” was also discovered.

All of these effects have been attributed to polyphenols.which are antioxidant molecules present in hibiscus.

The antioxidant properties prevent the body from some other problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, liver and kidney problems, cancer and metabolic syndromes in general”, informs Melissa.

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Hibiscus can be used in the preparation of other drinks and foods.

Hibiscus tea is not only simple to prepare, but it can also be used in recipes that use some type of liquid, such as juices or drinks.

Melissa Setubal suggests this type of use precisely because of the color and flavor, characteristic of the flower. “The use of tea in preparations that take liquids can be very useful.

The flavor and color are naturally accentuated and can be used, even if the nutrients of this drink are not fully maintained after cooking”, instructs the coach in Integrative Health.

Nutritionist Flavia Morais, on the other hand, indicates that hibiscus can also be consumed in the form of “suchá” (mixtures of vegetable or fruit juices, with plant infusion) and even jelly. “Tea can be used as a base for making sucha.

For this, just beat the tea in the blender with the fruit of your choice. Hibiscus jelly is another food produced with the flower, but without its nutritional properties, as the addition of sugar and the cooking time to obtain the jelly compromise its original benefits”, advises Flavia.

What kind of hibiscus tea to use

As for the different types of hibiscus tea, Integrative Health coach Melissa Setubal mainly recommends the infusion with the dried leaves of this flower.

According to her, the sachet version is a good choice, but its effects are reduced.

There are even those who choose to eat the petals of this flower directly, as an aperitif or mixed in a salad, for example. In that case, nutrients are also not fully utilized.

“Furthermore, the direct ingestion of hibiscus petals (both dried and fresh) are possibly not pleasant to the taste and their beneficial properties are not properly activated when consumed in any other way than tea. Therefore, in order for the nutrients to be widely used, the recommendation is that this plant be consumed through infusion”, warns Melissa.

How to find and combine hibiscus

Hibiscus can be found in the form of dried petals, for tea preparation, capsules or in soluble form – all in health food stores.

Tea can be part of diets for weight loss, blood pressure control and lower cholesterol levels.

For slimmingcan be combined with white or green tea in food; for blood pressure control, it can be associated with grape juice; for cholesterol reduction, it should be consumed with linseed or chia seeds.

Tea is contraindicated for pregnant women and people of childbearing age.

However, despite the benefits presented, hibiscus tea intoxication is a consequence of its excessive consumption, which requires caution on the part of those who ingest the drink. Who explains is the nutritionist Flavia Morais, who also warns of the typical diuretic effect of tea.

“Like any other plant, hibiscus in tea can cause toxicity if consumed in excessive doses, as everything we ingest needs to be metabolized and eliminated by the liver and kidneys.

When consumed in large quantities, this drink may not be completely eliminated by the liver, thus intoxicating the body.

In addition, because this tea is a diuretic, its excessive consumption can cause the person to eliminate many electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, which are present in the blood.

This can lead to changes in pressure and muscle contraction. Therefore, if the person already takes medicine for this purpose, the diuretic effect of the medicine can be potentiated, which is not desirable”, warns the specialist.

Melissa Setubal explains that fertility and hormones can be affected by excessive intake of hibiscus tea, which turns out to be contraindicated for pregnant women or women who want to become pregnant.

According to the specialist, in these cases, tea can even be consumed, but not more than once a month.

“Despite all the advantages provided by the hibiscus teathe relationship between this drink and female hormones is worrying.

There is an issue involving people of childbearing age – if the woman or man who is in this phase drinks tea regularly, aiming to lose weight, for example, it can put their fertility at risk.

Nutritionist Flavia Morais, however, recommends the ingestion of 3 to 6 cups of tea per day, if the person is no longer of childbearing age or does not plan to have children.

Some studies show that hibiscus has components that interfere with estrogen levels and alter them, making this plant even used as a contraceptive.

For women who suffer from TPM and other conditions of the endocrine system, the hibiscus tea can cause worsening and even difficulty getting pregnantby interfering with the ovulation process.

For this reason, it should also be avoided by women during pregnancy”, advises the coach in Integrative Health.