Hibiscus has many health benefits, including fighting infection
Photo by David Brooke Martin on Unsplash
Dried hibiscus flowers, in tea or supplements, can help a person fight off infections and have several other health benefits.
At Vali health supplements, we put the dried herb in our D-Mannose capsules [1] that we recommend for urinary tract health and to combat UTI infections.
The capsules contain three ingredients shown to fight UTI: D-mannose, the hibiscus flower extract, and dried cranberry extract.
Studies have shown that hibiscus is not just an antibacterial, but also an antifungal and antiparasitic agent. It helps keep the bladder and kidneys healthy and kills bad bacteria that cause pain during urination.
The chemicals in hibiscus extract work quickly, cycling through the body in a day. The hibiscus rids the body of E. coli and up to 95% of the bacteria that cause UTIs.
It is also a diuretic that flushes bacteria to cleanse the urinary system and boost the immune system so it can prevent bacteria from infecting the urinary tract.
For more information about our D-Mannose capsules, see our blog here [2]; and for a blog on the 7 signs and symptoms of UTI, see our site here [3].
Hibiscus: more than an antibacterial
WebMd has an article about hibiscus that says [4]:
The fruit acids in hibiscus may work like a laxative. Some researchers think that other chemicals in hibiscus might be able to lower blood pressure; reduce levels of sugar and fats in the blood; decrease spasms in the stomach, intestines, and uterus; reduce swelling; and work like antibiotics to kill bacteria and worms.
WebMd says more study is needed to determine whether hibiscus fights colds, constipation, fluid retention, irritated stomach, loss of appetite, nerve disease, and other conditions.
This video explores the benefits of hibiscus tea.
The several other benefits of hibiscus
Healthline has an article that details the many other benefits of hibiscus. Hibiscus may:
- Be an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals that can damage the cells of your body. So far, studies have just been done on animals, but in lab rats, "hibiscus extract increased the number of antioxidant enzymes and reduced the harmful effects of free radicals by up to 92%.
Another rat study had similar findings, showing that parts of the hibiscus plant, such as the leaves, possess potent antioxidant properties." Healthline says more studies are needed in humans to determine whether hibiscus works well as an antioxidant. - Hibiscus may lower blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic, several studies have found. High blood pressure can weaken the heart, put extra strain on it and can increase the risk of heart disease. People on hydrochlorothiazide should not take hibiscus because it may interact withe the diuretic.
- Hibiscus may also help lower the levels of fat in the blood. Higher blood fat levels are a risk factor in heart disease. A study of diabetes patients found that good cholesterol increased and bad cholesterol and triglycerides decreased in those who drank hibiscus tea for one month. Results were compared to black tea, which did not show similar benefits. Daily hibiscus extracts were shown to increase HDL (good) cholesterol and decrease total cholesterol. But other studies have conflicted with these findings, so more research is needed. And the blood fat benefits may be for those only diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
-
Hibiscus might promote liver function and health, studies have shown. A study of 19 overweight people who took hibiscus extract for 12 weeks saw an improvement in liver steatosis, which makes fat build up in the liver and can cause it to fail. In hamsters, hibiscus extract might help decrease markers of liver damage. Still another study, in rats, found that the extract boosted concentrations of several healthful enzymes by 65%. More research is needed in humans.
- Hibiscus tea might help people lose weight and help prevent obesity. In one study, 36 overweight people given hibiscus extract reduced weight, fat, body mass index, and hip-to-waist ratio. Similar benefits were not found for those taking the placebo. Another study, using obese mice, found that they lost weight when on hibiscus extract for two months. More studies on humans, weight loss, and hibiscus are needed.
- Hibiscus contains phenols, which help fight cancer. In test tubes, hibiscus extract helped counteract or inhibit mouth, plasma cell, prostate, and stomach cancers. These were test tube studies, not on live humans, so more research is necessary.
Hibiscus fights bacteria (not just UTI)
So hibiscus is an antioxidant and may be a cancer, obesity, and high blood pressure fighter. But some other test tube studies found that it might help ward off bacterial infections. Healthline says:
In fact, one test-tube study found that hibiscus extract inhibited the activity of E. coli, a strain of bacteria that can cause symptoms like cramping, gas and diarrhea.
Another test-tube study showed that the extract fought eight strains of bacteria and was as effective as some medications used to treat bacterial infection.
However, no human studies have looked at the antibacterial effects of hibiscus tea, so it is still unclear how these results may translate to humans.
Conclusion:
Taking hibiscus looks like a no-lose situation. You can also obtain benefits from the d-mannose and cranberry extract in our D-Mannose capsules [5].
Sources:
[1] https://www.valiup.com/products/vali-d-mannose-uti-support-cranberry-hibiscus
[2] https://www.valiup.com/blogs/vali-blog/d-mannose-benefits-more-than-an-antibiotic
[3] https://www.valiup.com/blogs/vali-blog/7-signs-symptoms-uti
[4] https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-211/hibiscus
Also in VALI Blog
Some facts about the sleep aid melatonin
Considering that about one-third of American adults don't get enough sleep, it's important to use every advantage available when confronted with a difficult sleep pattern.
Some people are so busy that their many activities deprive them of sleep. For those people, we advise slowing down and scheduling activities earlier in the day.
For others, the problem may be a busy mind. Good sleep hygiene can help with that. So can VALI Sleep Well [1], a natural sleep aid that contains melatonin and several other ingredients that help you sleep well. Read on for more on both VALI Sleep Well and good sleep hygiene below here.
How carnitine works and why it is so healthful
VALI health supplements use N-acetyl L-carnitine in Neuro Force capsules for its reported benefits in increasing alertness and protecting and repairing neurons. There is also some evidence that L-carnitine alleviates neurological decline and fatigue.
See this VALI blog [1] on what nootropics are. Excerpt:
Nootropics are also called "smart drugs" and "cognitive enhancers." The theory holds that they help you think better, remember more, and be more alert, creative, focused, and motivated.
...
The type of carnitine in VALI is perhaps the most effective form to help your brain, according to Healthline.com [6]. Studies in animals show it may help prevent mental decline from aging and improve learning. It may also, human studies show, reverse loss of brain function from Alzheimer's. It may also improve brain function in alcoholics.
Don't let a sweaty workout rob your body of vital nutrients
Getting plenty of electrolytes helps the body restore the fluid balance and stay hydrated.
VALI health produces two supplements that supply athletes', farmers', or construction workers' bodies with the natural substances they need when they lose salts through hard work and play.
Your muscles may cramp, tighten up or give out without the proper nutrition that VALI Electrolyte Salts [1] and Electrolyte Salts with Caffeine [2] can supply.
Mark Miller
Author