During our Whole30 journey, I took a deep dive into the ingredients and foods we are allowed to consume… which then led me down the rabbit hole of the benefits of various types of tea! One tea that I have always loved, but never really considered the benefits of is hibiscus. This vibrantly colored, sweet yet tart herbal tea is rapidly becoming a favorite of mine. I decided to dig into the benefits of hibiscus — and WOW there are plenty. I had no idea, to be honest. So I figured I should share my findings with you and see what you think!
The Countless Benefits of Hibiscus That Surprised Me
Here are a few facts about this tropical flower before we dig into the benefits: typically products containing hibiscus are made from the dried leaves of the Hibiscus Sabdariffa plant. Also, the plant is usually grown in tropical and subtropical climates, but originates in North Africa and Southeast Asia… but now seems to have taken over the world! It’s super easy to make a batch of hibiscus tea — here’s my favorite kind. Plus it’s delicious warm and cold, making this a year-round drink in our home.
The Benefits of Hibiscus Tea
Loaded with antioxidants and Vitamin C
First and foremost, hibiscus tea is packed with antioxidants, which are known to fight free radicals in your body and help remove waste from your cells. It’s known to have anti-bacterial properties, too. There is even research showing that hibiscus benefits include lowering inflammation! Also, it is rich in absorbic acid, aka Vitamin C. And we all know that that does… I’m all for a boosted immune system, so I love this added benefit.
Tons of potential health benefits
Let’s be real here, I’m not a doctor or medical health professional. But when I hear that a simply drinking a tea can help with lots of common, scary health concerns, you better believe I’m ok with drinking it! I mean, what can it hurt?? There is research indicating that some hibiscus benefits include:
- Lowered blood pressure
- Improved liver health
- Lowered cholesterol levels
- Reduced blood sugar levels
- Improved digestion — There are studies showing that hibiscus has diuretic properties. If you have a sensitive digestive system like me, just be aware of this potential side effect.
The Benefits of Hibiscus for Your Skin
During my research, I also found out that using hibiscus in the bath is beneficial, too! Which explains why I’ve been seeing it as an ingredient in more and more of my clean beauty and skincare products. Here’s why:
Gentle exfoliation
Apparently, people have even called it the ‘botox plant.’ While this seems a little excessive to me, I like where the thinking leads. Hibiscus has been known to improve and even skin tone thanks to it’s gentle exfoliating properties. That’s because this flower is rich in citric acid (speeds up new cell turnover) and malic acid. That means that soaking in a hibiscus bath can improve skin texture and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Also, it helps to speed up new cell turnover!
Want to make your own floral bath salts with hibiscus? Check out our DIY tutorial!
Skin Elasticity
There is also evidence that shows hibiscus benefits include decreased activity of elastase. This is an enzyme that can break down our skins natural elasticity as we age. But with hibiscus, skin can look firmer, less wrinkled, and dewy!
Here are some skincare and haircare products that I love and contain hibiscus:
Have you ever tried hibiscus tea or hibiscus as an ingredient in your skincare? I’d love to know what your experience has been!
