Hibiscus Flowers Health Benefits

Hibiscus flowers are used to flavour and colour many of our fruit infusions.  Quite tangy and a bit sour by themselves, they are great blended with sweeter fruits like apple to create the perfect balance of flavours.  And it seems Hibiscus flowers are equally as good for your health!

While the tea plant normally gets all the attention regarding health benefits of it's antioxidants, it appears that we might be able to get as excited about the Hibiscus!

Hibiscus flowers with their bright red and orange colourings have been found to contain flavonoids, polyphenols and anthocyanins - similar to those found in red wine.

Some recent studies have shown just how beneficial Hibiscus tea could be for our health if consumeed regularly....

• A study conducted in the US has found Hibiscus tea could lower blood pressure.  The participants in this study found that if they drank 3 cups of hibiscus tea a day they had a 7.2% drop in their systolic blood pressure.  Also those with the highest readings saw their systolic blood pressure drop by 13.2% and diastolic blood pressure reduced by 6.4%
• Another study showed that the antioxidants in Hibiscus prevented oxidation of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol).  The oxidation of this LDL has been implicated in hardening of the arteries.
• A third study showed a potential cholesterol lowering effect where blood cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fat) were significantly lowered over a period of 12 weeks.

You can find Hibiscus flowers in the following teas from our Fruit Infusions range: 


Berry Beautiful, Berry Nice Spice, Sweet Cinnamon Pear, Ginger Peach Blush, Steamy Pina Colada, Tropical Passion

Diets High in Olive Oil Reduce Stroke Risk

Before I summarise the results of this fascinating new study, I want to make a note that these types of results are only going to achievable if you use good quality virgin olive oil.  Spend a little more money on the bottle you use for dipping bread, drizzling or salad dressing.

Margarines made from Olive Oil are NOT THE SAME!  They may have been (cheap) olive oil once - but they are no longer when hydrogenated to make them solid.  Please stay away from them - no matter what the marketing about them says, they are not good for you!  Use the real stuff!!


Anyway...off my soap box and onto the study......

Consuming high levels of olive oil may help prevent a stroke in older people, according to new research.

The study, published in Neurology, reports that higher dietary intakes of olive oil may reduce the risk of developing stroke by over 40 per cent. The researchers also reported that those with the highest levels of plasma oleic acid – a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid found at high levels in olive oil – had a 73% reduction in the risk of stroke.

The researchers followed 7,625 people with no history of stroke, aged 65 and older from three cities in France: Bordeaux, Dijon and Montpellier.

The participants were categorized by olive oil consumption into one of three groups:

• No use, 
• Moderate use: such as using olive oil in cooking or as dressing or with bread.
• Intensive use: which included using olive oil for both cooking and as dressing or with bread.

After adjusting their findings to account for diet, physical activity, body mass index and other risk factors for stroke, the researchers reported that people who regularly used olive oil for both cooking and as dressing had a 41% lower risk of stroke compared to those who never used olive oil in their diet.

The authors also measured blood plasma oleic acid, finding that high levels were associated with lower stroke incidence.

“Compared to those with lowest levels], participants who had the highest levels of plasma oleic acid had a 73% reduction of stroke risk,” said the authors.

Olive oil has been associated with potentially protective effects against many cardiovascular risk factors. Rich in phenolic compounds, such as oleuropein and cafeic acid, the oil has attracted attention because of their potential anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Such compounds have been also associated with the antioxidant activity of olive oil.

It's important to note that a person's risk of stroke would only be reduced through consuming olive oil as an alternative to other cooking fats and as part of a healthy balanced diet that is low in saturated fat and salt.

Why does drinking water matter so much?

Why are we always being told to drink so much water?  Do we really need to or is it a bottled water companies marketing dream?  I think a bit of both really!  
But there are some very good, often not considered reasons for making sure you drink enough water.

• Water ensures we remain energized: Suboptimal hydration slows the activity of enzymes, including those responsible for producing energy, leading to feelings of fatigue. Even a slight reduction in hydration can lower metabolism and reduce your ability to exercise efficiently.  If we are not drinking around 25-35ml per kg of body weight daily this dehydrates our cells and we cannot then produce enough energy at a cellular level. 

• Water is important for proper detoxification: Water helps our body to flush out residual toxins created from our own metabolic waste, as well as toxic chemicals, pollution, cleaning products, skin care/hair products, foods, alcohol, medications etc.   Without essential water it puts further pressure on our detoxification pathways – liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, digestive system and skin which can lead to further complications and increased sluggishness.

• Water is also crucial for our Digestion: Our bodies produce an average of 7 liters of digestive juices daily. When we don’t drink enough liquid, our secretions are more limited and the digestive process is inhibited.   Not enough water can also cause problems with regularity and lead to constipation.

• Important for healthy blood pressure:  A lack of fluids can also contribute to high blood pressure.  When we are chronically dehydrated, our blood becomes thicker and more viscous. In response to this reduced overall blood volume, the blood vessels contract and the body must work harder to push blood through the veins, resulting in elevated blood pressure.

So some pretty important reasons to remain hydrated.  If you are bored with plain old water add a squirt of lemon juice or some leaves of peppermint or lemon balm from the garden.  

Herbal Infusions and Fruit Infusions are another way to get water into you, as they don't contain caffeine and can be good for those who struggle with lots of plain water.    You can chill them
down and sip cold through out the day if you prefer.

Soft drinks, diet or not, will deplete you and do not count as fluid intake!

How much should you drink?
We're often told 6-8 glasses of water a day and this is a relatively good guideline. But it depends on each person - if you eat a lot of fruit and veges then you will be getting more water from them than someone who doesn't.

Also if you drink a lot of caffeine, salty processed foods, are stressed or exercise a lot then you will need to drink more fluids to make up for the extra that is lost.