How Much Is Safe
Cooking with ginger is safe for most people, but check with your doctor, especially if you have a health condition or if you want to take a ginger supplement. If you do not have high cholesterol, you probably do not need to start taking ginger daily to lower your cholesterol. Ginger can interfere with some medications or cause adverse effects if you take too much. When you decide to take a supplement, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends that you do not consume more than 4 grams of ginger, or 2 teaspoons powdered. Pregnant women should not consume more than 1 gram — 1/2 teaspoon powdered — of ginger per day. Read labels if you are taking a ginger supplement, such as a capsule form of ginger.
This Drink Can Be Served Both Hot And Cold
I usually drink this hibiscus tea as an iced tea, but it can also be consumed hot.
- Hibiscus Iced Tea: After adding the lime juice and water, let it cool in the fridge. Or if youre impatient, add a few ice cubes to a glass and pour yourself a glass of delicious hibiscus tea.
- Hibiscus Hot Tea: Run it through a sieve when its still rather hot, add the lime juice, hot water, and enjoy right away.
I do hope youll try to incorporate hibiscus into your diet and enjoy this refreshing herbal tea. It is a perfect pairing with a baked grapefruit, scrambled eggs or chocolate coconut overnight oats as a wholesome and healthy breakfast.
Where To Get The Hibiscus
I usually buy dried hibiscus flowers on sites such as iHerb.com . You can find it in most health or superfood stores. The kind of hibiscus flower you are after is called Hibiscus Sabdariffa, but its also usually only that you will find anyway. Other names for the flower are roselle, rosella or flor de Jamaica.
Recommended Reading: Can Green Tea Give You Kidney Stones
Green Tea Lowers Cholesterol But Only A Little
By Eric Schultz, Reuters Health
3 Min Read
NEW YORK – Drinking green tea seems to cut bad cholesterol, according to a fresh look at the medical evidence.
A woman pours hot water to make green tea at a traditional tea house in Boseong, south of Seoul, in this September 23, 2007 file photo. REUTERS/Han Jae-Ho
The finding may help explain why green tea has been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, the leading killer worldwide, Xin-Xin Zheng and colleagues from Peking Union Medical College in Beijing report.
Because few people in the U.S. drink green tea, encouraging Americans to down more of the brew could have significant health benefits, the researchers write in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Still, one U.S. expert cautioned the drink shouldnt be used as medicine for high cholesterol, as the effect found in the Chinese study was small.
The new report pools the results of 14 previous trials. In each of those studies, researchers randomly divided participants into two groups: one that drank green tea or took an extract for periods ranging from three weeks to three months, and one that got an inactive preparation.
On average, those who got green tea ended up with total cholesterol levels that were 7.2 milligrams per deciliter lower than in the comparison group. Their LDL, or bad, cholesterol dropped 2.2 mg/dL — a decrease of slightly less than two percent.
There was no difference in HDL, or good, cholesterol between the two groups.
What The Evidence Shows
A number of studies have looked at possible links between green tea and cardiovascular disease.
A study of 40,530 Japanese adults found that participants who drank more than five cups of green tea a day had a 26% lower risk of death from heart attack or stroke and a 16% lower risk of death from all causes than people who drank less than one cup of green tea a day.
Last year, a meta-analysis of observational studies13 conducted in green tea drinkers and five in black tea drinkersfound that people who drank the most green tea had a 28% lower risk of coronary artery disease than those who drank the least green tea. Black tea had no effect on heart risk.
Another 2011 meta-analysis of 14 randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials found that green tea significantly lowered LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Many of the studies had been conducted with capsules containing catechins, the active polyphenols in green tea, rather than with the beverage itself.
Recommended Reading: Does Starbucks Have Boba
Rooibos Tea Benefits And Creating A Herbal Tea Routine
This weeks habit has us adding a very easy hydration and antioxidant rich step into the morning routine we are building together over the course of the month. Ill share what my routine looks like, and then you can decide the best place to fit one or more healthful cups of herbal tea into your day. Its no secret that tea sets a kind of rhythym to my days. Acting almost like punctuation, herbal teas in particular bring much needed mini-pauses spaced around everyday moments. One such pause that adds a great deal of joy every morning is a large mug of rooibos tea .
Red rooibos tea very popular due to its sweet nutty taste and alluring colour. The research on rooibos is quite extensive due to a wonderfully diverse array of antioxidants and minerals which protect our bodies from free radicals, boost our immune system, fight diseases like cancer, heart disease, and Parkinsons, as well as increase energy and overall vitality.
So each day for me begins almost immediately with the habit of warm lemon water. After a shower I enjoy the essential green smoothie for breakfast and head to work. At the start of the work day, within the first 30 minutes, I drink a large mug of rooibos tea. 3 habits tackled before the day even really begins. Love that!
1 cup of rooibos and/or herbal tea a day over 7 daysIf you enjoy it, then 3-5 cups of herbal tea a day is even better
Other Suggestions To Keep Your Heart Healthy
While a good herbal tea may be helpful for keeping your heart healthy, it also depends on you, too. So here are some suggestions that may greatly improve your life quality.
- The first and unavoidable step to a healthy heart is a healthy diet. Reduce your sugar and fat intake and eat more balanced meals. Less fat will reduce pressure on your heart and you will also lose weight.
- A good routine of physical exercise is ideal for a healthy heart. Join a gym, or go for walks at the end of the day. Make sure to walk at a good speed: you should not walk so fast that you cant speak, but not so slow that you can carry a tune.
- Regular physicals to check blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels are important. These will help you to know whether you are on the right track.
- If you are taking medication for the heart, always consult with your doctor prior to drinking any herbal tea for medicinal purposes. Some herbs may enhance the effects of the medication and your doctor may want to adjust dosage.
Don’t Miss: Peach Peace Tea Bulk
Different Types Of Tea
Tea is derived from the Camellia sinensis plant and is classified into three major categories:
- Green tea
- Oolong tea
- Black tea
Of these types of tea, green tea is the most well-known, since it has been used in ancient medicine to cure ailments such as bleeding and digestive disorders.
Green tea is different from other types of tea because it has undergone less processing. Since it does not undergo the extensive fermentation process like other teas, many of its antioxidants, particularly catechins, are preserved. The antioxidant activity of catechins has been known for a variety of health benefits, including cancer prevention, promotion of oral health, easing rheumatoid arthritis, and antibacterial activity. Green tea is also gaining fame for reducing cholesterol.
Green Tea May Lower Heart Disease Risk
Here’s what studies have revealed about this popular beverage.
Lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease may be as easy as drinking green tea. Studies suggest this light, aromatic tea may lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, which may be responsible for the tea’s association with reduced risk of death from heart disease and stroke.
Read Also: Which Is The Best Green Tea To Lose Belly Fat
Health Benefits Of Increased Hdl Levels
The increased ratio of HDL in the body has its own benefits. It removes the harmful cholesterol from the body and reduces the risks of developing cardiovascular diseases including heart disease and stroke. According to these studies, those who take up to 4 cups of powdered tea per day lower their total cholesterol levels. The benefits have been noticed in everyone including those taking a balanced diet and those consuming diets rich in fat.
It is not just the tea, even those who take extracts of catechins have been found to experience similar health benefits. Those who took such extracts regularly showed lower risks of cholesterol-based or fat-based health conditions.
The Hibiscus Tea Recipe
So keeping in mind that, you add as much sugar as you see fit. It is completely optional and can be omitted altogether. And you may also use honey instead of white sugar. 2/3 cup sugar equals 1/2 cup honey. If you use honey, you can add it to the hibiscus tea after it has steeped for 20 minutes and cooled a little.
To make the hibiscus syrup, we will add 2 cups water, dried hibiscus flowers, orange juice + zest and sugar to a medium saucepan. Bring it up to a boil and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes. Stirring occasionally. Let it cool to room temperature before running it through a sieve. Add juice of half a lime and the remaining 4 cups of water.
Recommended Reading: Drinking Lipton Tea While Pregnant
Ginseng Tea: Natural Blood Thinner
Though ginseng has not been formally evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, drinking it may potentially give a boost to your heart. Studies do support that ginseng may lower blood pressure by relaxing the arteries, says Day. It thins the blood by blocking platelet adhesion, and it may improve cholesterol profiles. Palinski-Wade says to consider ginseng tea a tasty replacement for a more sugary beverage, which also has heart-boosting benefits. Replace that sugar-loaded sweet tea with a glass of brewed ginseng tea instead. Not only will this provide you with a slimming benefit, but it will also reduce your intake of excess sugar, which can damage your heart, she says.
As with most teas, talk to your doctor if youre taking blood thinners like Coumadin or anti-platelet drugs such as Plavix .
The Top Recommended Teas For Heart Health
To improve heart health, there are a number of teas that may help you out. From cleansing your blood of sugars or harmful fats, to keeping your heart beating at the right pace, a good cup of the following herbal teas may help you in many ways.
- Burdock tea Great blood cleanser, this tea may help improve your heart health by regulating your blood sugar levels.
- Ginger tea this is a warming tea perfect to boost your blood circulation through your body helping to reach its extremities, warming hands and feet. It also helps lower blood pressure and to improve your heart health.
- Ginseng tea a typical tea to boost your energy levels, this herb improves your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. This tea will lower blood pressure and regulate your heartbeat.
- Hawthorn tea this is an ideal tea for heart health. It strengthens arteries and helps to build blood and it regulates your overall heart function.
- Motherwort tea keeping your heart beating at a regular rhythm, this tea may help deal with heart palpitations and strengthen your heart.
- Rosehip tea this tea may help you when suffering from anemia, it also helps to boost circulation, preventing blood clots and aneurisms.
- Sage tea an herbal infusion perfect to strengthen your blood vessels, all the while boosting circulation. This wonderful tea can also help reduce your sugar levels.
- Yarrow tea A natural blood cleanser, this tea helps relieve blood pressure. It may also be helpful with varicose veins.
Also Check: Tokyo Iced Tea Recipe
Prevents And Treats High Blood Pressure
This is also because of the anti-inflammatory reasons I stated in the weight loss paragraph. For it to lower blood pressure you would need to drink two cups a day. In a 2008 research study, the volunteers who drank hibiscus tea had a 7.2 point drop in their systolic blood pressure, compared to a 1.3 point drop in those who drank placebo.
- The tea with the most antiviral properties
- The antioxidants relieves pain and may help to get a good nights sleep
- Can boost hair growth and hair color
Im sure the list could go on, but you get the picture. Im not getting into detail on every point in this list, but Im linking to other great sources to get deep into the health benefits of hibiscus tea.
If this was enticing to you, you should also look into calendula tea and calendula tea grapefruit cider! I mention there that if you cant find calendula, chamomile is a great substitute too!
Regular Tea Drinking Might Help Your Heart As You Age Study Suggests
The latest study on the coffee alternative suggests at least a cup a day may help your body cling to heart-helping good cholesterol as you age.
Previous research has suggested more tea may significantly lower the risk of heart disease and stroke by reducing low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, the bad cholesterol that can build up in arteries.
Whats uncertain is teas effect on high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, the healthy cholesterol that helps eliminate LDL. Some studies found that tea significantly increased HDL, while others found no consequence at all.
But tea appears to slow the natural decrease in HDL that occurs during aging, according to the new study published Monday in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
The study monitored more than 80,000 people from the Kailuan community of Tangshan, China, over a six-year period. It found regular tea drinkers had a slower age-related decrease in HDL levels. That decline was linked to an eventual 8 percent decrease in cardiovascular risk among those in the study.
Green tea had a slightly stronger effect than black tea, but both are full of polyphenols and catechins, two antioxidant compounds recognized for their anti-inflammatory properties. The researchers did not collect data on coffee, which is not popular in that area of China.
There were several limitations to the study, though.
If you have questions or comments about this story, please email .
Don’t Miss: Twisted Tea Bottle Calories
Diet For Lowering Cholesterol
Overall, the components of a cholesterol-lowering diet are fairly straightforward, and could be beneficial to even those without high cholesterol. According to the federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, these components include:
- Plentiful fruits,vegetables and whole grains.
- Lean sources ofmeat and dairy.
- Heart-healthy fatsfound in nuts, olive oil and fish.
- Low amounts of redmeat or high-fat dairy products.
When you combine these steps with weight loss, regular exercise and not smoking, the Mayo Clinic notes that they can be important lifestyle steps in reducing your cholesterol though you should still follow your doctor’s recommendations closely with regard to cholesterol-lowering medications.
Benefits Of Drinking Coffee
Unless youre drinking significant amounts of unfiltered or French press coffee on a daily basis, raised cholesterol levels shouldnt be much of a concern at least, not when it comes to coffee. On the contrary, coffee may be able to deliver numerous health benefits.
Theres no significant connection between coffee and increased risks of heart disease and cancer. Earlier studies that found a link didnt consider other high-risk behaviors common in coffee drinkers, such as smoking and lack of exercise.
Research has, however, indicated a link between coffee consumption and
You May Like: Barry Allen Twisted Tea
Tea And Cholesterol: How Does It Work
Why does drinking tea lower your cholesterol levels? It is likely due to specific antioxidants in traditional teas and some herbal ones.
Theaflavins are thought to be the main bioactive ingredient in traditional tea, and may give the drink its cholesterol-lowering effects.
Theaflavins are antioxidant plant compounds formed by the condensation of antioxidant flavan-3-ols known as catechins. This process occurs in the leaves during the fermentation of black tea and green tea. The more fermented the tea leaves, the fewer catechins are present. As a result, green tea has a higher catechin concentration than black tea.
How do theaflavins and catechins lower cholesterol?
They appear to do this by removing the plasma low-density lipoprotein , or bad, cholesterol in the liver, which results from increasing the amount of binding sites on the liver for LDL.
At the same time, they may also inhibit the absorption and reabsorption of cholesterol in your intestines. Bile is made in the liver, and it is high in cholesterol. Catechins, in particular, will block the reabsorption of bile in the body, and this increases cholesterol excretion through the gut.
The evidence for the benefits of tea drinking comes from a number of animal and human studies.
The theaflavin-enriched green tea extract had included 150 mg of green tea catechins, 75 mg of theaflavins, and 150 mg of other polyphenols.
Study Shows Tea Consumption Lowers Blood Cholesterol
Drinking tea lowered low-density lipoprotein, the LDL “bad” cholesterol, in a small group of volunteers in an Agricultural Research Service study reported in the October issue of the Journal of Nutrition. The study was led by research chemist Joseph T. Judd with the agency’s Diet and Human Performance Laboratory, one of seven laboratories at ARS’ Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific research agency.
“These findings illustrate the impact of specific types of health-promoting phytonutrients on the diet,” said Ed Knipling, Acting Administrator for ARS.
Judd’s study assessed the effects of black tea consumption on blood lipid concentrations in adults with mildly high cholesterol. Seven men and eight women were given five servings of black tea per day for three weeks, and a tea-flavored water for another three-week period. In a third study period, caffeine was added to the tea-flavored water in an amount similar to that found in the tea.
“Overall, we found a 6 to 10 percent reduction in blood lipids in black tea drinkers in just three weeks,” said Judd. The study showed no effect on high-density lipoprotein, the HDL “good” cholesterol. The study’s authors concluded that drinking black tea, in combination with following a prudent diet moderately low in fat, cholesterol and saturated fatty acids, reduces total and LDL cholesterol by significant amounts and may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Recommended Reading: Twisted Tea Back Label