Hibiscus Tea - Health Benefits

There are many different teas that provide numerous health benefits. One of the healthiest teas is hibiscus tea, also known as roselle, flor de Jamaica, karkade or sorrel. The tea is traditionally used as a mild medicine. In this article you'll read about five most important health benefits of this tea.

1. Hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure
One of the most powerful benefits of hibiscus is its ability to reduce blood pressure.

In one study, conducted by researchers from Tufts University of Boston, drinking three cups of hibiscus tea each day lowered blood pressure of people with mild to moderate hypertension by an average of 7 points after six weeks of treatment.

In another study, conducted by researchers from the Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle, Washington, drinking 16 ounces of the tea daily for four weeks lowered blood pressure even by 10 points.

If you have problems with high blood pressure, hibiscus tea can be as effective in treating hypertension as antihypertensive drugs.

2. It's rich in vitamin C

If you're ill, hibiscus can help you recover more quickly. The tea is rich in vitamin C which may reduce the duration of illness. Moreover, vitamin C enhances iron absorption, which is especially helpful for vegetarians and vegans.

3. It's rich in antioxidants

Hibiscus is rich in antioxidants which destroy cell-damaging free radicals. Some experts believe that organisms age because cells are damaged by free radicals. Diet rich in antioxidants may not only improve your health, but also extend your life span.

4. It aids in weight loss

Consuming the tea after meal will help in breaking down starches and sugar. Consequently, it'll aid you in weight loss. Drinking the tea can also increase satiety which is especially important if you're on a diet. Moreover, hibiscus tea is a diuretic, so it elevates the rate of urination. The less fluid you'll retain, the less bloated you'll look.

5. It lowers LDL cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease
Last but not least, a study performed by Shan Medical University's Institute of Biochemistry in Taiwan shows that the tea lowers LDL cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease.

As you can see, there are many health benefits of hibiscus tea. And I didn't share with you all of them - only the most important ones! Hibiscus is used as a mild herbal medicine by thousands of people in many countries all over the world. You too can benefit from this great tea!

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Energy Boosting Superfoods

It seems everyone these days is using some sort of energy drink. How often have you heard co-workers say they need coffee or chocolate or an "energy drink" to make it through the day? One of the main problems is that with all of these approaches to energy, they introduce artificial stimulants into your body and who knows what kind of unwanted dangers they pose. In addition, a lot of energy options are high in sugar and artificial additives.

We have a solution - go natural - use superfoods!

It is possible to use superfoods to give you that additional energy boost that everyone is looking for. By eating the right foods and small meals throughout the day you can boost your metabolism and get that extra energy pump you were looking for.

Here's a list of known superfoods that will ramp up your metabolism - perfect solutions for people on the go:

Goji berries

Rich in antioxidants, goji berries have also been found to boost energy and even enhance your mood.

Green tea 

This superfood has been used for hundreds of years. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found green tea can produce an energy bump similar to caffeine.

Chia seeds 

Aztecs used chia seeds to prepare for battle. Research shows the chia seeds can absorb ten times their weight and are very slow to digest, which translates to sustained energy and it stays for several hours. People add chia seeds to protein shakes and their regular meals to help give them added energy that lasts all day.

Quinoa

Here is a power house protein rich food, which is actually a grain. It's related to the spinach and beet families. The Incas used quinoa as a source of energy for battle and NASA is even considering growing it in space because of it's impressive nutritional profile.

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Five Herbal Tea Plants For Your Garden

On a cold day, there is nothing better than curling up with a blanket and a cup of tea. You may prefer the more traditional black teas. But if you are looking for interesting flavors that can also have medicinal benefits, you should try herbal teas. There are many herbs to choose from when you decide to brew a herbal tea, some produce a robust, spicy flavor, others taste fruity, still other varieties are soothing. If you can grow a mixed variety of plants in your herbal tea garden you should be able to find the type of tea that best suits your taste buds. Below is a suggestion of five plants for your herbal tea garden.

Herbal Plant # 1
Mint is a great herb and its tea is both aromatic and soothing. It is typically made from spearmint or peppermint, just two varieties of the extensive mint family however, there are many new hybrids of mint that can be grown in an herbal tea garden including citrus and chocolate mint plants. If you are using mint in your tea, pluck a small handful of leaves -enough for three teaspoons- from your plant. It is best to pluck in the late morning as there is the largest concentration of oils in the leaves at that time. Gently crush the leaves between your fingers before letting them steep in boiling water.

Mint is the first choice in any herbal tea garden because it's very easy to grow it either in the outdoors or in an indoor pot. It prefers a cool, moist environment and does well in semi-shaded conditions. The only time you might have to worry about the health of your indoor mint plant is if you keep the heat turned up high in the winter. At that point, simply move your plant to a drafty windowsill or doorway. Mint is actually so successful in an herbal tea garden that it is considered a rampant grower, this means that your mint can crowd out all your other plants, so it is best to keep it confined to pots.

Herbal Plant # 2
Chamomile is also an all-time favorite of an herbal tea garden. It is an annual, so if you want its tea all year round, you should cultivate it indoors in pots since growing chamomile indoor is easy because it tolerates just about any light level. 

The dainty yellow and white flowers adorn any herbal tea garden corner and are used to make chamomile tea although it is also possible to use the fine feathery leaves, but they are slightly bitter. Chamomile tea is very soothing and will help you to relax and drift off to sleep and is also a good tea to take for a sore throat.

Herbal Plant # 3
Jasmine tea has a fruity and exotic flavor, its climbing flower does best in a tropical herbal tea garden and will never survive a northern winter, therefore if you wants to keep a jasmine tea plant, you should figure out a permanent indoor arrangement. 

Jasmine grows well in a plain pot, but being a creeping plant it needs something to climb on. One of the best solutions is to place a small trellis or some sticks at the back of the jasmine pot and train the creepers to rise on that, otherwise you could place your jasmine on the bottom of a metal shelf and let the plant entwine itself in the metal.

Herbal Plant # 4
Lavender makes a wonderful decoration for your herbal tea garden in addition to brewing a lovely tea. Lavender is immediately recognizable by its purple blooms and its summertime fragrance. Dried or fresh lavender will freshen up your room or garden and repels moths and other insects. 

Lavender tea is made from the buds of the lavender plant. It has been found that drinking lavender tea is a homeopathic way to relieve tension headaches. As you harvest the lavender from your herbal tea garden keep in mind that you need to let enough buds flower so that the plant will continue to propagate.

Herbal Plant # 5
Violets are another beautiful presence in a herbal tea garden. The flowers make an excellent tea which is also healthy and a good source of vitamins A and C. You can let some fresh violets float at the top of the cup for presentation purposes, but the best flavor comes from the dried plant. Violets like the shade and are great for bringing color into your house.

These five plants from your herbal tea garden are all great options for housing a variety of healthy and tasty teas and drinks right in your backyard.

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Home Remedies For Bloating, Easy And Simple Natural Cure

Bloating is the swelling of the abdominal area due to gas or excessive liquid. There are many home remedies for bloating which are easy and simple to follow.

Swelling of the abdominal area due to gas or excessive liquid is known as bloating. The tightened abdomen can cause discomfort and can make it really difficult to either sit down or walk around. Crohn’s disease and gastrointestinal tract affliction can also cause bloating. It can also cause sharp pain in the stomach. Some common symptoms of bloating are; fatigue, darkened stool, chest pain, stomach discomfort, diarrhea, indigestion, vomiting, breathing problem and difficulty in burping and swallowing. 

Bloating Home Remedies

There are several home remedies for bloating which can be very effective if followed properly. Some of the common home remedies for bloating are:

1. One of the most effective home remedies for bloating is the consumption of ginger tea. Consuming ginger tea soothes bloating by leaving a warming effect on the digestive system. This warming effect results into digestive enzyme production which enhances and improves food digestion.

2. Consuming a mixture of grounded cinnamon, honey and water on regular basis is also very helpful in relieving the discomfort caused by bloating.

3. Bay leaves are also very helpful in causing relief from bloating. Just boil a cup of water and then add bay leaf to this water. Wait for five minutes and drink the entire cup in one setting. Remember not to lie down for at least one hour after consuming this mixture. Staying in upright position will help the gas to come out quicker.

4. Chamomile tea is considered to be one of the efficient home remedies for bloating. All you need to do is consume chamomile tea twice daily. One in the morning and one just before going to bed.

5. Peppermint tea is also one of the effective home remedies for bloating. It relaxes your body muscles and allows your body to release digestive gas. Just boil a cup of water with some dried peppermint leaves (one teaspoon) in it. Let it boil for ten minutes and then strain this tea. Drink this tea for four to five times daily. This tea is more effective if you consume it before meals.

6. Turmeric is also very effective in treating bloating. It is rich in nutrients and vitamins such as protein, folic acid, iron, vitamin C and calcium. These vitamins and nutrients help to improve the functioning of the digestive system.

7. Fennel tea is known to have digestive properties and is very effective in giving relief from bloating.

8. Drink plenty of water and eat fruits and green leafy vegetables. Buttermilk is also very helpful in fighting bloating.

9. Avoid eating troublesome foods such as celery, beans, milk products, apricots and Brussels sprout. Do not drink carbonated beverages.

10. Avoid tobacco products and smoking.

11. Carom seeds are known to have thymol which acts as an antibacterial and is very effective in curing problems of digestive system. Therefore consuming carom seeds mixed in water with some black salt can be very helpful in treating bloating.

12. Cardamom is also one of the effective home remedies for bloating. It stabilizes the acids of your stomach and is very helpful in treating bloating.

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