Do you know hibiscus tea with lemon?

Hibiscus Lemon Tea is among the most beneficial two-ingredient infusions for the human body. This beverage is the perfect blend of an amazing array of phytonutrients that are important for the human body and has the versatility of a tea that can be drunk hot or iced in all seasons.

Many hibiscus tea lovers complain about the bitter taste that this spice has. To improve this aspect, the presence of lemon in the mixture, in addition to everything, still improves the taste, making the infusion a little more pleasant to the palate.

But it should be noted that not even the taste can override the incredible range of properties that this tea has. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about hibiscus tea with lemon to start using this medicinal drink and improve your health!

Understanding more about hibiscus tea with lemon

To start this article off in the best possible way, we've brought you five special topics that are packed with information about the origins and uses of hibiscus tea with lemon. Check them out!

Origin and characteristics of hibiscus

The hibiscus that is known worldwide is one of more than 100 species of flowers with blood-red hue of the genus "Hibiscus".

These plants probably originated in Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa and ended up in Europe through traders who spread their fame in the old continent. From Europe, the hibiscus won the world, being marketed and sold as a powerful natural remedy.

The iconic natural product arrived in Brazil at the hands of enslaved men and women who came on slave ships and used the hibiscus to feed themselves and try to survive somehow.

Properties of hibiscus

After its rapid dissemination worldwide, the hibiscus began to be planted in large, medium and small scale, becoming a natural remedy with the reputation of having several benefits. Many of the benefits of this edible flower could be proven through tests that pointed the presence of valuable substances in its composition.

Here are some of the properties of hibiscus:

- It is rich in anthocyanins, which are natural pigments present in various types of plants, fruits and vegetables important for fighting various types of diseases;

- It contains various types of minerals such as copper, iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and others;

- It has a large amount of soluble fiber;

- It has a large stock of polyphenols, substances that act as natural antioxidants;

- It has vitamins A, C and B complex.

Origin and characteristics of the lemon

Lemon is a versatile citrus fruit with a characteristic sour taste, green peel and comes from an evergreen tree that can be grown in various types of soil, called a lemon tree.

The origin of the lemon is not entirely clear, but, currently, the hypothesis that it originated in Asia, more specifically in the region comprising southern China and northern India, is the most accepted.

From the Far East, this fruit, which is one of the best known on the planet, reached the hands of the Persians, in the region where, today, is Iran. Then, it went to the Arabs, who were installed in the south of today's Spain. From there, the lemon spread throughout Europe and conquered the whole world due to its ease of cultivation and its recognized properties.

Properties of the lemon

The world-renowned benefits of lemon are only possible because of the properties that the fruit has. It is even champion in the quantity of some substances and, in the past, was responsible for helping to stop the advance of deadly diseases such as scurvy and the Spanish flu, which killed tens of millions of people between the 18th and 20th centuries.

See the main properties of lemon:

- It has very high amounts of vitamin C in its composition. The high concentration of the substance is what gives lemon "powers" against respiratory diseases and various inflammations;

- It has in its composition a huge range of minerals, including iron, potassium, magnesium and others;

- It is the main source of citric acid, a compound that is also found in other fruits such as orange and pineapple, and is considered a natural alkalinizer;

- It has high amounts of antioxidants, such as quercetin;

- Like most fruits and vegetables, it is rich in soluble fiber.

What is hibiscus tea with lemon used for?

The duo hibiscus and lemon "is not to be trifled with". The two natural products have many similar properties, which ends up enhancing their effect. But they also complement each other, since some compounds exist in lemon and not in hibiscus, and vice versa.

With this, it is possible to say that the infusion that mixes hibiscus with lemon can be used to fight colds and respiratory problems, to help in weight loss, in the regulation of intestinal transit, in increasing immunity and more.

Benefits of hibiscus tea with lemon

Now that you know a little more about the origins and properties of both hibiscus and lemon, check out what kind of benefits the combination of these two powerful natural products can provide to the human body!

Helps to lose weight

Weight loss occurs when there is a burning of excess body fat. Body fat, in turn, has its levels increased when the individual consumes more calories than they burn daily.

Going in this direction, hibiscus tea with lemon can help in weight loss because it is basically a natural thermogenic. Some substances present in the drink increase the metabolic rates of the body, causing more energy to be spent and burning fat, which serves as fuel in this exchange.

To enhance the slimming effect of hibiscus tea with lemon, the infusion can be consumed as a pre-workout.

It has diuretic action

The filtering of liquids that transit through the human body is done by the kidneys, whose main task is to expel some toxins and acids through urine. With this, it is worth reinforcing that all substances that help the kidneys to work better are considered diuretics.

This is exactly the case with hibiscus tea with lemon, which has several types of antioxidants and, in the case of lemon, citric acid, which is a natural alkalizing agent responsible for removing impurities that exist in the blood. Once out of the blood, these toxins end up in the urine and are eliminated by the kidneys.

It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action

Hibiscus tea with lemon is presented as a powerful antioxidant and natural anti-inflammatory because it has an abundance of substances such as quercetin, polyphenols and vitamin C, which act as antioxidants. In addition, there are also high doses of citric and caffeic acids, for example, which also act to control inflammation.

Oxidative stress is caused in the body by the action of so-called free radicals, which are substances responsible for damaging cells throughout the body, causing various types of diseases that can even lead to death.

Inflammatory reactions, on the other hand, are most often the result of exaggerated attacks of the immune system itself to external invaders such as viruses and bacteria. Inflammations end up causing several disorders and can also lead to death. Therefore, hibiscus tea becomes a great ally in these situations.

Helps digestion

Digestion improves as the digestive tract has its food processing capacity enhanced. This is highly dependent on the effectiveness and correct amount of digestive acids present within the system.

The lemon, which can accompany the hibiscus in this infusion, has one of the highest rates of citric acid among all existing fruits. This substance adds to the acids present in the intestines and stomach, and increases the digestion capacity greatly.

In addition, by having the power to make the blood more alkaline, citric acid fights inflammation that may eventually harm the digestive system organs.

Acts against constipation

The uncomfortable constipation occurs when intestinal transit is too slow, making the production of fecal cakes more delayed and producing excrements that are more solid and difficult to eliminate.

With the action of citric acid, which stimulates digestion, combined with an increase in the metabolic rate of the body conferred by hibiscus, hibiscus tea with lemon has the potential to accelerate digestion and stool production, fighting constipation.

Improves liver health

The liver can easily be placed in the top three organs vital to the functioning of the human body, alongside the brain and heart. This organ has the curious characteristic of an accelerated self-regeneration power and is responsible for filtering the blood and removing all the "heaviest" impurities from it.

When it is not functioning properly, the liver can stop releasing certain enzymes that break down fat that comes in through the blood, suffering from fat accumulation in its structures. This condition is known as hepatic steatosis, or fatty liver.

In counterpoint to this, hibiscus tea with lemon has several types of properties that stimulate the production of liver enzymes and also bile, a substance produced by the gallbladder that assists the liver in its functions.

Slows the aging of the skin

Skin aging is a natural process that occurs over time and because of several factors. One of these factors is the action of free radicals, which destroy skin cells, eliminating elasticity and taking away the silky aspect of the skin, which causes wrinkles to appear.

Because it is rich in vitamin C and other types of natural antioxidants that fight free radicals, hibiscus tea with lemon can be considered an aid in combating skin aging, causing the structures important to the dermis and epidermis to remain intact longer.

It is also worth saying that vitamin A, present in large scale in lemon, is considered a natural "disinfectant" for the skin, removing impurities and controlling the activity of the sebaceous glands.

Increases immunity

The human body's line of defense is composed of the cells of the so-called immune system, which are the white blood cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, macrophages and some other specific cell types.

When they are produced on a large scale and in an acceptable quantity by bone marrow and other structures, these tiny soldiers are capable of fighting virtually any disease of low and medium severity.

To help in this fight, hibiscus tea presents itself as a firm source of substances that strengthen the cells of the immune system, assist in their production and still act as auxiliary protectors. We are talking about vitamin C and other compounds with antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory action, for example.

Reduces blood pressure

Blood pressure is measured by observing the blood flow which, when it is more complicated because of obstructions in the arteries, for example, can characterize the dangerous hypertension, or high pressure.

Thus, hibiscus tea can help control blood pressure, since both lemon and hibiscus have substances capable of unclogging veins and arteries, breaking down fatty plaques, and purify the blood of excess fat and toxins, making the liquid more fluid.

It has a relaxing action

Two of the main factors that lead to stress are muscle stiffness and hormonal imbalance, which can trigger the production of neurotransmitters that cause bad moods, anxiety and stress itself.

Thus, the cleansing that hibiscus tea with lemon promotes in the blood also impacts the glands that produce hormones and prevent the intoxication of muscles. This precious work relaxes muscles and mind at the same time, improving the mood and sleep of the individual who makes use of the drink.

Recipe for hibiscus tea with lemon

It would be useless to talk about hibiscus tea with lemon without telling you how to prepare the infusion. Therefore, read on and see all the ingredients and how to prepare this powerful tea!

Ingredients

To make hibiscus tea with lemon, you will need:

- 300 ml of water;

- 10 grams of dehydrated hibiscus leaves (or two whole flowers);

- 1 whole lemon.

How to do

To start your tea, bring the water to low heat. When it is already hot, before it boils, add the hibiscus leaves and let the water boil. After it boils, turn off the heat, cover the pot where the water is and let the infusion happen for about 15 minutes.

After the 15-minute period, uncap the pot, remove the infusion and strain it. Then, cut the lemon into two bands and squeeze all its juice into the tea, mixing everything with a spoon. After that, drink the infusion. The amount of tea made serves up to two people once.

Further information about hibiscus tea with lemon

Before we close our article, we brought six more topics to talk about some valuable information about hibiscus tea with lemon. Learn tips for making the tea, how often the infusion can be ingested, the contraindications and side effects that the use of the drink can cause and more!

Tips for making your hibiscus tea with lemon

The nutritional value of hibiscus tea and its medicinal properties are best absorbed when the infusion is drunk with as few additives as possible. Thus, the best tip for making the tea is to keep it free of sweeteners and other substances that may interfere with its action.

In addition, the step-by-step for making the tea needs to be followed faithfully. The infusion time and the way the lemon is added, for example, are details that further enrich the blend.

Other ingredients that go well with hibiscus tea with lemon

By itself, hibiscus tea with lemon is a sufficiently exotic and complete drink, both in terms of taste and in terms of properties and benefits. However, it must be admitted that the bitter taste of hibiscus and the citric texture of lemon sometimes call for an accompaniment.

Two products that can be added to tea without interfering with its properties are cinnamon (powdered or stalked) and honey. In addition to its delicious aroma, cinnamon can balance the taste of the tea.

Honey, which needs no introduction, serves as the perfect natural sweetener. It is important to stress that the addition of extra elements in the tea needs to be controlled, and only small amounts should be introduced into the infusion.

How often can hibiscus tea with lemon be taken?

Despite being a true natural remedy capable of fighting a multitude of diseases and adverse conditions, hibiscus tea with lemon should not be consumed in an unregulated manner, as it may end up resulting in liver overload.

Thus, the correct is to consume the infusion at most twice a day, always before or after meals and before going to sleep, for up to 15 consecutive days. When the two weeks of uninterrupted consumption is reached, the user must wait another 15 days to start consuming the drink again, and so on.

Other ways to consume hibiscus with lemon

The hibiscus and lemon are two of the natural products with the highest concentration of properties and benefits that can be found in nature. Therefore, it is correct to state that the consumption of these elements separately brings the same benefits as tea.

The hibiscus leaves, for example, which are used to make tea and are responsible for the red coloration of the drink, can be added to salads or crushed and used as a seasoning.

Lemon, in turn, can be consumed in the form of juice, as tea made from its peel, as a seasoning, accompaniment to meals and other beverages and etc.

Possible side effects of hibiscus tea with lemon

Side effects from the consumption of hibiscus tea with lemon are rare, but they exist and, therefore, users need to be aware of the consumption of the drink, which must respect some rules.

Due to its thermogenic action, hibiscus can cause insomnia, acceleration in the heart and drops in blood pressure if consumed in excess. Unconscious consumption of lemon can also cause adverse effects, such as heartburn and abdominal pain caused by excess citric acid in the liver, kidneys, stomach and intestines.

Contraindications to hibiscus tea with lemon

Healthy people are free to consume hibiscus tea with lemon without fear, as long as the indicated guidelines are observed. On the other hand, people who take some medications, such as hydrochlorothiazide, a strong diuretic used to control blood pressure, are prohibited from consuming the infusion.

Pregnant women and tentative should also not take the tea, because the mixture has an abortifacient effect. Already women who are breastfeeding should not consume the drink, because the quality of milk can be affected by the substances that make up the hibiscus and lemon.

The hibiscus tea with lemon has several benefits!

Throughout this article, the properties and benefits present in hibiscus tea with lemon have become clear. It is correct to say, after everything we have read, that this infusion can be a natural remedy for various diseases, besides helping in the maintenance of health in general.

However, the consumption of tea needs to be done consciously, and its preparation should take into account the correct amounts of each ingredient. These precautions will ensure that the infusion does not cause adverse effects in its appreciators.

Moreover, now that you know the effects and benefits of this tea, you can start including this recipe in your day!