Health Benefits of Hibiscus Powder

**please note these are my personal experiences, I am not a doctor. Always consult with your healthcare physicians before beginning any type of supplementation**

Hibiscus is mainly tart with fruity background notes. Some liken its flavor to that of berries or of citrus. It could be considered a combination of the two, similar to the flavor of pomegranate.

A favorite way to use hibiscus is oftentimes in a tea! I love using powdered hibiscus- it can be great as a natural food color and also to make fun treats such as this Hibiscus Berry smoothie!

Check out this easy and nutrient dense recipe made using Hibiscus powder flower and continue to read below on the different health benefits and scientific studies done on using Hibiscus!

Hibiscus Berry Smoothie

2 tablespoons hibiscus powder (I used this brand HERE)

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/2 cup frozen raspberries

1 cup crushed ice

1 tablespoon unflavored collagen

1/4 cup unsweetened Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons granulated sugar substitute of your choice (I use Pyure)

1/4 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

Zest from one lemon

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender, garnish with cinnamon sticks, lemon zest, cacoa nibs, bee pollen and enjoy!

Any leftovers you can also freeze into popsicles!

Here's some nutritional and health info on Hibiscus and how it can benefit you!

Recent Finds on the Health Benefits of Hibiscus:

Scientific interest in hibiscus has grown in the last several years, thanks to a small burst of published research studies — especially in regards to cholesterol and blood pressure maintenance.

Cholesterol Maintenance 

In 2007, a one-month clinical trial tested the effects of hibiscus extract on cholesterol levels. A total of 42 subjects were randomized to three groups for the study. Group 1 received one 500-mg capsule 3x daily (1,500 mg/day), Group 2 received two capsules 3x daily (3,000 mg/day), and Group 3 received three capsules 3x daily (4,500 mg/day). Interestingly, by the fourth week, participants in both Groups 1 and 2, but not Group 3, experienced a cholesterol maintenance effect. The optimum dose was 1,000 mg taken 3x daily.

In 2009, another trial studied hibiscus’s ability to support cholesterol maintenance, this time in people concerned with healthy blood sugar levels. Sixty subjects, mostly women, were given either one cup of hibiscus tea or black tea twice per day. After one month, hibiscus was able to help maintain total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels — as well as trigylcerides — already within a healthy range.* Black tea, on the other hand, only impacted HDL levels.

A larger trial, in 222 adults, was published on hibiscus in 2010. The subjects — about a third of whom had metabolic challenges — were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a healthy diet, hibiscus, or a healthy diet plus hibiscus. Those with metabolic challenges experienced several benefits from hibiscus, including cholesterol maintenance. Similar effects on supporting normal blood sugar were also noted.