One of the challenges of summer can be staying hydrated in a healthy way.
When we are fully hydrated our joints ache less, we are less likely to feel lethargic, get a headache or feel hungry. Our digestion is improved , our skin is more supple and our brain functions more efficiently with better cognitive function.
Numerous studies tell us that North Americans are chronically dehydrated with an estimated 75% of us needing to drink more liquid on a daily basis.
Survey of 3003 Americans, Nutrition Information Center, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center (April 14, 1998).
Just like with foods and nutrition, there is a good better and best when it comes to hydration and as we passed through a ‘heat dome’ earlier this month, I turned to Iced Hibiscus Tea for hydration as one of the best options out there.
Many of us turn to fountain sodas and canned pops when the going gets hot and the challenge is to avoid drinking insulin spiking regular and diet soda. (Yep! Your read that right. Diet sodas also ‘trick’ the body into spiking our inflammatory hormone insulin when the taste of false sweetness hits the tongue.) When insulin is spiking regularly in the body, you are going to feel out of control symptoms of peri-menopause and will be pushing yourself towards insulin resistance; the first step on the path towards diabetes.
Mathur K, Agrawal RK, Nagpure S, Deshpande D. Effect of artificial sweeteners on insulin resistance among type-2 diabetes mellitus patients. J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(1):69-71. Published 2020 Jan 28. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_329_19
Red hibiscus flowers are packed with anti-oxidants in the form of anthocyanins which give the flower its colour. These anti-oxidants help to mute the effects of free radicals in the body and it is free radicles that promote aging and fan the flames of inflammation.
Ajiboye TO, Salawu NA, Yakubu MT, Oladiji AT, Akanji MA, Okogun JI. Antioxidant and drug detoxification potentials of Hibiscus sabdariffa anthocyanin extract. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2011 Apr;34(2):109-15. doi: 10.3109/01480545.2010.536767. PMID: 21314460.
The hibiscus flower is a power house for lowering blood pressure due to its mild diuretic properties and studies show both diastolic and systolic pressure is reduced with the introduction of tea made from hibiscus into the daily diet. 75% of us may be dehydrated but 1/3rd of all folks in the USA are believed to have high blood pressure and hibiscus tea offers a safe and natural way to hydrate and tackle this cardiovascular health issue.
Serban C, Sahebkar A, Ursoniu S, Andrica F, Banach M. Effect of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) on arterial hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Hypertens. 2015 Jun;33(6):1119-27. doi: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000000585. PMID: 25875025.
Of even more interest to the midlife woman is that fact that hibiscus flowers are rich in phytoestrogens. These are plant chemicals that gently mimic estrogen inside the body. As our ovaries are slowing down production of estrogen in order to get some well earned rest, gentle support from plants can help to reduce our symptoms of peri-menopause as we move into estrogen deficiency.
The food and nutrition that you eat daily can either support you or tear your health down and in peri-menopause we can make choices that support a reduction in uncomfortable symptoms in the body.
Saeed IA, Ali L, Jabeen A, Khasawneh M, Rizvi TA, Ashraf SS. Estrogenic activities of ten medicinal herbs from the Middle East. J Chromatogr Sci. 2013 Jan;51(1):33-9. doi: 10.1093/chromsci/bms101. Epub 2012 Jun 14. PMID: 22700791.
When I talk about the naturally occurring plant estrogens found in soy, hibiscus and raspberries, I invariably get asked about breast cancer. There has been some inaccurate press that states foods that contain phytoestrogens are dangerous as they increase our risk of breast cancer. Nothing could be further from the truth. Naturally occurring plant estrogens are recognized by the body and accepted into beta estrogen receptors in the breast which trigger the slowing of cell turnover. Hibiscus estrogens have been found to go further and cause the death of cancer cells found in the breast making hibiscus breast protective.
Nguyen C, Baskaran K, Pupulin A, et al. Hibiscus flower extract selectively induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells and positively interacts with common chemotherapeutics. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019;19(1):98. Published 2019 May 6. doi:10.1186/s12906-019-2505-9
When we include micro doses of plant based estrogen into our diet, we calm uncomfortable hormonal symptoms at midlife and protect our breast and vaginal health and the health of our libido.
Fruity and delicious to taste, perhaps the best reason for sourcing hibiscus flowers or tea bags and keeping a jug of iced Hibiscus Tea in your refrigerator is the fact that you get to ditch sugar laden and chemical riddled diet sodas from your day and instead embrace one of natures pops of flavour. A simple switch that builds better health.
Ingredients
1/4 cup, 2 tbsp Red Hibiscus flowers or 1-2 Hibiscus tea bags
8 cups boiling water
Ice to taste
1 Lime juiced (optional)
Instructions
Pile the hibiscus flowers or tea bags into a tea pot and boil the water.
Steep the flowers for 5 minutes and either allow to cool or add ice until cool.
Serve refrigerated and add a squeeze of lime for more juicy sourness and a shot of electrolytes and vitamin C.