The Hibiscus plant not only gives us beautiful flowers to enhance our garden but provides other uses as well. It is used as food and beverages and people on a keto diet wonder if it is a tea they can consume or not. Because keto has become a common plan to lose weight, it is followed by many people who are looking for drinks and teas that are keto-friendly with no negative effects. So, let’s find out whether hibiscus tea is keto friendly or not and clear this heat of confusion.
What is hibiscus tea?
It is a herbal tea made from dried calyxes of the hibiscus plant. This plant is known to grow in tropical and subtropical regions like China, Nigeria, Thailand, etc. The flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds of this plant are used for various culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic purposes. Hibiscus tea is red in color with a fruity refreshing flavor that can be consumed hot, cold, or iced and provides many health benefits.
What is the nutritional aspect of hibiscus tea?
The nutritional content of hibiscus tea
| Serving Size | 12 ounces |
| Total Calories | 3.6 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 0.7 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Fats | 0 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
The nutrition content shows that hibiscus tea has 3.6 kcal with 0.7 g of carbohydrates so is it keto friendly or not? Have a look!
Is hibiscus tea keto-friendly?
Yes, hibiscus tea is keto-friendly. Hibiscus tea is low calorie, low-carbohydrate herbal tea. It contains 0.7 g net carbs and that’s a minimal amount that you can take on a keto diet that does not throw you out of ketosis. The main aim of a keto is to consume less than 20 g of carbohydrates per day and hibiscus tea contains only 0.7 g. So, yes hibiscus tea is keto friendly and you can take it on a keto diet
Though, hibiscus is a keto-friendly option and does not kick you out of ketosis, is it safe to consume it other ways?
Is it safe to consume?
Hibiscus tea is an excellent option to drink on a keto diet. According to FDA Food and Drug Administration, hibiscus is safe to consume in the food form and not raw. So, yes it is safe to consume.
Other than that it is a great substitute to drink on a keto are there any health benefits provided by this tea?
Health benefits of hibiscus tea
It provides certain health benefits like
1- Protects with antioxidants
Hibiscus tea contains antioxidants that prevent damage and helps against different disease caused by the accumulation of free radicals It also contains Anthocyanin, an antioxidant that gives some plant vibrant red, blue, and purple color. Also, it has flavonoids, phenolic, and some organic acids that act as reducing agents and help against many health problems like cancer
2- Lowers BP
Hibiscus tea is said to lower blood pressure. Few research studies found that this tea can help in lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure and help against many health problems related to it. It has some diuretic properties, which increase the excretion of water and salt from the body as urine, reducing blood pressure. A review conducted on 5 studies in 2015, showed that consuming hibiscus tea resulted in a decreased systolic and diastolic BP by an average of 7.58 mm and 3,53 mm of mercury respectively.
3- Lowers cholesterol
This tea lowers the amount of bad cholesterol ‘ low-density lipoprotein LDL’ and helps increase the good ‘high-density lipo protein’ HDL cholesterol in the blood.
4- Fights Inflammation
Hibiscus tea contains many antioxidants, flavonoids, and polyphenols that help in protecting the body against several diseases and lowers inflammation
5- Helps in weight loss
Hibiscus tea helps in weight loss as it contains very low calories, few carbohydrate, and no fat or sugar content in it.
6- Boosts liver health
Some studies suggest that hibiscus tea boosts and promotes liver function keeping it healthy. In one study in 2014, 19 overweight people showed improved results of liver steatosis that were consuming hibiscus tea extract for 12 weeks
7- Helps against cancer
Hibiscus tea contains polyphenols. These compounds have powerful anti-cancer properties and thus help against preventing cancer.
Conclusion
Hibiscus tea is a herbal keto-friendly tea with few calories and low carbohydrates with no sugar or fat content. It does not disturb your ketosis and is a good and safe option to consume on a keto diet. It is delicious in taste, easy to make at home, and can be enjoyed with all the health benefits as well. It is loaded with antioxidants, phenols, and flavonoids that protect against many diseases.
I look up to fitness as a lifestyle and love to pen down about it. I have 2 years of experience in content writing and I am here to share my research and knowledge on health and fitness.
