A few days ago, actress Nayanthara shared a picture of her favourite drink, hibiscus flower tea, saying it has been used in Ayurveda for a long and is good for handling diabetes, cholesterol and heart-related ailments. Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, who is known as 'TheLiverDoc' on social media, opined that none of those claims are proven and the post was an advertisement for her celebrity nutritionist. Dr Cyriac, who had also called out actress Samantha earlier for her post on hydrogen peroxide nebulisation, went on to say that having hibiscus tea daily said that the tea has no blood glucose-lowering effect and that no studies say it prevents acne or seasonal infections. Their polar opposite views can be quite confusing for the common man, wondering whom to believe. Interestingly, the medical world across disciplines is divided on whether it is beneficial or not. According to Kochi-based clinical nutritionist Dr Mumtaz Khalid Ismail, hibiscus tea has always been known for its health benefits. However, she doesn't prescribe it to her patients. Here's why:

What hibiscus is used?
Dr Mumtaz says that the benefits of boiled hibiscus water are something that's been popularly advocated in our country. However, not every variety of hibiscus was used to make tea. "The hibiscus used to make tea is the popular, locally-found red variety in Kerala with five petals. Not all colours or varieties were used to make tea." However, she confesses she doesn't prescribe it to her patients. Why? "It's tough to ascertain the quality of the hibiscus flowers available around us today. They can be of hybrid varieties even when red and their nutritional profile can also be difficult to understand," she explains. Interestingly, Dr Mumtaz says she also hasn't come across studies proving the health benefits of the preparation. 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, drinking hibiscus tea has been shown to lower blood pressure, but it also says such herbal remedies only have minimal effect. "They can't replace medications for those who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. It also says the flower may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels but still need more research to be sure." 

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