Blood pressure, the measure of the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries, has a great impact on your health. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute reports that one in three adults in the United States suffers from high blood pressure, a condition that can result in coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and kidney failure. Physicians may recommend lifestyle changes or medication to help this condition, but some teas may also help to lower blood pressure.
Hibiscus Tea
Drinking hibiscus tea may have some benefits for those with high blood pressure. A research paper from the Antioxidants Research Laboratory of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University presented at the November 2008 American Heart Association's Annual Conference indicates that ingesting three cups of hibiscus tea daily reduced blood pressure. More research is needed to determine if scientific data is strong enough to support the use of hibiscus tea for lowering blood pressure. Other benefits of hibiscus tea include the potential for promoting kidney health in males, particularly as a treatment for urinary tract infections and as a diuretic, according to NutraIngredients.com.
Hawthorn Tea
Hawthorn tea may play a role in lowering blood pressure. TeaBenefits.com indicates that drinking hawthorn tea may reduce the production of compounds that constrict blood vessels that may lead to high blood pressure. Research published in the June 2006 issue of "The British Journal of General Practice" reveals that taking 1,200mg of hawthorn extract daily for a 16-week period lowered the blood pressure of patients with Type 2 diabetes. More research is needed to determine the benefits of drinking hawthorn tea. Hawthorn tea contains antioxidants, which may help prevent coronary heart disease and increase the supply of blood to the heart to enhance circulation, according to the Tea Benefits website.
Green Tea
Green tea may help you lower high blood pressure. Proponents report that drinking green tea relaxes the blood vessels, which decreases blood pressure. Research published in the January 2004 issue of "The Journal of Nutrition" indicates that compounds in green tea could reduce blood pressure levels if green tea is regularly consumed, even though decreases are mild. A May 2010 article in "The New York Times" reports that some studies indicate that drinking green tea may have no effect on blood pressure at all. More research is needed to determine if green tea may be useful for decreasing blood pressure levels. Drinking green tea may play a role in lowering cholesterol, preventing cancer and liver disease, controlling irritable bowel syndrome and boosting the metabolism while promoting weight loss.
References
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What is High Blood Pressure?
- Agricultural Research Service: Study Shows Consuming Hibiscus Tea Lowers Blood Pressure
- "The Journal of Nutrition"; Black and Green Tea Polyphenols Attenuate Blood Pressure Increases in Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats; Hiroko Negishi et al.; 2004
- "The New York Times": The Claim: Green Tea Can Help Lower Blood Pressure
- "British Journal of General Practice"; Hypotensive Effects of Hawthorn for Patients With Diabetes Taking Prescription Drugs; Ann F. Walker, Ph.D., and Georgios Marakis, Ph.D.; 2006
- Nutra Ingredients: Hibiscus Tea Can Lower Blood Pressure
