Flashback Friday: Hibiscus Tea vs. Plant-Based Diet for Hypertension & How Much Is Too Much?

How do the blood-pressure lowering effects of hibiscus tea compare to the DASH diet, a plant-based diet, and a long-distance endurance exercise? And be aware, the impressive manganese content of hibiscus tea may be the limiting factor for safe daily levels of consumption.
New subscribers to our e-newsletter always receive a free gift. Get yours here: nutritionfacts.org/subscribe/
For more on hypertension, see:
• Whole Grains May Work as Well as Drugs (nutritionfacts.org/video/whol...)
• Longer Life Within Walking Distance (nutritionfacts.org/video/long...)
• Hearts Shouldn’t Skip a Beet (nutritionfacts.org/video/hear...)
• How Not to Die from High Blood Pressure (nutritionfacts.org/video/how-...)
• High Blood Pressure May Be a Choice (nutritionfacts.org/video/high...)
• Flax Seeds for Hypertension (nutritionfacts.org/video/flax...)
And check out my other hibiscus tea videos:
• Herbal Tea Update: Hibiscus (nutritionfacts.org/video/herb...)
• Better Than Green Tea? (nutritionfacts.org/video/bett...)
• Protecting Teeth from Hibiscus Tea (nutritionfacts.org/video/prot...)
• Is There Too Much Aluminum in Tea? (nutritionfacts.org/video/is-t...)
Lemon can actually boost the antioxidant content of green and white tea. See Green Tea vs. White (nutritionfacts.org/video/gree.... And for a comparison of their cancer-fighting effects in vitro, Antimutagenic Activity of Green vs. White Tea (nutritionfacts.org/video/anti....
For more on the iron absorption effect, see my video Risks Associated with Iron Supplements (nutritionfacts.org/video/risk....
Have a question about this video? Leave it in the comment section at nutritionfacts.org/video/flash... and someone on the NutritionFacts.org team will try to answer it.
Want to get a list of links to all the scientific sources used in this video? Click on Sources Cited at nutritionfacts.org/video/flas.... You’ll also find a transcript and acknowledgements for the video, my blog and speaking tour schedule, and an easy way to search (by translated language even) through our videos spanning more than 2,000 health topics.
If you’d rather watch these videos on KZbin, subscribe to my KZbin Channel here: kzbin.info_...
Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution!
-Michael Greger, MD FACLM
Images thanks to kattebelletje and Pgoyette via Flickr.
Captions for this video are available in several languages; you can find yours in the video settings. View important information about our translated resources: nutritionfacts.org/translatio...
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[@BOMAH29]

I really appreciate this Flashback-Friday format of combining several older videos into one cohesive message. It’s getting to the point where there are simply too many videos to just revisit one every week. This is a very good solution. Thanks.👍

[@drryanincemd]

You the man! You Turned me plant based 2016- and didn’t think anyone could do it! Thanks for the studies

[@skullboy1967]

cooooool hahaha same here .. I started eating less animal products in 2015 ..and went vegan in 2016

[@aarushchaubey516]

@@skullboy1967 unfunny

[@skullboy1967]

@@aarushchaubey516 was not a joke ;-) just see it now that I have wrote 2026 instead of 2016 Aanya 😞 I wil change it imediately

[@aarushchaubey516]

@@skullboy1967 lmao kk np

[@skullboy1967]

@@aarushchaubey516 what does kk np mean ? I am dutch and have no clue 😇

[@NonchalantWalrusParty]

So a year ago I was 33 and had never had a filling. Then I went traveling through South America for a year and drank v. strong hibiscus tea at least 3 times a day- even drinking it last thing before sleep. Came home to find I needed 10+ fillings. The dumbest part is I think I'd even watched Dr G's warning video about it's acidity some time ago but completely forgot about it. That stuff isn't just a little bit acidic it's crazy acidic. Don't make my mistake- gargle with water after and even use a straw if you're making it strong.

[@CompostWatcher]

Nicholas West -- Thank you. Thank you.

[@trevorregay9283]

you may have ran into an unethical dentist as well......there are many of them out there......sadly.

[@NonchalantWalrusParty]

@@trevorregay9283 Not in this case. I can actually see many of the holes I put in my teeth in the mirror they're that big.

[@manuelsza7064]

​@@NonchalantWalrusParty if they are that big,either you did not care soon enough, or the previous dentist was negligent.

[@LichaEats]

I love your work. I always leave your channel a bit more knowledgeable and with more tools for my health.

[@CessnaPilot99]

Please go back to this video format it’s more informative.

[@user-je7pp2wg3m]

Agreed

[@bobgreene2892]

At 4:23, a very helpful comparison of diabetes and hypertensive risk among several diet groups-- (1) non-vegetarian-- those who eat everything (2) semi-vegetarian-- vegetarians who eat meat once or twice weekly (3) pescovegetarian-- vegetarians who eat fish (4) lactoovo-vegetarian-- vegetarians who eat eggs and drink milk and (5) vegan-- vegetarians who eat a whole-food, plant-based diet. Loosely defined, "prevalence" means the chances of finding a given condition in the group, compared to a baseline group. Vegans get all the advantages, with none of the downsides of the other four groups-- provided they also take B12 by supplement.

[@parsonsfra]

I think there's a flaw in your thinking here; athletes tend to have somewhat higher systolic blood pressures due to having a stronger heart, as well as having a lower resting heart rate. I'm not sure how that exactly translates to longevity, however.

[@user-no2mz9hl4f]

I know this is totally unrelated, but am commenting on this video in hopes that it will be seen. I was wondering if you could do any videos on eating disorders. I've been plant based most of my life and have found your videos illuminating and educational. I love your evidence based approach. I'm wondering what the research says about the causes and, more importantly, affective treatments are for anorexia, bulimia, and/or binge eating disorder. As someone who is currently suffering, I'd find it very helpful. Thanks!

[@allencrider]

I love hibiscus tea, but I'm only up for one 12 oz. cup per day.

[@robinfielding9506]

I got a hibiscus plant cause I would send for it. When do you pick the flowers for tea? I use it for a drink in the gym

[@crystall9158]

I'm vegan 80% unprocessed and I still have hypertension... my blood pressure got better but I cant get off my med or my bl shoots up... I've taken more steps I work out around 1hr 5xs a week more greens but I still have HBP

[@emmas816]

Crystal, you need more sodium and more potassium, try mixing sea salt with potassium citrate 1:1 proportion and consume at least 1 teaspoon a day of that mixture.

[@dharmaram7527]

Do you cook with oils and or use high amounts of salt for seasoning? Measure your salt intake daily by tracking it. Avoid the oils and source your fats from whole foods like avocados and seeds. Do you eat out at restaurants or take out? Most restaurants cook with lots of oils and use high amounts of sodium. That how they make the food taste good. Watch out for that and watch out for consuming dairy.

[@CalmLisa]

monkeygirl000 what does your water fast routine look like? Thanks

[@CalmLisa]

monkeygirl000 I’m laughing right now. I didn’t ask that question right! I was wondering about your time reference of the word occasional. Like how often do you do it? And how many days? Thanks! 😃

[@CalmLisa]

monkeygirl000 now I really feel stupid. I just noticed in your message where it says “Read More...” 😑 sorry about that! (Also, it was your phrase, “post-menopausal nonsense” that drew me right in! )

[@rockinvegan1765]

A quart a day, but how much hibiscus petals are blended int?

[@daveb9250]

So your drinking 1qt a day, is that @ 1 bag per 1 cup or are you making your tea stronger than that?

[@truefuschniken]

💖💖💖

[@andreawisner7358]

I love hibiscus tea but I have low blood pressure. Should I stop?

[@julianwarmington1267]

Right at the end of this clip Dr Greger concludes by saying he drinks no more than a quart of hibiscus tea per day. He also started by saying he would drink green tea in the mornings until - what time was it? - about 1pm? And then he'd switch to hibiscus. Personally i've also found eating salad at night and drinking hibiscus is good for providing the body with vitamins and minerals it needs for repairing the cells at night while you're sleeping.

[@gjenescu]

I have been drinking 1.5 litres of hibiscus tea per day as a water replacement for over three years now

[@suffering_sucks]

Has it hurt your teeth?

[@6122ula]

... Here's the deal… Go to Amazon and get a 1 pound bag of Davidson's hibiscus flowers...$17.66... and it is ...beautiful thing... Either put them loose into your hot water or purchase the paper teabags at Amazon or whatever delivery method you want to use with loose tea… That's it... The zinger stuff will send you to the poor House… Stick with the Davidson's or whatever company you want to buy your hibiscus petals from... I also get my Chamomile from Davidson, another great deal for a 1 pound bag... There are others but I stick with Davidson… I make no profit from this advice…👍 to your health… Chin chin... God bless Dr Greger... God bless America ...🇺🇸

[@maryshank7825]

That’s what I get also!

[@deborahbayer5798]

Wait, what about the arsenic problem with the hibiscus tea? Didn't you change your recommendations to 1-2 cups per day based on that problem?

[@user-uf9xm8rv8c]

امغنهبعغنبنوفخخفحييح

[@NutritionFactsOrg]

Hi, Deborah Bayer! Were you referring to this video? nutritionfacts.org/video/how-much-hibiscus-tea-is-too-much/ If so, then the issue is aluminum and manganese, not arsenic, and the suggestion was to limit intake to 1 quart per day. I hope that helps! -Christine Kestner, MS, CNS, LDN, NutritionFacts.org Health Support Volunteer

[@ainsleyameerali7622]

Dr ... we have something in trinidad called sorrel ... is like a cousin to hibiscus .. i am wondering if sorrel can beat hibiscus ? Let us know

[@wendyann3333]

Its the same Hibiscus 🌺 and sorrel

[@dawnanderson7563]

I tried Hibiscus tea and although my heartburn has stopped since I went to a plant based lifestyle but this tea gives me heartburn. Would you know why it does that?

[@dawnanderson7563]

@Just thoughts really Is there a way to lessen that to still get the benefits?

[@Snarfz0orz]

@@dawnanderson7563 Maybe dilute it with water and drink a larger quantity of that?

[@emmas816]

@@dawnanderson7563 yes, try adding for 1/4th teaspoon of hibiscus add a teaspoon of sinning nettle

[@maureenk1635]

We don't like the taste of hibiscus. Can we put some dried leaves in a capsule, and if so how much of the tea should we take?

[@Generic_text871]

Just drink a tea that you like.

[@julianwarmington1267]

I really like to mix it with either green (or white) tea, or with peppermint. Both blend really nicely and add to the flavour profile smoothly. It makes it a lot more interesting; i agree, hibiscus on its own is kinda weird. Not exactly bland, but just acidic and somewhat off. With peppermint or green tea though, it adds to their flavours, making it taste like a full textured drink.

[@sameerchohan4747]

Does hibiscus tea lowers testosterone level in males?

[@mistere8110]

X favore si può avere una tr3duzuone in italiano? Quando gusrdo i suoi video? Grazie

[@andreac5152]

What about testicular toxicity? No mention about that?

[@NutritionFactsOrg]

Hi, Andrea C! Testicular toxicity? From hibiscus? It would be helpful if you shared sources on this. I have not seen any credible research on it, and I have looked. Most research on testicular effects of hibiscus has been done on rats, and has shown a protective effect, if any. You can find everything on our site related to hibiscus here: nutritionfacts.org/topics/hibiscus-tea/ I hope that helps! -Christine Kestner, MS, CNS, LDN, NutritionFacts.org Health Support Volunteer

[@davidwbeaton]

My wife and I drink one cup per day. Moderation is key. The theoretical levels I believe is not sustainable. Moderation in exercise, food consumption and exercise will make you live longer. So much hard core KZbin videos on what will make you live longer. It’s stressful. Hey. Chill, play golf and love your life. And sleep lots.

[@eelkeaptroot1393]

Considering my bloodpressure numbers, it looks like I´m pre-hypertensive too, maybe I should start running more.

[@lanorothwolf2184]

Yeah, exercise is just as important as the diet if not more

[@bernardthedisappointedowl6938]

@@lanorothwolf2184 Maybe - but not for me, I manage a gentle walk every other day and my blood pressure has dropped from 140/90 to 110/70 in the last three months on a whole food plant based diet - and bear in mind my 140/90 was on medication, which I've now stopped, ^oo^

[@andreawisner7358]

The studies here showed that a plant-based diet is much more effective than tons of exercise, so there's that.

[@eelkeaptroot1393]

Well, I meet that level recommended by the WHO of at least an hour a day.

[@eelkeaptroot1393]

Yeah, I know, I´ve been eating plant-based for over 5 years now, never felt better!

[@michaelonello1022]

Thx Dr. G Whole plant based foods on Instagram -- mikewakethefoodup

[@jimmy-jamesolivier-mccutch2126]

1000 miles of running vs plants LOL i'll take the plants thx lmfao

[@bobgreene2892]

Dr. Greger, on hearing that remark, always suggests doing both plants and exercise. It is not a choice between the two-- both are important.