Health Medicinal and Nutritional Benefits of Zobo Drinks (Rosella or Hibiscus Sabdariffa) - AnnyTessy Blog

Benefits of Zobo Drinks (Rosella or Hibiscus sabdariffa)

Zobo, also known as Rosella or Hibiscus Sabdariffa  is an ancient drink, that has a lot of medicinal properties which can be used to treat ailments such as high blood pressure, kidney diseases all sorts of other ailments. It is very popular and variously named around the world.

Scientific Name(s): Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Family: Malvaceae (mallows)

Common Name(s):The roselle is known as the rosella or rosella fruit in Australia. It is also known as 'Belchanda' among Nepalese, Tengamora among Assamese and "mwitha" among Bodo tribals.

In Assam, চুকর Chukor in Bengali, Gongura in Telugu, Pundi in Kannada, Ambadi in Marathi, LalChatni or Kutrum in Mithila] Mathipuli in Kerala, chinbaung in Burma, กระเจี๊ยบแดง KraJiabDaeng in Thailand, ສົ້ມ ພໍດີ som phor dee in Lao PDR, 

bissap in Senegal, GuineaBissau, Mali, BurkinaFaso, Ghana, Benin and Niger, Réunion, the Congo and France, dah or dah bleni in other parts of Mali, wonjo in the Gambia, 

zobo in western Nigeria (the Yorubas in Nigeria call the white variety Isapa (pronounced Ishapa)), Zoborodo in Northern Nigeria,  

Chaye-Torosh in Iran, karkade in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan, omutete in Namibia, sorrel in the Caribbean and in Latin America, 

Flor de Jamaica in Mexico, Saril in Panama, grosella in Paraguay and vinagreira, caruru-azedo or quiabo-roxo in Brazil. 

Rosela in Indonesia,asam belanda in Malaysia. In Chinese it is 洛神花 (Luo Shen Hua).

In Zambia the plant is called lumanda in ciBemba, katolo in kiKaonde, or wusi inchiLunda.

Fresh Rosella (Zobo)

Dried Rosella (Zobo)

Dried Rosella (Zobo)

The Hibiscus leaf is used in many parts of the world to make both cold and hot drinks popularly known as Zobo. It is slightly thick, colourful, pleasant and tasty. It contains a high concentration of water-soluble antioxidants with huge amounts of vitamin C. Zobo is an ancient drink, consume in many parts of the world for centuries. It is used to help treat several health problems such as high blood pressure, loss of appetite, liver diseases and fever among others.          

Zobo drink contains between 15 to 30 percent organic acids including citric acid, maleic acid, and tartaric acid. It also contains acidic polysaccharides and flavonoid glycosides, such as cyanidin and delphinine. The drink is popularly use as a natural diuretic and is used traditionally as a mild medicine. Dieters and people with kidney problems often take it without adding sugar for its beneficial properties.

Study conducted in 2008 by United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, indicated that consuming hibiscus tea or zobo drink lowed blood pressure in a group of pre-hypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. According to The Journal of Ethno pharmacology, published in May 2008, hibiscus tea improved the kidney’s ability to filter out waste products that are the uric and oxalic acid, both of which can form kidney stones if accumulated to excessively high levels.

Nutritionists agreed that zobo drink could be very effective in the management of hypertension because it has some anti-hypertensive properties, which helps to reduce cholesterol level, hypertension, high blood pressure, diabetes and constipation. It also helps to retain fluid in the body system and has antibacterial properties which help to kill bacteria and worms in the body system. It is caffeine-free and has riboflavin, niacin, carotene, calcium, and iron, which are all nutritionally necessary.

Uche Umeche, an health expert advised people on the health benefits of  Zobo. He said: “Local drinks, from nutritionist point of view, are natural and I always advise people to go for local beverages than those made with preservatives because it is through the process of fermentation that the local drinks are produced.” Umeche, said that fermentation introduces microorganisms which works on the original product to produce a new product that has more nutrients and nourishes the body. “We are not saying that because local drinks are more nutritious, people should go ahead and drink a drum of zobo. Moderation should be the watchword.”

Rosella (Zobo) Drink

Another nutritionist and director at Family Health and Nutrition, ministry of health, Lagos State Nigeria Abimbola Ajayi, said that Zobo drink helps to lower blood pressure as it contains an enzyme inhibitor which blocks the production of amylase. Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down complex sugars and starches. “Drinking a cup of hisbicus tea or zobo after meals is said to reduce the absorption of dietary carbohydrates and assist in weight loss. It is rich in Vitamin C and makes a wonderful herbal remedy to fight off colds and infections,” Ajayi said.

However, although hibiscus seems to be safe for most people, research findings show that it is unsafe to take during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Realnews findings also reveal that the drink has no harmful effect on the liver but when consumed in high doses could be harmful to the kidney.

Caveat A person using Hypertensive medications should seek Medical  Advice before taking zobo as the combination of anti-hypertensive medication and zobo may lower blood pressure to a dangerously low level, thereby resulting into hypotension.

Health Benefits of Zobo Drink

1.    SatiateThirst:

Zobo (Hibiscus Tea) can be drunk hot or cold  and can efficiently satiate thirst. It is usually recommended as an alternative to other artificially made commercial "sport drinks" that are marketed to physically active individuals. Its ability to cool the body is well documented by many cultures that include it in their diet or medicinal practices. One of the benefit is probably associated with the diuretic properties of hibiscus, a property that helps in the excretion of excess fluids from the body.

2.    Lowers High Blood Pressure

In a study conducted involving 70 people, The antihypertensive properties of hibiscus tea were noted; half of 35 people drank hibiscus tea (Zobo) once daily and the other 35 took 25 mg of antihypertensive medicine twice daily. The result after a month indicated, 79 percent of the tea drinkers experienced a ten point reduction in blood pressure, While 84 percent of those who took pharmaceutical medicine also experienced the same reduction in blood pressure. Hibiscus is an antioxidant, a properties that prevents the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins; a substance in our blood that if increased beyond normal quantities may cause high blood pressure.

3.    Prevent Weight Loss

Zobo can be used to aid in weight loss. Human body produces an enzyme known as amylase which functions to break down complex sugar and starch molecules in food. Whene a person regularly consumes too much carbohydrate-rich food (full of sugar and starch), then that individual is most likely going to gain weight. According to a publication on a website:pubmed.gov, hibiscus contains a substance that can inhibit the production of amylase. A person that regularly drinking hibiscus tea can prevent too much absorption of carbohydrates and consequently prevent weight gain.

4.    Treat Cough and Colds

A book called "Healing Herbal Teas," indicated that fresh hibiscus flowers contain around 6.7 mg of ascorbic acid, a form of vitamin C, which is one of the more essential nutrients needed by the body. Alongside with this important and benefical substance, hibiscus tea also have anti-inflammatory and mild anti-bacterial properties. Consequently, hibiscus tea is often used as a supplement to help treat coughs and colds. And because of its cooling effect, it is especially effective in reducing the discomfort of fevers that may accompany such ailments.

5.    Nutrition

Apart from the the significant amount of ascorbic acid, hibiscus is made of the following nutritional substances: 1.145 g of protein, 2.61 g of fat, 12.0 g of fiber, 1,263 mg of calcium, 273.2 mg of phosphorus, 8.98 mg of iron, 0.029 mg of carotene, 0.117 mg of thiamine, 0.277 mg of riboflavin and 3.765 m of niacin. Given all this, hibiscus tea can serve as an excellent food supplement and an aid to boost the body's immune system.

 The extracts from the flower is alkaline in nature and when taking without white sugar, has been known to have cleansing properties and balance the body chemistry - balance body’s pH balanced, The extract is used for making wine, juice, tea, spice and the likes. The Hibiscus flower is also rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, riboflavin, Vitamin C, niacin, carotene, calcium, and iron which are all nutritionally necessary.

Ingredients
2 cups dried hibiscus flowers
5 cups water
½ bunch pineapple
2 tbs vanilla extract
¼ cup sugar
1 ½ tbs grated ginger

Preparations
Lightly rinse the hibiscus flowers in cold water.
Wash the pineapple and peel the skin (though some prefer to cook it with the skin). Slice and set aside.
Add the water in a pot and bring to a boiling point. As soon as it starts boiling, add the rinsed flowers, ginger and pineapple.
Cover and boil for 15 minutes.
Turn off the heat and allow cooling for 5 minutes.
Using a large bowl, put a paper towel inside a sieve, then drain the mixture (be sure flowers don’t go inside the bowl, and if possibly sieve).
Pour the drained mixture into a pitcher. Add additional water if desired and vanilla extract. Taste to gauge the level of sweetness before adding sugar.
Stir and refrigerate. Best served chilled.

Note: A person using Hypertensive medications should seek Medical  Advice before taking zobo as the combination of anti-hypertensive medication and zobo may lower blood pressure to a dangerously low level, thereby resulting into hypotension.

Ref:
http://healthycases.blogspot.com
http://realnewsmagazine.net