Hibiscus flowers combined with other herbs can be made into delicious variations of refreshing summer teas (see recipe later in the article). However, the blooming plant can do more—a recently published animal study conducted by Dr. Sedef Ziyanok-Demirtas at the Bursa Uludag University in Turkey observed its therapeutic properties in Type 1 diabetes.
According to the study, hibiscus alleviates oxidative stress, protects the liver, balances glucose and insulin levels, and improves weight loss. While the effects were observed in diabetic rats, the research suggests humans will benefit similarly.
