8 benefits of Roselle Juice (Sobolo) for healthy lifestyle

roselle juice benefits

Short Note

Roselle juice (sobolo) is a drink prepared from the flowers of the Roselle plant, a species of Hibiscus.

Roselle juice is known as bissap (in Senegal, Congo, Mali and Burkina Faso); zobo in Nigeria; sobolo in Ghana; wonjo, foléré, dabileni, tsobo in other parts of Africa; sorrel in the Caribbean, and agua de Jamaica in Mexico.

Even though the “juice” is usually sweetened and served cold, it is really an infusion that may also be called hibiscus tea when served hot.

roselle juice "sobolo"

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Health Benefits

1. Contains Anti-cancer Compounds

Polyphenols, which have been demonstrated to have potent anti-cancer effects, are abundant in hibiscus.

In vitro research on the effect of hibiscus extract on cancer cells have yielded promising findings.

2. Regulates Blood Pressure

According to a November 2008 research from the American Heart Association, drinking this tea has a high likelihood of decreasing blood pressure in pre-hypertensive and moderately hypertensive people.

It also claims that high blood pressure, generally known as hypertension, affects 1/3 of individuals in the United States.

Consuming hibiscus tea reduced the blood pressure in adults at risk of high blood pressure and those with slightly high blood pressure, according to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Nutrition.

3. May Help Lower Cholesterol Level

In 2011, a study examined the effects of drinking hibiscus tea against black tea on cholesterol levels.

For 15 days, ninety participants with high blood pressure drank either hibiscus or black tea twice a day.

After 30 days, neither group’s LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels had changed much. Both groups, on the other hand, had considerable increases in HDL (or “good”) cholesterol levels in relation to their initial level.

4. Good for Weight Loss

According to a research published in the National Library of Medicine, hibiscus extracts may help prevent obesity by regulating metabolism.

Another study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that hibiscus tea helped obese mice lose weight.

5. May Improve Liver Condition

According to research, the antioxidant qualities of hibiscus tea may aid in the treatment of liver illnesses.

Furthermore, according to a 2014 research published in the Food & Function Journal, when 19 obese patients were given hibiscus tea extract for 12 weeks, their liver steatosis improved significantly — a disease they had all been suffering from. Liver steatosis is a condition in which fat builds up in the liver which may result in liver failure.

6. Immune Booster

The loose leaf tea made from the hibiscus plant may even be high in ascorbic acid, generally known as vitamin C. It is a necessary vitamin for your body to strengthen and promote the immune system’s activities.

7. Antioxidant Effects

When rats were given hibiscus extract, it raised the quantity of antioxidant enzymes in their systems and decreased the detrimental effects of free radicals by 92 percent, according to research published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology. While this is an animal study, additional research is needed to discover how hibiscus tea antioxidants may influence people.

8. Antidepressant Effects

Hibiscus tea may include vitamins and minerals, particularly flavonoids, which have been linked to antidepressant activity in animal studies.

According to studies published in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology, drinking hibiscus tea can aid to calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety and sadness by providing a peaceful feeling in the mind and body.

Side Effects

  • According to a review of research published in 2013, excessively high amounts of hibiscus extract may cause liver damage.
  • Under the same review, hibiscus extract interacts with hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic) in animals and acetaminophen in people.

NB: People who consume herbal teas should tell their doctors about it since some herbs might interfere with drugs.


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