Hypertension is one of the most common diseases nowadays. Are you also affected by it and are looking for the best tea to make your diet more healthy? Well, not because we have got you covered.
Herbal teas are usually considered as the best option for people having high blood pressure. It is because they have the ability to reduce stress which can eventually help you in lowering your blood pressure. Ginger, garlic, lemon, hibiscus and olive leaf teas are some of the teas which can help effectively in lowering your BP.
After reading this post you will be able to understand tea and its relationship with blood pressure. You will also be knowing the exact type and amount of tea you need to maintain your BP. Let’s start by getting into the details of herbal teas.
The Most Beneficial Teas In Decreasing Blood Pressure
Here are some of the teas which are very helpful in lowering your blood pressure. These are mostly herbal teas. The effect of these teas may vary from person to person but usually these are considered healthy.
Green Tea
Green tea is the tea which is made from the Camelia Synthesis plant. It is rich in antioxidants which are very helpful in holding back inflammatory responses. This eventually results in lowering your blood pressure. In 2023 the results of a case study in Southwest China proved that green tea significantly helped them in lowering systolic BP.
Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is also very helpful in reducing blood pressure because ginger is naturally a very good anti-inflammatory agent. It also helps in blood circulation. It is generally considered very good for the heart.
Garlic Tea
Garlic tea is considered very beneficial for the people who are being affected by cardiovascular problems. It can be effective for both diastolic and systolic blood pressure. If you are worrying about its taste you may consider mixing it with other herbal teas.
Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus tea is one of the best choices among e teas helpful for lowering BP. It is made from dried leaves of Hibiscus flower. It tastes a bit sour but has a very pleasant colour. It contains polyphenols, anthocyanins and a lot of antioxidants which are very helpful in maintaining BP.
Olive Leaf Tea
Olive tea has a very good taste. It contains hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein which are very effective in relaxing blood vessels. In 2017 a case study on 31 people who took olive tea for 28 weeks showed there was a significant change in their BP just after the first 28 days .
Lemon Tea
Lemon tea is also considered very beneficial for lowering your blood pressure. It helps a lot in better blood circulation. It is also very beneficial for losing weight too. Lemon contains vitamin C which is also beneficial for our body.
Tea And Blood Pressure Relationship
There was a very prominent link between tea, especially herbal teas and blood pressure. It is because most of them are very rich in flavonoids, polyphenols and antioxidants. These elements are very beneficial in the circulation of blood. Here are some of the polyphenols which help in reducing your blood pressure.
- Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
- Epigallocatechin (EGC)
- Catechin gallate (CG)
- Epicatechin gallate (ECG)
- Gallocatechin (GC)
- Catechin (C)
- Gallocatechin gallate (GCG)
- Epicatechin (EC)
Now let’s see what is the appropriate amount of tea you should drink to lower your blood pressure and how much time it will need to affect your body.
Appropriate Amount Of Tea To Lower Bp
There is no fixed amount of cups of tea you need to drink daily to lower your blood pressure. There are no guidelines in this record by WHO or any other institute. But it is said that drinking 2 cups of Hibiscus tea or other herbal teas regularly may reduce your BP with time.
Time Needed To Lower Bp With Tea
Time needed to lower blood pressure with tea depends on several factors like the amount and type of tea you consume daily. The time when you started taking tea and your medical condition can also decide the amount of time it will take to show results of low blood pressure. But researchers have found positive results in 4 weeks of regular tea consumption.
Harmful Effects Of Tea
Although drinking beneficial teas is healthy, excessive drinking of tea can have some side effects on your health. Usually these effects are not very serious but you need to be careful with some of these like it’s interaction with your medication.
Caffeine Sensation
Tea contains a significant amount of caffeine and when you take it excessively your body becomes addicted. Upon leaving it you may face problems like discomfort , headache etc. It can even cause an increased heart rate in some people.
Difficulty In Iron Absorption
Another side effect of drinking a lot of tea can be difficulty in absorbing iron which is very necessary for our body. It is because tea contains a tannin which we keep absorbing regularly. Tannin is a compound which reduces the efficiency of the body to absorb iron.
Effect On Sleep
Drinking a lot of tea can also have a huge impact on your sleep. It is because of the caffeine which causes less production of the hormone melatonin (It signals the brain about the sleepiness of the body). It affects your sleep quality and eventually your health.
Medications Interaction
It is the most serious side effect of drinking tea. There are some teas which can affect your medications like excessive amounts of green tea can affect absorption of medicine. You may consider consulting a doctor if you face any such condition.
Final Words
Although tea is not a solution to hypertension, there are some elements in herbal teas which are effective in lowering your blood pressure. These small and effective changes to your lifestyle can help you with a healthy life ahead.
Before adding any type of tea permanently in your lifestyle remember to ensure it is not interacting with any of your medication and you are not becoming an addict. You can do so by seeking advice from any health professional. Drink healthy, stay healthy!