Thursday, April 23, 2009
Research
By Dr. Reginald B. Cherry, M.D.
Christian Post Contributor
Tue, Apr. 21 2009 09:16 AM EDT
High blood pressure is one of the most prevalent issues that physicians help their patients deal with today. It is a major health problem, contributing to heart disease, hardening of the arteries, kidney disease, and can affect multiple other organs.
That’s why a recent article in the Internal Medical Journal titled “Treatment of high blood pressure with hibiscus tea” really caught my eye. The article originated from the American Heart Association meeting, and the research was done at the prestigious Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.
The incredible finding of this simple nutraceutical – a food that acts like a medicine - was that drinking 3 cups of hibiscus tea a day for 6 weeks had a significant effect on participants’ blood pressure. In fact, the higher the person’s blood pressure, the more it lowered it. In those with normal blood pressure it didn’t drop too low, but it appeared to keep it from getting higher.
Here are a few amazing statements from the article:
“Regularly incorporating hibiscus tea into their diet may help control blood pressure in people at risk of high blood pressure and those already diagnosed with high blood pressure.”
“The public health implications of a blood pressure reduction of this magnitude, if extended to a larger population, could be profound.”
And, from a president of the American Heart Association, “The blood pressure reduction seen with the tea is equal in size to the typical effect of a prescription anti-hypertensive medication.”
Isn’t it amazing that drinking tea made from something in God’s nature is equal to our most potent hypertensive medication? Wouldn’t you rather take something that God provided for us naturally, rather than a costly prescription medication that could have many side effects?
Why hibiscus tea? Apparently, researchers had observed in randomized trials with animals that it had anti-hypertensive and anti-artherosclerotic (hardening of the arteries) effects, and it was promising enough to continue into studies with humans. The compounds identified in the hibiscus tea were flavonoids and phenolic acids, which have potent antioxidant properties.
Medicine is catching up with the natural world that God created for us. I will continue to share information with you on how things from nature, like hibiscus tea, can help us on our Pathway to Healing.
___________________________________________
Dr. Reginald B. Cherry (drcherry.org) is a member of the American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, Harris County Medical Society, and the American College of Preventive Medicine. Dr. Cherry has authored numerous articles on Preventive Medicine, emphasizing nutrition and exercise. He also speaks extensively on these topics nationwide and conducts numerous seminars for various groups and organizations. Currently, his weekly television program reaches 80 million homes.