Some drinks, like hibiscus or green tea, can reduce blood pressure by enhancing cardiovascular health and blood vessel relaxation.
A major risk factor for several cardiovascular illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks, is high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
While medicine and lifestyle changes are frequently used to manage high blood pressure, natural alternatives like chamomile and hawthorn berry tea can also be effective. It might be simple and fun to assist your cardiovascular health by including a few glasses in your daily routine.
Should you drink tea to lower blood pressure?
Heart-healthy teas like hibiscus or chamomile can be used as part of a comprehensive blood pressure management strategy.
According to 2019 studies, tea's active ingredients may assist control of some bodily functions that affect blood pressure, including blood vessel relaxation, artery health, inflammation reduction, and blood flow regulation.
What are the best teas for high blood pressure?
Several varieties of tea may be able to assist you in controlling your high blood pressure. Be aware that each person will experience the effects differently.
Hibiscus tea
The dried petals of the hibiscus flower are used to make hibiscus tea. It has a striking red hue and a flavour that is pleasantly acidic and somewhat sour. Anthocyanins and polyphenols included in hibiscus tea may aid in relaxing blood vessels, resulting in a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
According to a 2019 study, hibiscus tea is a well-liked option as a natural treatment for hypertension due to its moderate but noticeable blood pressure-lowering effects.
Green tea
The leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant are used to make the popular beverage green tea. It contains bioactive substances known as catechins, including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which has been linked to several health advantages, including lowering blood pressure.
According to a 2023 study in Southwest China with more than 76,000 people, drinking green tea is generally linked to lower systolic blood pressure, independent of how much is drunk or for how long.
Olive leaf tea
Olive-leaf tea has a mild, herbal flavour and is prepared from the leaves of the olive tree. This tea has ingredients like oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, which are known to help control blood pressure by encouraging blood vessels to relax.
Olive leaf tea, which is made by steeping 5 grammes of dried and ground leaves in 250 millilitres of warm water and drinking two cups a day, significantly lowered participants' systolic and diastolic blood pressure within four weeks in a 2017 study involving 31 people.
Additionally, a sizable portion of participants—limited to those with type 2 diabetes and prehypertension—attained normal blood pressure readings.
Hawthorn berry tea
A slightly sweet and tangy flavour can be found in hawthorn berry tea, which is prepared from the berries of the hawthorn tree. Hawthorn tea, which has long been used to improve heart health, may help widen blood vessels, enhancing blood flow and assisting in lowering blood pressure.
When used for at least 12 weeks by people with moderate hypertension (prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension), hawthorn formulations (tablets or liquid drops) significantly decreased blood pressure, according to a 2020 evaluation of four randomised controlled studies.
Although hawthorn tea was not expressly used in the experiments, it is important to note that many of the same advantageous chemicals found in the tea may be responsible for these results.
Chamomile tea
The dried flowers of the chamomile plant (Matricaria chamomilla or Chamaemelum nobile) are used to make chamomile tea. It is often used to encourage relaxation and relieve stress because of its moderate, calming, and soothing characteristics, which may also indirectly lower blood pressure.
It contains several advantageous substances that support its therapeutic qualities, including flavonoids, terpenoids, and coumarins.
Its potential for reducing inflammation, fighting free radicals, protecting the liver, maybe having anticancer effects, and controlling blood pressure is highlighted by research from 2020.
How many cups of tea should you drink to lower blood pressure?
Each person will respond differently to the blood pressure-lowering effects of tea. It may also depend on the type of tea you drink, your general dietary habits, your lifestyle, and your blood pressure right now.
According to some research, regularly consuming two cups of hibiscus tea each day may help lower blood pressure over time.
How long does it take for tea to lower blood pressure?
The kind of tea you drink, how frequently you drink it, and how you react to it are all variables that might affect how quickly tea lowers your blood pressure.
Overall, small blood pressure reductions may not occur for several weeks to a few months after frequent use.
Potential side effects of drinking tea
Several negative effects of tea consumption include:
- Caffeine sensitivity: Caffeine, which is present in tea, particularly in the black and green types, might make some people jittery or cause sleep problems or an accelerated heart rate.
- Stomach discomfort: On an empty stomach, excessive tea consumption may result in acid reflux or digestive problems.
- Interactions with medications: Some teas, like green tea, can interact with some medicines, reducing the effectiveness or changing how well they are absorbed. If you are worried about possible drug interactions, speak to a medical practitioner.
- Staining teeth: With continued use, dark drinks like black tea may discolour teeth.
Takeaway
A delightful strategy to aid in the comprehensive management of your blood pressure is to incorporate heart-healthy teas into your daily routine. Teas do include some components that can help you relax and have a tiny, favourable impact on your blood pressure, though they shouldn't be used as a substitute for medicine or lifestyle modifications.
Consult your doctor before beginning to regularly consume more tea. They can provide you with individualised guidance and ensure that the tea you wish to sample won't conflict with any prescription drugs you're taking.
FAQs
Can tea reduce high BP?
Tea drinking reduces the risk of hypertensive BP by 10%, which has a preventive effect on blood pressure.
Is lemon good for high blood pressure?
Lemon juice may help decrease blood pressure since it has trace amounts of various nutrients.
Can garlic lower blood pressure?
One of the greatest methods to use garlic to decrease blood pressure is to consume it raw.
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