Changes in your diet not only affects you physically, physiologically, inside, but also

mentally, how will you think psychologically, how will you feel?

But you'll never know just how good you can feel until you put it to the test and

try eating healthier.

Welcome to the Nutrition Facts Podcast, I'm your host, Dr. Michael Greger.

Today we revel in the antioxidant properties of Habiscus tea, which compared to 280 common

beverages, ranks, number one, for its antioxidant content, even beating out green tea.

In our first story, we look at the results of a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled

trial of Habiscus tea for wheat loss.

Habiscus tea, also known as Rosella or Jamaica, is enjoyed around the world hot or cold

for its bright red color and tarc cramberry-like flavor.

It's the zing and red zinger tea.

I talk about its benefits in the chapter on high blood pressure and how not to die,

working as well as some leading anti-hypertensive medications in head-to-head tests, or even

beating the drugs out.

Within three hours of drinking Habiscus tea, changes in hundreds of metabolites can be

detected in the human bloodstream, with creative names like Habiscus acid or Habiskin

or Habisitrin.

Alterations in human gene expression of the three-hour mark after drinking it suggest

a down-regulation of cholesterol synthesis and improvement in metabolism, but randomized

control trials failed to consistently find cholesterol-lowering benefits.

An interesting side-effect popped up, though, weight loss.

...