Health benefits of zobo drink and possible side effects

• Health benefits of zobo (Hibiscus tea) include reducing blood pressure, aiding weight loss, and preventing kidney stones.
• Despite its numerous benefits, zobo drink also has some possible side effects, such as drug interactions and interactions with estrogen, a female hormone.
• Pregnant people should not take zobo drinks unless their medical provider says it's okay to.

The popular Zobo drink is made from dried roselle, scientifically called Hibiscus sabdariffa. Zobo drink tastes good, is easy to find, and has a refreshing taste. It also has many health benefits. For instance, zobo drink has been known to prevent leukemia (a type of cancer), and decrease blood pressure.

Another good thing about the zobo drink is that it is easy to prepare and has a simple recipe. In this article, we will talk about the various health benefits of the Zobo drink and some of its known side effects.

Zobo drink has been proven to contain many nutrients, making it fit for many people, including pregnant women.

The health benefits of zobo drink include:

Decrease in blood pressure

One of the health benefits of zobo drink is that it can stabilize blood pressure. Several studies suggest that Zobo drink reduces blood pressure very effectively, even in people with health problems that increase their high blood pressure risk.

Prevention of oxidative stress

There are a lot of antioxidants in Zobo drink. Antioxidants help fight against oxidative stress caused by free radicals. This is due to the anthocyanins found in the plant, the natural pigments that make its flowers red.

The oxidative effect of Zobo drink helps in the prevention of certain cancerous diseases like leukaemia.

Prevention of kidney stones

Since zobo drink is a diuretic, it is studied in connection with the renal system and the urinary system. A study revealed that zobo drink would reduce the occurrence of compounds involved in forming kidney stones.

As stated earlier, zobo drink has proven to have many health benefits, but its chemical composition also makes it harmful when abused.

Zobo drink has some harmful side effects, as listed below. The harmful side effects of zobo drink take effect when zobo drink is abused recreationally.

Side effects of zobo drink include the following.

Interacts with estrogen

Zobo drink contains phytoestrogen, plant-based compounds that are similar to human estrogen. Phytoestrogen is known to interact with estrogen (a major female hormone). This suggests that zobo drinks can disrupt the effectiveness of estrogen-based birth control pills.

Interacts with medications

Since zobo drink is an herb, it can interact with other medicines, which can cause more problems. The most concerning is the interaction with paracetamol.

There haven’t been enough studies to fully describe the risks, but it is common knowledge that medications, such as paracetamol, are processed in the liver. But so is your zobo drink. So there are possibilities of interactions that can reduce the efficacy of the medication. Therefore, it is advisable not to mix paracetamol and zobo drinks.

Also, since zobo drink may cause a reduction in blood pressure, it may be best to avoid it when on medication for blood pressure or blood sugar. The combination of zobo drink and blood pressure medications can lower your blood pressure too much, leading to hypotension, which is another health problem.

Effects of zobo drink on pregnant women

There are concerns that zobo drinks can cause miscarriage in pregnant people. For instance, an older 2013 study raises concern about this and advises cautious use of Hibiscus sabdarriffa tea during pregnancy.

Estrogen is one of the hormones that induce menstruation in women; as stated earlier, zobo drink can affect or interacts with estrogen, especially when overused.

Some studies have also shown that zobo drinks could cause a pregnant person’s period to return, leading to miscarriage. In addition, the safety of taking zobo drinks during breastfeeding is unknown, so it is best to avoid or limit their consumption during pregnancy.

The origin of Hibiscus Sabdariffa can be traced back to Sudan. It is worth noting that the zobo drink was first used as a medical remedy in ancient Egypt. Hibiscus Sabdariffa is also native to tropical Africa and is quite common in the tropics. Nigerians love Zobo drink; it is one of the country's most common and easy-to-process drinks.

Zobo drinks are reasonably priced; a bottle of zobo drink can be purchased for as little as N100. This means both the rich and the poor can benefit from the numerous health benefits of Zobo drink.