I'm excited to take you through making of zobo (my best drink) and it’s health benefits, which am sure a lot of us will be interested to know, it will leave you wowed trust me.
Zobo is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, ranging from Africa to Asia, Europe, America, etc. and it is served in various homes and restaurants.
The Zobo drink is made from Hibiscus Sabdariffa leaves [dried Roselle leaves], it is also known as Hibiscus tea is one of the world most popular beverages and it originated from Nigeria. It is often used as a medicinal tea.
Zobo is very nutritious as it contains several potent nutrients, including Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorous, Niacin, Riboflavin, Fiber, Fat, Thiamine, Carotene, etc. It is worthwhile also to state that Zobo is very low in calories and is caffeine-free. All these nutrients are what make the Hibiscus tea a very healthy drink with lots of amazing health benefits.
Zobo is not just a delicious drink as several studies have uncovered the health benefits it comes with, and this is what I will be discussing with you in this post.
Let talk about the benefits first…
It helps to lower blood pressure, this is made possible by the enzyme inhibitor that block the production of amylase that decompose complex sugar and starch, when this is blocked the blood pressure will be lowered.
It relieves constipation with the help of the high fibre content in zobo.
It prevent kidney disease as a result of the organic acids like tartaric acid, citric acid, and maleic acid, etc. that are proven to be effective for dealing with kidney disease, which are in abundance in Zobo.
It boost liver health with the help of the liver-protecting properties contained in the hibiscus extract that helps in promoting liver health simply by increasing drug-detoxifying enzymes and reducing liver damage and fatty liver.
It promotes weight loss, it has been scientifically proven several times that Zobo helps in lowering the absorption of the major dietary components [starch and glucose] which are often linked with excess weight gain.
It lowers bad cholesterol (Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) and boost good cholesterol (High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol). Zobo help regulate your cholesterol levels and also improve your heart and blood vessels.
It has been proven to help relief menstrual cramp and restore hormonal imbalance.
It reduces depressive symptoms. Zobo is packed with vitamins and minerals, including flavonoids, a natural antidepressant property. This property is very effective in calming the nervous system and creating a sense of relaxation in the mind and body.
It reduces the risk of cancer, Zobo drink contains hibiscus protocatechuic acid, which is packed with several antitumor and antioxidant properties. Multiple studies, including the one conducted by the Department and Institute of Biochemistry in Taiwan and Karina H. Goldberg in Australia, reveal that Zobo drink can help delay the growth of certain cancerous cells by inferring apoptosis, often regarded as programmed cell death in gastric cancer cells.
It helps to restore your appetite due to anti-bacterial present that repairs the digestive system.
Zobo drink and ulcer: Zobo drink has been reported by many to be an effective home remedy for ulcer pain.
Zobo drink prevents diabetes: Dr Ochuko E., a nutritional biochemist and senior research officer with the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Lagos recently stated that Zobo drink is good for preventing diabetes.
Zobo drink and Pregnancy: it’s important to take note here that zobo is not good for pregnant women and nursing mothers, according to a research carried out by Dr. Iyare, E. E. and Iyare, F. E in 2006 was carried out to determine the effect of maternal consumption of aqueous extract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa during pregnancy, on pregnancy weight gain and postpartum weight loss. From the experiment, they concluded that taking an aqueous extract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa during pregnancy decreases pregnancy weight gain and postpartum weight loss. A similar study also on the the effect of zobo drink during breast feeding also showed that drinking zobo drink during lactation decreased maternal food and fluid intake, and increased postnatal weight gain all of which have adverse effects on their health.
Of course, Zobo is a healthy drink, but pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid consuming zobo due to its detrimental effects on maternal and child health.
Want to benefit from all I have mentioned above? Drink more Zobo!
Let dive into the preparation!
I have two methods I used in preparing my tasty Zobo, follow me…
INGREDIENTS
- Dried Zobo leaves
- Ginger (grounded)
- Garlic (optional)
- Lime or lemon juice (optional)
- Pineapple peels or juice
- Sugar or Sweeteners
- Flavours (Any..Strawberry, apple, pineapple e.t.c)
PROCEDURES
1. Wash the zobo leaves properly with an ordinary water to get rid of sand.
2. Put the washed zobo leaves in a cooking pot. Add moderate amount of water and allow to boil for about 30 minutes.
3. So, I will be inputing the second method there, which is to soak the zobo leaves in a corresponding quantity of water, then put on fire to boil. Why I like this 2nd method is because you can get a larger and still thick quantity at the end, unlike boiling the leaves straight away.
3. Add the grounded ginger and garlic, the pineapple peels and the lime or lemon rinds and allow to boil for about 25 more minutes.
4. Remove from heat, allow it to cool and sieve into a big bowl to remove residue. You can always reboil the leaves till the color starts to fade.
5. Remember to add sugar or any other sweetener when it is still hot and stir properly to taste.
6. At this point, add any flavours of your choice. Any other baking flavour can also be used.
7. Pour into bottles or cans and chill immediately to prevent fermentation.
Enjoy your chilled Zobo drink with some snack or food!
Do let me know your thought in the comment section. How do you prepare your Zobo drink? What other benefits of Zobo do you know that is not mentioned above?
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