**DISCLAIMER** I am not a certified nutritionist or dietician, just a college student passing on information that I have learned to my fellow followers, if you feel like you have serious issues concerning any of these things then, by all means, contact a professional.

Have you ever had hibiscus tea? Hibiscus tea is ruby red in color and has a sour taste (however, honey or sugar can be added depending on your preference). It is also known as sour tea and has a flavor similar to cranberry. It is available on the market throughout the tea-drinking world and can be consumed hot or cold depending on how you like it. This tea can be made by boiling parts of the hibiscus flower. If you do not always have the flower handy (like me), then you can get a hold of this flower in a popular form such as a teabag.

So, whats so great about this tea?

Well, my friend, this tea is also low in calories, and it is caffeine-free! It can't get much better than that, right? Wrong. There are so many other healthy benefits from drinking this tea, and I am here to inform you of three main ones.

1. Caffeine free and low in calories!

As I mentioned above, this drink is a much healthier alternative to letting's say, soda. Soda, as everyone knows, is very high in calories due to the amount of sugar that it contains. Not only does it have a lot of calories but it also has caffeine. Whether you like to accept it or not, caffeine is an addictive drug. Some of us like to use it as a way to jump our mornings. While that may not be a bad thing every once in a while, if done excessively, it can result in an adverse outcome and cause the body to become dependent of this. Yes, you may all of the sudden be awake for the shift you needed to be awake for, or the school day, but before you know, it the crash from the caffeine will come soon after. By drinking this tea not only are you satisfying your thirst as well as your taste buds, but you are also avoiding other harmful things that drink such as soda, or coffee have.

2. Anti-inflammatory and Antibacterial Properties!

Hibiscus tea is also an excellent source of vitamin C because it is rich in ascorbic acid. Since this tea derives from a plant, this means that the tea is being consumed in its purest form meaning that the vitamin wasn't artificially made in a laboratory. Vitamins are best consumed straight from the source, straight from mother nature! Vitamin C is essential to your body because it is needed to boost and stimulate the activity of the immune system. Since this tea has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, this means that it'll help you prevent from catching illnesses such as the cold and the flu. Another thing that this tea can help with is that it can be used to treat the discomfort that is caused by fever.

3. Antidepressant Properties and Weight Loss!

This tea contains vitamins and minerals that are like flavonoids; these have antidepressant properties. By consuming hibiscus tea, it can help you calm the nervous system, and it can help with reducing the anxiety and depression by creating a relaxed state of mind in the body. For those who find themselves struggling to calm themselves down or are always experiencing anxiety before a big test or an important day at work drinking, this can be a natural at home remedy. This natural tea also could help with weight loss. Some research has shown that hibiscus extract can lower the absorption of starch and glucose. This is because this flower inhibits the production of amylase, which helps with the absorption or carbohydrates and starches, so by drinking this tea it could it could help that absorption from occurring.

So in summary not only is this drink delicious served iced or hot, but it also can have different beneficial qualities. So next time you're thirsty try some hibiscus tea, not only will you quench your thirst but you will attain more benefits. So grab a glass and enjoy.