LONDON, February 12 /PRNewswire/ --

- With Photo

New research released by the American Heart Association* reveals that Hibiscus Sabdariffa has a beneficial effect on reducing high blood pressure.

Daily consumption of three cups of hibiscus tea, (made from 1.25g of hibiscus), an amount readily incorporated into the diet, lowers blood pressure in pre- and mildly hypertensive adults and may prove an effective component of the dietary changes recommended for people at risk of developing hypertension, comments Diane L. McKay, PhD, FACN from the Antioxidants Research Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Centre.

A clinical trial was conducted amongst men and women aged between 30 - 70 with high blood pressure, half of whom received a hibiscus infused drink and half a placebo for six weeks. Blood pressure was measured at weekly intervals and results showed that systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were both lower in those people taking the hibiscus treatment with the greatest reduction in systolic blood pressure sufferers registering a drop of 13.2%. Age, gender or use of dietary supplements made no difference to the results, which showed an overall drop in blood pressure of 7.2% among the hibiscus users.

Results prove that daily consumption of three intakes of a hibiscus drink per day lowers blood pressure in pre and mildly hypertensive adults, and is likely to prove effective when incorporated into the diets of those people at risk of developing hypertension. Antioxidant anthocyanins present in hibiscus sabdariffa may help to protect against the damage caused by harmful free radicals in the body as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Hibiscus Sabdariffa has been used for centuries around the world as a natural herbal remedy, for example, the Egyptians used hibiscus to make a nourishing drink, reputed to be the preferred drink of the pharaohs, and believed in the great health benefits of the flower.

Anita Doran, director of the Hibiscus Drinks Company, comments: We are very pleased that the efficacy of hibiscus has been proven for high blood pressure sufferers as we offer a range of natural refreshing hibiscus based drinks, all of which contain a high level of hibiscus extract and have been scientifically proven as a rich source of anthocyanin antioxidants. Drinking just two glasses (250ml) of Hib! per day will give the same amount of hibiscus extract as used in the trials.

Hib! - the UK's first range of superflower drinks - is made from the hibiscus sabdariffa flower. It combines natural ingredients, healthy antioxidants and pure spring water to give a great taste. Hib! is caffeine free and contains no artificial ingredients.

*Abstract 3278: Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. Tea (Tisane) Lowers Blood Pressure in Prehypertensive and Mildly Hypertensive Adults. Diane L McKay; Edward Saltzman; Chung-Yen Chen, Jeffrey B Blumberg (November 2008).

Note to Editors:

Hib! is available at Waitrose and health shops, RSP GBP1.49/ litre or GBP2.99 /450ml cordial.

http://www.hibdrinks.com. Tel: +44-(0)1604-756-010.

A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA Photowire. It can be downloaded from http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or http://www.prnewswire.co.uk.

Further press info: Lotte Peplow at Peplow PR. Lotte@peplowpr.com or +44-(0)20-8241-6140