Sobolo: The Ruby Red That Makes Your Insides Smile

From the bitterness of disease, man learns the sweetness of health. Don’t eat anything your great-great grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food. There are a great many food-like items in the supermarket your ancestors wouldn’t recognize as food, stay away from these.

“He who takes medicine but neglects a good diet practice wastes the skill of his doctor”.

Today, food choice, toxic food ingredients, nutritional deficiencies and lack of physical exercise cause more than 95% of all chronic disease. In this light, I decide to project an ancient delicacy that has resurfaced today in our menu but not yet given its due respect.

In Africa, organic teas are widely used as herbal supplements to promote generally great health. One of the most popular teas is known as hibiscus tea. I the western world,Bissap Tea. It is an ideal drink that gives you energy and strength. In Ghana we affectionately call it SOBOLO.

Sobolo has been used in modern culture as a mild yet natural diuretic. Dieters and people with kidney problems often turn to the natural and beneficial properties of the hibiscus flower, because of its Vitamin C and mineral content, and as a diuretic.

In fact, there are a huge number of claims made for Sobolo’stherapeutic benefits, from Ayurvedic menstrual remedies to hangover cures and treatments for cancer.

As well as its popular appeal as a beverage, Sobolo is clearly regarded as a health drink in many cultures. In the countries of origin, the flowers have been, or still are used as an antiseptic, aphrodisiac, astringent, cholagogue, demulcent, digestive, diuretic,emollient,laxative, cooler, sedative, and tonic! In Chinese folk medicine, they are used to treat liver disorders and high blood pressure. In East Africa, the infuse Sobolo drink called “Sudan tea”, is taken to relieve coughs.

Fortunately, extracts of Sobolo (Bissap) have also been the subject of hundreds of scientific studies, some of these attracting attentions from the British media.

Julia Morton Collectanea, University of Miami (a research and information center devoted to economic botany) states that nutritionists analyzed the calyces of Roselle (another name for Bissap) sold in Guatemalan markets and found them to be high in calcium, niacin, riboflavin and iron. A better appreciation of this analysis could be found the book “Fruits of Warm Climate”

Recently, studies have shown that the anti-oxidants within the hibiscus flower have proven to decrease cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease. In a 2008 USDA study, consuming sobolo tea lowers blood pressure in a group of pre-hypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. Three cups of tea daily resulted in an average drop of 8.1 points in their systolic blood pressure, compared to 1.3point drop in the volunteers who drank the placebo beverage. Study also shows participants with higher blood pressure readings (129 0r above) had a greater response to hibiscus tea; their systolic blood pressure went down by 13.2points. These data support the idea that drinking hibiscus tea in an amount readily incorporated into the diet may play a significant role in controlling blood pressure.

A number of articles and websites recommend drinking hibiscus tea to assist in weight loss. Studies show that Hibiscus tea contains an enzyme inhibitor which blocks production of amylase-an enzyme that breaks down complex sugars and starches. So it may be possible that drinking a cup of hibiscus tea after meals (as part of a controlled weight loss programme) could reduce the absorption of dietary carbohydrates and assist in weight loss. A study by the University of Veracruz, Mexico using Hibiscus extract concluded that components of the extract used in the experiment could be considered as possible anti-obesity agents.

To all, I implore you to promote the consumption of healthy foods such as Sobolo, Moringa, and Dandelon.

With its ruby red colour, garnished by ginger, onion and natural flavours, it gives you a smile inside. SOBOLO is better than Champagne!!!

Paul Worlanyo Adanu