Blood pressure-boosting teas

What tea increases blood pressure? This question is asked by those who want to normalize blood pressure, low due to hypotension, so as not to get tired so quickly, feel more cheerful and suffer less from headaches.

After all, tea that increases blood pressure should help achieve the desired result in much more gentle ways than pharmacological drugs.

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What tea increases blood pressure?

Let's find out why strong black tea increases blood pressure. To maintain normal blood vessel tone at low blood pressure, our body especially needs such chemical elements as sodium, potassium, calcium, as well as thiamine (vitamin B1 is necessary for the functional integrity of the capillary system), rutin (vitamin P strengthens vascular walls) and niacin (vitamin PP is an angioprotector and ensures normal blood circulation).

And regular tea – black and green – contains not only all of the above, but also a number of other useful components. Tea leaves contain phenolic tannins – catechins (epigallocatechin has the most powerful vascular strengthening properties) and tannins (which contain a strong antioxidant – gallic acid).

The average content of caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) in tea does not exceed 2-4.5%. But this is quite enough to state: strong tea increases blood pressure, since it not only excites the central nervous system and stimulates myocardial contractions, but also narrows blood vessels. And all because this alkaloid, firstly, blocks adenosine receptors responsible for the reduction of vascular lumen, and, secondly, neutralizes the action of the cellular enzyme phosphodiesterase, which leads to the activation of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.

However, the improvement in well-being due to the tonic effect of caffeine does not last long, since such purine alkaloids as theophylline, theobromine, xanthine, etc., which are hostile to caffeine, take over. Under the influence of these physiological antagonists of caffeine, the tension of the walls of blood vessels weakens, and the level of arterial pressure decreases...

But this only applies to green tea, the leaves of which are practically not subject to enzymatic oxidation and contain more amino acid L-theanine, which "neutralizes" caffeine. In addition, green tea is an excellent diuretic, and reducing the fluid content in the body also works to lower blood pressure. Due to the combination of biochemical reasons that determine the mechanism of action, green tea is not suitable for increasing blood pressure.

But strong black tea increases blood pressure and maintains it, since during the processing of tea leaves, more substances (rutin, niacin, tannin and catechins) are concentrated in them, which help maintain the vasoconstrictive effect.

There is a common belief that pu-erh tea increases blood pressure. Pu-erh tea is produced in the southwestern regions of China using a special technology of long-term fermentation of tea leaves, which involves several strains of Aspergillus mold fungi, yeast fungi and bacteria (in general, the fermentation process occurs as in a compost heap). Because of this, pu-erh tea has a specific earthy taste. The effect of the caffeine it contains is identical to that of black and green tea, but the effect of short-term narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels is similar to green tea. So, in the end, pu-erh tea does not increase blood pressure as much as hypotensive patients would like.

Hibiscus tea to increase blood pressure

Hibiscus tea for increasing blood pressure is dried flowers of the so-called Sudanese rose or hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa), the name "hibiscus" is Arabic.

Hibiscus tea contains flavonoids anthocyanins, which not only provide hibiscus flowers with their bright red color due to the presence of potassium ions, but also exhibit the properties of vitamin P, i.e. they promote the elasticity and strength of the walls of blood vessels. Biochemists have discovered active compounds in the flowers of this plant that regulate blood pressure and relieve vascular spasms like endogenous angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). This drink also reduces the level of sodium in the blood and increases urine formation (i.e. it acts as an effective diuretic).

Studies have shown that drinking three glasses of hibiscus tea daily for one and a half months can lower blood pressure (by about 7 mmHg) in people with type II diabetes and mild hypertension. On this basis, in 2008, the American Heart Association published information that hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure.

But, according to Ayurveda, this plant has universal properties that should be used wisely. Hibiscus tea for raising blood pressure should be drunk hot (and sweet), and when cooled, this tea, on the contrary, helps to lower blood pressure.

But as a result of research conducted by Indian doctors, it was found that excessive consumption of hibiscus tea reduces estrogen levels in women.

Ivan tea to increase blood pressure

The medicinal plant Ivan-tea has a botanical name - fireweed narrow-leaved and belongs to the genus Chamaenerion angustifolium. It grows all over the world, North American Indians eat young shoots of fireweed raw, use the juice of this plant to heal wounds and burns. Fireweed increases blood pressure, relieves fatigue, relieves sleep problems and headaches, toning not only the vascular system, but the entire body. In folk medicine, fireweed is used as a tea to relieve stomach upset, with respiratory diseases.

This multi-purpose use of fireweed can be explained by its high content of tannin and other tannins, vitamin C (five times more than in citrus fruits), polysaccharides, flavonoids (in particular, quercetin, which stabilizes capillaries and large vessels), triterpenoids, coumarins, as well as trace elements - potassium, sodium, calcium.

Among folk remedies, it is recommended to drink tea that increases blood pressure, which includes rose hips, nettle leaves, plantain, and fireweed herb - in equal proportions (two tablespoons of crushed dry raw materials per 500 ml of boiling water).

Also, don’t forget that it’s not only strong tea that increases blood pressure, but also salty foods, sweets, and sufficient consumption of plain water.