Doctor William Li, the author of Eat To Beat Disease, discusses the benefits of a healthier herbal tea high in the antioxidant anthocyanin which may have numerous health benefits.

The butterfly pea flower, native to South East Asia, has a long history of being used in tea form. The dried blossoms, known for their “blue-purple bioactive” properties, have been found to have numerous health and medicinal benefits.

According to Dr. Li, Anthocyanins, found in the butterfly pea flower, have “cancer-fighting” properties and are able to “starve and kill cancer cells as well as eliminate cancer stem cells”.

These antioxidants also have antiangiogenic properties and have been shown to combat the “effects of aging and oxidative stress”.

“While more research on anthocyanins is still needed,” according to the author, “they seem to play a role in free radical damage.”

Dr. Li recommends switching to caffeine-free herbal butterfly pea flower tea, which has a similar taste to green tea, in place of an afternoon builder’s tea.

“When the blue pigment is mixed with an acid such as lemon juice, it turns into a bright fuchsia colour,” Dr. Li added.

Ways to lower the risk of cancer

To reduce the risk of cancer, the CDC recommends making healthy choices in life.

This involves maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding cigarettes, limiting alcohol use, and protecting the skin from sun damage.

Although “not all cancers can be prevented,” Cancer Research UK advised that you might lower your risk by making better decisions.

Research shows that consuming butterfly pea flowers may also lower the chance of getting diabetes.

One research, published in the journal BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, examined the effects of the drink on blood sugar and insulin levels.

Despite the limited sample size of 15 individuals, those who drank the herbal tea had lower blood sugar and insulin levels.

In another study, it was found that the antioxidant properties of butterfly pea flowers could help protect against cell damage and diabetes-related problems.

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