 So what's the big deal with this butterfly pea? Ooh, that's pretty! But why does it do that? Well, butterfly pea is a natural pH level indicator because of its anthocyanins. And when combined with an acidic substance like lemon, the color will change to purple. And what a lot of people don't know, when it becomes heavily acidic, it will change to pink, too. The butterfly pea plant has been used for dyeing, cooking, and making cosmetics. Butterfly pea tea comes from the clitoria ternotia plant, so named because the flower shape resembles a clitoris. I'll just let that sink in. And while that's processing, let's talk all about the benefits of butterfly pea tea. Skin, eye, and hair health. Well, many people think the butterfly pea is best used topically for skin or hair. Research shows you can get benefits from drinking butterfly pea tea as well. In fact, some people find using butterfly pea flower topically actually causes them irritation on their skin, so using it as a tea will be the best method for many people. Now, the main reason that butterfly pea tea is great for the skin and hair is because it contains a massive array of antioxidants, including proanthocyanidin, which helps blood flow to the eyes. And this makes it effective for helping with retinal damage, glaucoma, and blurred vision. Brain health. Flavonoids in butterfly pea tea like quercetin help to strengthen your hair and skin cells, and as an added bonus, helps to hydrate your skin cells too. One study found that butterfly pea tea increased the memory of rats over the course of 30 days. You read excessively. A 2015 review also found that it boosted memory and learning. Fairly Scarecrow didn't drink his blue pea tea, as he didn't get the Pythagorean theorem quite right. Some of the square roots of any two sides of an isosceles triangle is equal to the square root of the remaining side. Give him a break, as he only just had gotten his brain like 10 seconds before. Pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits. Blue pea tea research shows that it's equally effective at treating both internal and external inflammation, including things like bug bites and skin disorders. Now according to studies, it can also help protect against chronic diseases, thanks to its antioxidant levels and anesthetic properties. It's also a great anti-pyretic, which is just a fancy way of saying that butterfly pea tea has been shown to have similar effects to aspirin or paracetamol. And it's not only a good pain reliever, but it's been shown to be a great favor reducer too. One study showed that when 200 to 400 milligrams of butterfly pea were taken, it reduced body temperature up to five hours. Stress, anxiety, and depression benefits. It's adaptogenic. What is it? You'll see. Some woman is going to want me to do it to her, and I'm not going to know what it is. This basically means that blue pea tea can reduce or provide resistance to stress in your body. One study on mice and pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior also showed a positive impact on their central nervous systems. Do they give the mice the tea to drink? I'm just curious. Blood sugar benefits. Diabetes deaths have increased from 1.6 million in 2016 to an amazing 6.7 million deaths in 2021. Yeah, it's skyrocketed. So any help to stop diabetes is sorely needed. Enter butterfly pea tea. One study on rats found that blue pea tea extract reduced serum glucose levels, though it also increased body weight, which I suppose could be a good thing. Better than that small possibility of gaining weight. Studies have shown that blue pea tea has anti-diabetic properties very similar to the drug glib and chlamide. Apparently part of how this works is that blue pea tea is likely able to inhibit excess glucose absorption from food, thereby helping to keep your blood sugar levels in check. And to tap this all off, one study showed that beverages containing butterfly pea flour increased antioxidant levels, reduced blood sugar and insulin levels. All this regardless of how much sugar was in the drink. Heart health. A 2019 study showed that butterfly pea tea beverages can help increase antioxidant activity, which is great for the heart as well as other bodily activities like dancing. Yeah, butterfly pea tea is good for dancing. What, you don't believe me? Studies have also found blue pea tea effective in lowering high cholesterol levels. One 2010 study in pharmaceutical biology showed that when taken with Vignamungo, it lowered serum cholesterol levels even more than when taken by itself. Weight loss benefits. You don't need to lose weight, you're beautiful just the way you are. But if you're looking to do it for health reasons, butterfly pea tea can help. Wa, wa, wa, what about that study that said that rats gain weight on butterfly pea? I mean, study. Yes, tricky isn't it? And this is where it really depends on how it affects you personally. Yes, some studies have shown that butterfly pea flour can slow the formation as well as block the synthesis of fat cells. One study showed that blue pea tea not only helps weight loss, but also can help fight against fatty liver disease too. And there are even some reports that show blue pea tea helps speed up your metabolism. So, there you go. Other benefits. One big benefit of blue pea tea is that it is caffeine free. Other reported blue pea tea benefits include protection from testicular damage, relief from coughs and asthma, fighting against cancer, and boosting your immunity. Side effects. A study on blue pea tea doses up to 3,000 milligrams per kilogram of body weight failed to notice any pertinent signs of toxicity. And most nutritionists say it is very safe when consumed within the normal guidelines of 3 cups per day. There have been occasional reports of people having nausea, stomach aches, and diarrhea. But there is no research to confirm these as common side effects. And that's it. If you're at all unsure, just check with your physician to make sure it won't affect any medication or plans that you're on. Otherwise, be kind, take care of each other, and enjoy the amazing benefits and colors of blue pea tea.