New Delhi: Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, better known as ‘The Liver Doc’ on X, has recently criticised Actress Nayanthara for endorsing hibiscus tea as a remedy for various health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure and many more.
Calling out the actress for allegedly misleading her followers about a supplement called hibiscus tea that she claimed to be helpful in “diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart-related ailments”, Dr Philips, a Kerala-based hepatologist debunked her claims and termed it as “False and Inaccurate”.
According to various health reports online, Hibiscus tea is an herbal tea made as an infusion from crimson or deep magenta-coloured calyces of the roselle flower. It is consumed both hot and cold. It has a tart, cranberry-like flavour.
In an Instagram post shared by the actress which now stands deleted, she posted a picture of a hibiscus tea with a caption that read: “This has to be my most favourite Tea. And the most exciting one is the meal plan curated by the genius @munmun.ganeriwal. It has long been used in Ayurveda. It is high in antioxidants and is helpful in diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart-related ailments. It is very cooling for the system hence it is great for those who have acne, heat boils on the skin etc.
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While crediting her health care expert Munmun Ganeriwal, she added, “Hibiscus tea is great for the monsoon season as it is rich in vitamins and keeps our immune system in equilibrium. It has antibacterial effects that protect from seasonal infection/ illness. P.S. Anyone who needs the recipe can check with @munmun.ganeriwal. Stay healthy. Stay happy.”
In response to the post, the doctor in his ‘X’ account sharing the information wrote that “If she had stopped at hibiscus tea is kind of tasty, that would have been ok. But no, they have to go ahead and blow their health-illiteracy trumpet and also claim that hibiscus tea is helpful in diabetes, high blood pressure, acne, antibacterial and protects against the flu.”
Further, he pointed out that none of the health benefits Nayanthara mentioned have been scientifically proven. He clarified that the specific type of hibiscus likely referenced, Hibiscus sabdariffa, lacks proven health benefits, unlike Hibiscus macranthus, which has limited and understudied potential benefits for men.
Slamming her nutritionist, Dr Philips wrote “It also seems like the post was an advertisement for her “celebrity nutritionist” who has a master in science degree in diet and nutrition who describes herself [https://munmunganeriwal.com/about-munmun/] as “the only gut microbiome specialist in the world who combines traditional Indian foods, ancient Indian yogic practices and Ayurveda principles with gut microbiota study to understand and fight obesity and other diseases,” – which literally translates to “absolute BS,” bordering on “quackery.””
“I know this, because I have expertise in modulation of gut microbiome and my department at the Liver Institute where I work, is the only one in the world that caters to stool transplant and microbiome modulation for patients with severe alcohol-related liver diseases,” added Dr Philips.
He also posted scientific studies about hibiscus tea claims, made by Nayanthara in her deleted post, about lowering blood pressure, which were “inaccurate”, and how “there are no studies” to prove that it prevents acne, contains antibacterial properties or prevents seasonal infections.
“There are no studies to prove that hibiscus tea prevents acne or is antibacterial or prevents seasonal infections in humans. Evidence, or it did not happen. To claim otherwise is delusional and a disservice to public health,” he wrote.
He also criticised Nayanthara quoting Ayurveda as the guiding principle to these claims. “Ayurveda is pseudoscientific garbage and “hot and cold” foods principle is an absurd and unscientific theory on diet and nutrition put forth by Ayurvedic practitioners,” he wrote.
Warning the public and his followers about the tea, Dr Philips asked the netizens not to consume hibiscus tea regularly. “So men and women in reproductive age groups, PLEASE DO NOT consume hibiscus tea on a regular basis as there is insufficient evidence on its safety. Better to be safe than sorry. As always, please follow real doctors advise for bettering your health. Take care,” he cautioned.
After Nayanthara deleted the Instagram post, Dr Philips in an extension of his previous post stated, “Post deleted. But no apology. No accountability. Like a surgical strike on public health. Need laws to curb this kind of behavior from celebrities community and empower and support registered medical practitioners (non-Ayush) to provide evidence-based scientific education to improve informed public health choices.”
Amid the feud regarding the benefits of hibiscus tea, Nayanthara posted a Mark Twain quote on her Instagram story without addressing anyone, “Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.”
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