Palm wine is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in Nigeria and is consumed by millions of Nigerian men and women every day. Palm wine is not exclusive to Nigeria, as this delicious drink is also known all across West Africa, Middle East, and Asia.
Palm wine is famous not only for its amazing taste but also for its surprising health benefits. Health benefits of palm wine include positive influence on nearly every part and system of our bodies. Find out more about the benefits of palm wine and how to make it on your own!
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1. What is palm wine?
The main and only ingredient of palm wine is palm tree sap that goes under a fermentation process lasting for one day. Palm wine can be made from different palm species, although coconut palms and oil palms are the most common choice for palm wine production.
Although palm wine is highly valued for its healing effect, it is widely served around Nigeria as the main alcoholic drink at many social events, including weddings, birthday parties, and funerals. Palm wine is best consumed fresh, as when the fermentation process is too long, the wine becomes too strong and acquires an overly sharp taste.
2. Health benefits of palm wine
Palm wine has been known as a top health remedy for centuries. The most essential palm wine benefits include:
- Lower risk of heart failure. Cardiovascular diseases are quickly becoming the most common condition that people of all ages suffer from, and palm wine, which is exceptionally rich in potassium, can make your heart healthier, reducing the possibility of a heart failure.
- Better hair, skin, and nails. Vitamin B and iron are two of the most vital nutrients for our beauty, and since all of them are found in large quantities in palm wine, including the wine into your menu will help you preserve the great state of your nails, hair, and skin.
- Improved protection against cancer. Most types of cancer are caused by the agents called free radicals, and in order to reduce their negative influence, your diet should be rich in an antioxidant known as riboflavin or vitamin B2, which is contained in palm wine.
- Better eyesight. If you’re noticing your eyesight is getting worse, you should keep palm wine in your diet, as it’s a valuable source of vitamins B1 and C, which are widely known for their eyesight improving properties.
- A boost of energy. In case you’re often feeling exhausted and can’t make yourself do any work or go anywhere, it means your energy levels are very low. This condition can be improved by drinking palm wine regularly in small quantities.
3. Effect of palm wine on pregnancy
Many Nigerian ladies who are expecting are often told that palm wine can help them solve the most common pregnancy problems like nausea and fatigue. While palm wine has indeed proven to be effective in treating those conditions, it’s important to remember that the wine is an alcoholic drink, and, therefore its use should be very limited.
Another known benefit of palm wine, which is similar to the health benefits of palm oil, is its ability to promote lactation. This remedy has been used for centuries, but again, palm wine during the lactation has to be taken in moderation.
4. Palm wine side effects
Like most natural remedies, palm wine has both benefits and side effects. The most common side effects of palm wine include:
- Alcohol contained in palm wine can negatively affect your liver.
- Increased consumption of fermented palm wine can cause hypertension.
- Negative neurological symptoms like body rigidity and muscle contraction can be triggered by palm wine.
5. How to make palm wine
The palm tree sap, which is the main ingredient of palm wine, is collected by tapping the palm tree, or making incisions between the gourd and the kernels and collecting the sap one or two days later.
The fermentation process will begin right afterward thanks to the natural content of yeasts and bacteria in the gourd. Within just a couple of hours, the palm wine will have 4% of alcohol and will be ready for serving. Leaving palm wine to ferment for a long time will cause it to develop a sour and bitter taste.
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