Palm wine is a very common local alcoholic beverage in Africa. Due to its intoxicating impact, most individuals take other alcohol, but this beverage is extremely more medicinal.
It may not be surprising to say that palm wine is fortified with sugar, bacteria, and yeast (which causes fermentation), but it is surprising when nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamin C, amino acids, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin B’s are included, but it certainly contains all of them and still more to be proved.
Top 6 Health Benefits Of Palm Wine
It improves vision and prevents eye problems
Palm wine is a great source of eye-friendly vitamins C and B. While vitamin C helps to build the body’s connective tissues and the eye’s blood vessels to prevent associated eye problems such as cataracts, macular degeneration, etc., vitamin B1 and B12 help to solve issues linked to the retina that may lead to chronic inflammation and more. Generally speaking, vitamins assist keep the eye healthy and decrease as much as possible the likelihood of having eye issues.
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Enhances breast milk production
For many African nations, such as Nigeria, Cameroon, etc., palm wine has long served as the primary beverage for lactating mothers because of its ability to increase the production and secretion of breast milk especially immediately after delivery. Helping mothers whose breast milk is small has been demonstrated locally by raising the flow for appropriate breastfeeding.
Essential for bodybuilding
Protein is an essential nutrient that the body cannot do without, and palm wine includes many amino acids whose primary role is to behave as the macro-nutrient-protein construction block. It thus helps to build and improve the cells of the body and also helps to store in the body nutrients that are essential to the functions of the organ of the body. It also plays an important role in repairing the tissues, bone structures, and muscles of the body.
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Very good anti-cancer agent
Food rich in antioxidant properties is known to help reduce the risk of cancer as it helps to prevent oxidation processes in the body that may cause certain chemical reactions in the body resulting in damage to vital organs and cells, ulcer, inflammation, etc. Palm wine is a useful source of antioxidants that helps avoid damage to the cells in the body by free radicals and therefore fights against cancer.
Nourishes hair and skin
Palm wine includes nutrients that assist the skin, hair and even the nails to be nourished, the existence of nutrients such as vitamins, zinc, magnesium, and others play a very significant part in the enhancement. It also helps to promote fresh body cells by removing and replacing the diseased cells in the body, thus providing the skin with a soft, smooth, and better appearance. Palm wine can also be used externally, particularly in little children, in the therapy of skin diseases such as rashes, eczema, etc.
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Prevents heart diseases
Research demonstrates that heart failure can be controlled by drinking mild quantities of palm wine. Heart failure is a type of cardiovascular disease. Lindberg and Ezra performed the research in 2008. In addition, it has been demonstrated that the potassium contained in palm wine improves heart health and reduces hypertension. However, surplus palm wine consumption has negative effects such as liver destruction.
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Side Effects Of Excess Palm Wine Consumption
Just as palm wine is essential to our health and is suggested by many due to its dietary advantages, it should not be taken in excess, particularly when fermented. Because it can lead to hypertension, and neurological issues and can also lead to failure of the essential organs of the body such as the liver and kidney. The alcohol content in fermented palm wine is 2 or 3 times higher than in other alcoholic beverages which gives the liver job overload while attempting to detoxify the system. Many local gins can also be made from this natural wine depending on the length of the fermentation method, which still has negative responses to the body if taken excessively.
Conclusion
Palm wine is more than just a refreshing beverage and is rich in minerals and vitamins that help provide the body with the nutrients needed to avoid deficiencies and enhance hair, and skin, fight cancer, enhance sight and promote heart health when consumed moderately.