Introduction to the Lesser-known Health Benefits of Drinking Mead
Over time, you may have indulged in melodies of mead, savouring its kick of moleasses, while muse over its ever-enticing history. Origins veer back to 7000 BC – making mead the oldest known alcoholic beverage1. But did you know this gloriously gilded bevvy packs a healthy punch too? Although moderate consumption is always recommended with alcohol, diving into the distinctive health merits of mead is a revelation. Let’s enlighten ourselves.
Immunity Boost with the Goodness of Honey
In the blend of mead, honey envelopes almost 51% of the components. Known as nature’s antibiotic, honey has significant antibacterial properties, which hinders bacterial growth and combats infection effectively. This speaks to the health benefits of mead. Regular consumption of honey-laden mead strengthens your immunity, reinforcing your natural defence system to fend off uninvited germs and diseases.
Honey’s Antioxidant Richness
The honey in mead is leveraged with antioxidants that round up harmful free radicals and expel them from the body. These free radicals cause oxidative stress leading to numerous chronic diseases like cancer and heart ailments. So, sip on that flask of mead to shield your health from these unwelcome instabilities.
Improves Digestion
Mead helps your intestines by providing them a dash of fermented ingredients. With better intestinal health, digestion becomes smoother, improving nutrient absorption. Consequently, your energy levels elevate and overall health enhances.
Mead for Allergy Relief
Several types of mead are prepared using regional honey varieties that contain traces of local pollen. Consuming these types allow your body to get acquainted with these pollen strains, as your immune system gradually adapts. This approach helps in reducing pollen-related allergies or hay feverowing to its systematic desensitization effect on allergies.
Boosts Red Blood Cells
Mead’s honey contains abundant iron, an essential element for the production of red blood cells. Regular mead consumption can aid in preventing iron-deficiency anaemia, improving overall blood health and accelerating oxygen distribution throughout your body.
Promotes Bone Health
Did you know?- The antioxidant flavonoids housed in mead contribute significantly towards maintaining bone health. Studies reveal that regular flavonoid intake reduces the risk of osteoporosis whilst promoting higher bone density. All the more reasons to enjoy that bottle of ancient honey wine!
Improves Heart Health
A pivotal strength of antioxidants is their potential to mollify inflammation. As honey forms a hefty part of mead, it brings along its anti-inflammatory benefits. Fostering suppressed inflammation, you can keep heart strokes and other cardiac ailments at bay with your love for mead.
Lesser Known Source of Vitamins
Mead serves as an efficient source of certain vitamins, especially B-Vitamins. Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pantothenic acid (B5) and Pyridoxine (B6) are some compounds commonly found in mead. These vitamins help your body convert food into fuel, thus impacting your energy levels, brain function and cell metabolism positively.
Mead’s Impact on Mental Health
The combination of alcohol and B-Vitamins in mead may possibly promote better mental health by assisting in serotonin production – also called the ‘happy hormone’. However, you should remember to consume it responsibly, as excess intake can reverse these effects.
Regulates Blood Pressure
Studies suggest that alcohol’s moderate consumption can have a blood pressure-regulating effect. Coupling this benefit with the heart-friendly capabilities of antioxidants found in mead, you have a beverage that may assist in fostering overall cardiovascular health – but remember, moderation is key.
Moderates Insulin Levels
Unlike most alcohols, mead’s sugar content comes from honey, which can moderate insulin levels. Despite containing sugar, honey prevents abrupt spikes and dips in blood sugar levels occurring with the consumption of regular white sugar.
Contributes to a Healthy Weight
In the tapestry of healthy diets, mead finds its place comfortably. When consumed in moderation, it potentially helps manage calorie consumption while fostering good nutrient intake. This feature contributes towards sustaining a healthy weight balance.
Boosts Skin Health
A hidden asset of mead is its beauty-enhancing potential. Honey provides crucial hydration for skin health while mead’s antioxidant properties counteract skin-impacting free radicals. Delve into this potion for radiant skin.
Promotes Longevity
Your thirst for immortality might not be quenched. However, with a disciplined regime of multiple health benefits listed earlier, regular and responsible consumption of mead may promote longevity. It is a toast both to good taste and longer life!
A Toast to Health
You had enjoyed many a flask savouring its rich heritage and divine taste! But now, when you relish that deliciously dulcet drop of mead, layered with golden sunshine’s shine and the bee’s beautiful diligence, know that you are also toasting to multiple health benefits – from blush of skin to the rhythm of your heart. Here is to health, heritage and the timeless allure of mead!
