Curious Facts CONTEST#6 Some Benefits Palm Wine.

 Am happy to welcome you my beloved steemian to another expository content inspired by @river-island in curious facts contest #6, this post is meant to expose to facts about palm wine. 

Palm wine is an alcoholic beverage created or extracted from the sap of various species of palm trees such as the date palms, coconut palms and palmyra.  

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Many studies shows that palm wine is consumed by over ten million people worldwide. The production of palm wine has being a source of income and livelihood to many families across many the globe where it have different names like, mmaya ngwo, mmanya nkwu or mmanya ocha in Igbo, Yorubas call it emu or oguro, it is lāgmi in Algeria, Philippines call it tuba, Ghana call it nsafufuo, Cambodia call it Tuk tnout choo, Congo call it malafu, Sri Lankans call it Raa, Ivory Coast call it koutoukou, Thailands call it kache, Sierra Leones call it poyo, Malaysia call it kallu, South Africa call it ubusulu, Seychelles call it kalou, and so many more names which clearly show popularity of palm wine worldwide.

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 Facts About Palm Wine 

Traditional Uses 

Palm wine is believed to have a strong influence in appeasing the gods and other deities; it is therefore used by traditionalists in libation and offerings to gods. It is also spilled on the ground as a mark of respect for dead ancestors. The role of palm wine in some cultural ceremonies cannot be overemphasized as its absence in an African traditional ceremony is almost a taboo. 

Control of Cardiovascular Diseases  

Studies reveal that average consumption of palm wine is important in reducing deaths occasioned by cardiovascular illnesses like heart failure. Over consumption of palm wine however exposes one to some side effects because palm wine has a high alcoholic content and should be taken responsibly.

 Culinary Benefits 

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Palm wine can be used for culinary activities, for instance, the sugar in palm sap can be used for making coconut honey and jiggery, fermented palm sap is used for distilling alcohol and gins, it can be used as a yeast substitute for leavening foods and products. Edible larvae, weevils and beetles can be collected from infected palms and it serves as a delicacy in some areas.  Palm wine can be combined with rice dough, which is usually allowed to stay overnight to ferment. This method makes the dough to expand and rise overnight thereby softening the bread. 

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Antibacterial properties  

Due to the antibacterial properties found in palm wine, it is consumed and found effective in treating food-borne and diarrhea diseases. 

Eye Treatment 

The presence of yeast and other vital chemical properties makes palm wine suitable for treating eye problems. Optometrists have confirmed the usefulness of yeast which is found in abundance in palm wine in boosting and managing eyesight. 

Milk production in lactating mothers Nursing mothers who are not lactating well or are producing low quantity of milk to nurse their baby or babies are usually encouraged to drink the wonderful natural product as it has been found to help in milk production. 

Other uses of palm wine  

 Palm wine is mixed with other herbs in treating malaria and stomach disorders. It is also used to treat skin rashes especially in children.  The presence Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, which is an antioxidant which helps in the fight against free radicals in Palm wine make it useful in cancer management. The iron and vitamin B complex found in the palm wine are needed for a healthy skin and nails. Iron is very important for the development, growth and functioning of some cells in our body. This property of palm wine makes it helpful in promoting wound healing by repairing worn-out tissues and promoting the growth of healthy cells.

Over consumption of palm wine however exposes users to health risks like may include liver and kidney diseases as palm wine is rich in alcoholic content and should be taken responsibly. 

Some materials used in this post are sourced from here, here and here.

Thanks for finding time to read this post.