Mead is a fermented drink made from honey, water and yeast or bacteria that has been produced for thousands of years. This article discusses the health benefits of mead and also how mead could be beneficial but also poses some potential problems with its consumption.
Mead is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages ever made, and was consumed in cultures around the world for over 4,000 years. It was common during ancient times because it’s produced using honey rather than other fermentable sugars like grapes or barley/wheat which are used to make wine and beer respectively.
Is There Evidence for Suggested Health Benefits of Mead?
In ancient times, mead was associated with good health and vitality. In Greek mythology it’s referred to as “the drink of the gods” given after a fight for enhanced healing abilities.
Mead is still believed today by many to have great benefits for your health including its supposed ability to heal wounds from battle injuries received during fights due largely in part because honey used in making mead has been known since long ago as having medicinal properties that promote fast wound-healing when consumed regularly at certain doses leading scientists now believe this could be attributed mostly if not entirely simply on account of high sugar content which helps prevent bacterial growth.
Honey’s Healing Properties
Research shows that honey has been used throughout the last several centuries to treat a variety of physical ailments. It’s typically consumed orally, or applied topically as a treatment for skin wounds and infections. People claim mead – which is made from honey – possesses these same medicinal properties but this notion lacks substantial evidence.
Gut Health and Probiotics
Mead, the fermented honey drink that has been used for centuries to celebrate life’s special moments can also have a positive impact on your immunity and gut health. Due to its potential probiotic content, it could prevent diseases such as heart disease or cancer. Despite this research, however, there is no specific evidence regarding mead’s effectiveness in preventing chronic illnesses like allergies or gastrointestinal disorders.
In addition, mead’s probiotic content can vary significantly depending on the fermentation process and other ingredients. The alcohol in it may also counteract any potential benefits since excessive drinking has been associated with negative changes to your gut bacteria.
The Consequences of Excessive Drinking
Many people believe that drinking mead is a good way to promote health benefits of mead, but this may not be the case.
Alcohol Content
When it comes to alcohol, mead isn’t any safer than wine. Although the ABV of 12–14% is on average in both wines and meads, excessive consumption can lead to serious health effects regardless of what beverage you choose. The American Dietary Guidelines recommend limiting your intake for women or men respectively depending on their body weight. A serving size contains 5 fluid ounces with an ABV ranging from 12-20%.
Mead should be treated like any other alcoholic beverage. It’s good to exercise moderation and limit your intake if you plan to drink it, especially under the assumption that mead is beneficial for health as some people might believe due mostly in part of its high alcohol content.
Calorie Content
The drink of choice for many Vikings, mead can be high in calories. Drinking too much could impact your health by increasing blood triglycerides and sugar levels which contribute to obesity and diabetes. Mead contains approximately 7 calories per gram, or 100+ total if you consume one serving alone without any other food.
Conclusion
Mead is a honey-based beverage that has been marketed as offering health benefits of mead. However, science suggests it may do more harm than good and its alcohol content should be enjoyed responsibly.
