John Myers
There are many myths surrounding birch sap or birch water. The Vikings are said to have benefited from the healing power of plant sap. Before you go into the garden or forest and tap birch sap, it is better to read this article.!
Is birch sap healthy?
Nutrition has long since become a hype and some foods are said to have miraculous effects on health. One such hip drink is birch sap. The pleasantly sweet-tasting drink is made from the trunk of the birch. The naturally sweet bark of the tree is also used to make the sugar substitute xylitol. The consumption of birch water has a long tradition in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. Many people go into the woods in spring and collect their own birch sap. You can also buy Russian birch sap here. Above all, the high content of minerals should be beneficial to health.
Scientifically proven benefits
As is so often the case with nutrient-rich foods, the amount determines the effect on the body. You would have to drink a few glasses of birch sap to benefit significantly from it. The promises of salvation with which birch sap is often advertised are even more critical. An anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, immune-boosting, draining or any other effect has not been scientifically proven. According to consumer associations, the fact that the juice can be used as a food against hair loss is also part of the realm of legends. The trend drink is not considered harmful either. If you like it, you can nibble on it pure or try birch sap with mint as a refreshing drink.
What are the most common food allergies?
Food allergies are overreactions by the immune system to certain ingredients in a food. When products containing such allergens are consumed, those affected may experience allergic reactions such as a runny nose, asthma, skin reactions, abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. The most severe form of allergic reaction is anaphylactic shock. Several organs such as the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal system, and cardiovascular system can be affected at the same time. It is then a medical emergency that must be treated immediately, otherwise, it can be life-threatening. The most common food allergies are listed here:
- Cow’s milk: People allergic to cow’s milk usually react to the allergens casein and beta-lactoglobulin (a whey protein) contained in the milk. Anyone who suffers from a cow’s milk allergy should completely avoid products containing cow’s milk and cow’s milk. This also includes foods with additives from cow’s milk protein such as skimmed milk powder, cream or whey, which are contained in many convenience foods.
- Chicken egg: Allergy sufferers who suffer from this food allergy usually react to the egg white. Even in processed form as dried egg, liquid egg or lecithin, egg can cause allergies in food. On the other hand, some people with chicken egg allergies tolerate baked eggs without any major problems. A tolerance test should always be carried out in consultation with a specialist.
- Nuts and peanuts: An allergy to hazelnuts often occurs as a so-called cross-allergy in people allergic to birch pollen. Peanut allergies, on the other hand, often manifest themselves as a cross-allergy with sensitivities to grass pollen. A nut allergy often manifests itself through skin reactions such as itching, scratchy throat or shortness of breath. A peanut allergy is particularly dangerous, in which even the smallest amounts are sufficient to cause the most severe allergic reactions. Even traces of nuts and peanuts in finished products or chocolate can be dangerous for allergy sufferers.
- Spices and herbs: Spices such as celery, coriander, basil, and curry can act as aggressive allergens. A food allergy to celery often occurs as a cross-allergy to birch pollen, vegetables, or herbs such as mugwort.
- Apples and fruit: Food allergies to fruit are also often cross allergies. Anyone who experiences problems in the mouth and throat after eating stone fruit is often allergic to birch pollen. Allergy sufferers, on the other hand, usually react less severely to cooked, baked, or otherwise processed fruit. It’s not just apples, cherries, or plums that can have an allergic effect; food allergies are also common to types of fruit such as mangoes, lychees, or kiwis.
Even tapping needs to be well thought out
Many sources on the Internet describe how you can obtain and preserve birch sap yourself. To do this, the trunk of a tree is drilled into, a tube or hose is inserted into the hole and the escaping sap is collected in a container. Fresh juice can only be kept for a few days. By adding lemon juice or alcohol, it can be kept longer, and it can also be frozen. Anyone who collects birch sap in this way should be aware that the tree suffers as a result. Even if you plug the hole with tree wax, the birch can sometimes take several years to recover from the “harvest”. Pests and fungi can also penetrate through the injury to the trunk. Foreign trees are therefore definitely taboo for tapping, but even with your own plants, you should consider carefully whether the sap extraction justifies the possible death of the tree.
