Birch sap: is it healthy or not drinkable?
Have you ever drunk birch sap? The natural drink is said to have many positive effects. In this article we clarify whether birch sap is actually recommended.
What is birch sap?
The name says it all – birch sap is the liquid from a birch tree. In spring, a birch tree transports nutrients and minerals from the tree roots to the crown. Important substances that the tree has stored in the roots over winter reach the buds.
In Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and parts of China this is Juice very famous. Obtaining the juice is considered a kind of tradition. Many people are convinced that birch sap can be used as medicine.
How do you get birch sap?
A birch tree transports its sap to the treetop between April and May. Only during this time can birch sap be obtained efficiently. All you need to do is drill a hole in the wood. This can be a thick branch or the trunk of a tree. The juice can be easily drawn off using a pipe.
warning: We do not recommend that you use this method yourself (reason follows)!
The industrial production of birch sap is similar. To do this, holes are drilled in several birch trees and pumped out using a hose and pipe system. Products made from birch sap include shampoos and hair growth products. Birch sap has also been available as a drink in German supermarkets and drugstores for some time.
There are many different products available for itchy red scalp or dandruff in all...
How does birch sap work?
Only the ingredients of birch sap have been scientifically proven. These include essential amino acids, potassium, calcium and magnesium. All of these substances are important for the health of the human body. Otherwise, birch sap is quite low in nutrients and consists of up to approx. 2% from sugar.
Birch sap is said to have anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effects. In addition, the tree fluid is said to be draining and immune-boosting. However, there are no meaningful studies on this. Below we will introduce you to ailments that birch sap is supposed to help with (according to tradition, manufacturers and alternative medicine practitioners):
- Anemia
- gout
- diabetes
- rheumatism
- Hair loss
- Skin imperfections
- Cellulite
- Kidney problems
How healthy is birch sap?
For human Nutrition Birch sap is not harmful. The well-known ingredients can have a healthy effect. However, due to the lack of scientific evidence, we can only speculate. There are plenty of positive reports of experiences with birch sap.
But even if birch sap is healthy for humans, its extraction is very unhealthy for the birch tree and for our environment. Holes in a birch invite pests to destroy the tree. The extraction of birch sap is a conscious withdrawal of vital substances nutrientthat the plant needs. From a moral and sustainable point of view, it is not advisable to consume birch sap or even to extract it yourself.
