What is birch water?

Of Russian origin: Birch Juice. Beryozovy Sok (birch juice) is the sap from a birch tree. It is a water-like sweet liquid. It’s the only kind of juice in Russia that is venerated in songs about the love of the Motherland. 

7 Reasons You Should Drink Birch Water

Quote from https://www.naturallivingideas.com/birch-water-benefits/

Coconut water has been the popular health beverage trend for a while now, but it seems that craze might be fading a bit, thanks to the latest nature-given energy drink: birch water.

This slightly sweet, thin syrup-like beverage offers lots of benefits to your health, loaded with vitamins, proteins, amino acids, and minerals. In a guide to using and making birch sap, the University of Alaska Fairbanks notes that its nutrients include vitamin C, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, sodium, zinc, and iron.

The smooth, silky sap that tastes similar to maple syrup, though much lighter, has been drunk as a health tonic in places like Russia, Scandinavia, and the Baltic countries for hundreds for years for medicinal purposes as well as a nutritional supplement, thanks to its detoxifying, anti-inflammatory and cleansing properties.

If that’s not enough to get you to consider drinking it, these seven reasons surely will.

1. Lower cholesterol

A compound found in birch sap known as saponin has been shown in studies to offer blood cholesterol-reducing properties. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that saponins can lower cholesterol by binding to cholesterol and bile acids. The saponins lead to a reduction of cholesterol by preventing its reabsorption, and increasing its excretions, the scientists noted.

2. Weight loss

Birch water can even support your weight loss efforts. As it helps to eliminate excess salt, phosphates, uric acids, ammonia and certain medicines, getting rid of these impurities helps to cleanse the urinary tract, and as a result, assists one in losing weight. The reason it can be effective is that when toxins are allowed to build up, the body tends to hold onto fat as a way to protect its organs. If those toxins are eliminated, it eases the struggle most of us face when trying to lose pounds.

Nathalie Chantal de Ahna chronicled her experience using birch water as part of a cleanse for Mind Body Green and noted that she not only lost weight, but her skin was clearer and she felt better too. To those who’d like to try it, she recommends detoxing with birch water (sap) by drinking 3/4 cup on an empty stomach every day for four to six weeks.

3. Supports liver health

As birch water helps to eliminate toxins, it’s no surprise that it also works to promote better live health as the liver isn’t forced to do more than it was meant to. Birch sap helps to get rid of toxins that only the liver can process, like saturated fat, alcohol, pesticides and many others.

A 2012 study published in the Polish Botanical Society showed that after reviewing the use of tree saps throughout Europe, that birch tree sap in particular could be considered supplementary nutrition, with its sugars, minerals, and vitamins supporting the liver.

4. Clearer, brighter skin

That Nathalie of Mind Body Green experienced clearer skin after using birch water as part of a detox, is a benefit well-known by many users of the beverage, including nutritionists. Nutrition coach Candice Van Eeden (DipCNM mBANT CNHC), who has extensively researched the benefits of birch water, says that as it is able to effectively eliminate toxins, the natural result is clearer, brighter skin. Not only can it be used to achieve those affects by drinking it, but it can be used directly on the skin. It’s believed to protect skin from external stresses like UV rays and pollution, as well as to improve skin elasticity.

5. Faster wound healing

In addition to clearing the skin and even helping to heal skin conditions like acne and eczema, as birch water stimulates the growth of dermal and epidermal cells, it’s also known to speed the healing of wounds. In a study in the journal PLOS One, the authors noted that birch bark was used by North American Indians who wrapped their wounds with it to accelerate would healing. Researchers found that birch bark extract increases the ability of injured skin to produce inflammatory substances which attract the types of cells needed to remove dead tissue and bacteria. It actually causes the skin cells to move into the injury, helping to heal and close it faster.

Their findings also support previous lab data that showed a beneficial effect on cell proliferation and cell migration.

6. Joint pain relief

Nutritionist Candice Van Eeden also has remarked of birch water’s benefits when it comes to joint pain. Birch sap is well-known to help with conditions like arthritis and osteoarthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce swelling. Additionally, Van Eeden says that because a buildup of uric acid in the body is toxic, excess uric acid can result in joint pain or even arthritis. Strenuous exercise is one factor that can result in the body producing excess uric acid, and she notes that about 1 in 5 people experience this condition.

Drinking birch water regularly can help to prevent a buildup of crystals in the joints to prevent pain from occurring in the first place. You can even apply it to affected joints directly by making a compress from steamed, mashed birch leaves to help relieve pain and reduce inflammation, in addition to drinking it to help heal from the inside too.

7. Reduces cavities

Who enjoys going to the dentist? Not many people, and particularly dreaded is the sound of that drill. If you’d like to reduce your odds of developing cavities, therefore reducing your trips to the dentist and enduring the drill, consuming birch water can help. It aids in promoting good oral health thanks to a substance known as xylitol. This is a type of natural sugar that is known to prevent cavities as some types of bacteria known to cause decay is unable to use it as a food source, according to the California Dental Association.

In the article “The Decay-Preventitive Sweetener,” the CDA notes, “Xylitol inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause cavities. It does this because these bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) cannot utilize xylitol to grow. Over time with xylitol use, the quality of the bacteria in the mouth changes and fewer and fewer decay-causing bacteria survive on tooth surfaces. Less plaque forms and the level of acids attacking the tooth surface is lowered. Studies show that Streptococcus mutans is passed from parents to their newborn children, thus beginning the growth of these decay producing bacteria in the child. Regular use of xylitol by mothers has been demonstrated to significantly reduce this bacteria transmission, resulting in fewer cavities for the child.”