What Is Mead? (Is It Healthier Than Wine?)
Asking yourself, “What is mead?” Honey wine, or mead, or the golden elixir of immortality (as the Vikings would have it) is an alternative alcoholic drink with some enticing health benefits.
Mead, in olden times, was associated with strength and vigor. It was literally seen as life-giving. It’s no wonder many look to it today as a healthier option to “regular” alcohol. The health benefits of mead — as you might have guessed — have lots to do with what goes into making this hearty beverage.
What is mead?
A meads drink, honey mead, honey wine, or just plain “mead” is made from fermented honey, water, and yeast. Mead dates all the way back to the last stage of the Stone Age. From there, cultures as far ranging as India, Greece, China, and Ireland have partaken. Though, nowadays, we mostly associate it with the Nordic countries because of instances of Vikings throughout our own culture.
Meads drink? Honey-wine? Honey-mead?
There is, in fact, some dispute about whether it is even accurate to call mead “honey wine.” Traditionally, wine is the result of fermented grapes or something similar. This, reasonably so, has caused some degree of…confusion. To add to it, some cultures have a “honey wine” that is different from ordinary mead. But, if you refer to honey wine as mead or vice versa, people will generally know what you’re talking about (so breathe easy).
Fun facts about honey mead
We’ve all heard the phrase “write drunk, edit sober.” Well, consider imbibing the “Mead of Poetry” alluded to in Norse mythology. Drink it, and you’ll simply become a poet. If only it were so easy…
It’s also interesting to note that Mead is mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures, the Vedas as well as the writings of Aristotle.
The health benefits of honey wine
Energy source
Many of the health benefits of mead just come down to the thing being mostly made of honey! This honey is a healthy source of energy — a natural sugar that will leave you feeling fresh.
Lots of vitamins and minerals
Also, mead is chock-full of vitamins and minerals. We’re talking: iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, as well as your gambit of B-complex vitamins like riboflavin, thiamin, and niacin! Brought to you by the power of honey, these ingredients build overall physical and mental health.
Immune system boost
These same vitamins and minerals are proven to boost the immune system, but honey’s natural antibacterial and antiviral properties also protect against disease.
Digestion aid
Honey has a proven history of being used as a digestion aid. Many think that mead is no different but the jury's still, sadly, out on this one. But Mead, absent the grain alcohol, is already easier to digest and those health benefits from honey way well trickle down into that final sip of mead!
Gluten free
Those living the gluten-free life, by choice or necessity, will find mead to be a beautiful alternative to more typical forms of alcohol. Mead is positively gluten-free!
All these benefits of mead are nothing to sneeze at, but mead’s most promising health benefit may prove to be its lower alcohol content. Wine, beer, and hard alcohol all traditionally have more alcohol than honey wine. Drinking even trace amounts of alcohol has been shown to increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
To summarize: the happy health benefits of mead
A great source of vitamins and minerals
Energy! Sugar, while so often lamented and scolded, is an important source of energy for pretty much every diet.
Aids the digestion: honey just helps everything slide on down through your gut in a healthy (sometimes viscous) way
No gluten. For those familiar with the pain of gluten intolerances, this is good news!
Lower alcohol percentage. With mead, you can experience the laid back feel of a sip of alcohol without as many of the downsides.
Nice to mead you
By now, you hopefully aren’t asking yourself “What is mead” anymore, while scratching your head. The health benefits of mead all trace back to the life-giving properties of honey (thank your local beekeeper when you get the chance). You might find yourself thinking of all the happiness it has in store next time you see its golden glow. And while it might not take you to Valhalla per se, it might take you close. For other healthy life changes, see here.