Kava: How to wind down without alcohol
Kava is a traditional drink from the South Pacific Islands, often described as producing a "body high" effect.
Did you know that excessive alcohol use is a leading cause of preventable death in the US? The CDC defines excessive alcohol use as:
Binge drinking, defined as consuming 4 or more drinks on an occasion for a woman or 5 or more drinks on an occasion for a man.
Heavy drinking, defined as 8 or more drinks per week for a woman or 15 or more drinks per week for a man.
Any alcohol use by pregnant women or anyone younger than 21.
Over time, excessive alcohol use can cause heart disease, liver disease, and cancer. Interestingly, most people who drink excessively are not alcoholics or alcohol dependent.
Since the pandemic, alcohol consumption shifted from social events to the privacy of homes, and with rising consumption came rising numbers of alcohol related deaths.
It is clear that many of us need to take a closer look at how our alcohol consumption has changed over the past few years and consider how we might change course. For myself, I've started replacing my evening glass or two of wine with mint tea or kava.
What is kava?
Kava is a medicinal plant endemic to Oceania, thought to originate in Vanuatu or New Guinea, and then spread throughout the region by seafarers. Its scientific name, Piper methysticum, refers to pepper (Piper) and intoxicating (methysticum). It is an important crop throughout the Pacific Islands, where it has different local names depending upon the region: kava (Tonga and Marquesa), ‘awa (Hawaii), sakau (Pohnpei), maolk (Vanuatu), and ‘ava (Samoa). It has been consumed for more than 2,000 years in traditional ceremonies (mostly by men) in Oceania.
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