 |
| Image Source: garethkingdon.wordpress.com |
Like most people, I love having a few drinks every so often. While the Stephen Salony diet plans always emphasize the importance of drinking plain water in most circumstances, I am not above enjoying the occasional beer with friends, a cup of tea with mom and dad, a cup of coffee with a girl out on a date, or a glass of wine or two after a successful major project.
While today we have the technology to make clean water available even in underdeveloped areas (getting it there is another matter entirely), it wasn’t always the case. These delicious beverages we enjoy every day weren’t just occasional treats in those days; they were actually a whole lot safer than water from sources other than the clearest and purest of mountain streams.
 |
| Image Source: 8screensavers.com |
In most cases, regular untreated water can get you dysentery and a bunch of other unpleasant diseases if you don’t so much as boil it first (first-time hikers, take note).
We may have developed a taste for alcohol, tea, and coffee for its own sake, but there’s no denying that drinking beverages did wonders in making fluid intake a whole lot less risky for most people. Popular in Medieval Europe, North Africa and West Asia, and East Asia respectively, these beverages either had antibacterial properties, required the water to be boiled, or both, making them free of waterborne bacteria and parasites. Ancient cultures like the Minoans and the Ancient Romans took great care in managing their respective water management systems, adding filtration systems or carefully choosing sources, respectively, to make sure their water is safe to drink.
 |
| Image Source: lifestylenatural.com |
This explains why movies set in medieval times involve a lot of beer. Of course, we don’t have to do this anymore unless municipal sources get infected, but that shouldn’t stop us from having beverages in moderation.
Follow me on Twitter and pinterest for more updates.
