Toddy also known as palm wine is an alcoholic beverage prepared by fermenting the sap of palm tree. It is extremely nutritious and offers numerous health benefits.

Some important information regarding toddy

• It is a fermented alcoholic beverage and if it is subjected for fermentation for long period of time then the fresh toddy changes into relatively more alcoholic toddy
• It is sweet in taste when freshly tapped but after fermentation its soreness increases
• It is white in colour
• It has a characteristic flavor
• Consumption of fresh toddy helps to keep an individual fresh and healthy

Difference between Neera and Toddy

Neera and toddy both are produced from the sap of palm tree but the main difference is that toody involves fermentation in its processing as a result it contains alcohol but neera does not involves fermentation thus neera is considered as a non alcoholic beverage

Nutritional profile

• It contains lesser amount of carbohydrates and fats thus it is considered as low calorie food
• It is composed of various important amino acids
• It contains significant amount of lauric acid

• It contains alcohol as well
• It is packed with various micronutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, iron, potassium, zinc and magnesium

How toddy is prepared?

• At first the sap of palm tree should be extracted and collected by using a tapper
• Generally the sap is collected from the cut flower of palm tree. A fresh and clean container should be fastened to the flower stump for collecting the sap then it should be subjected for fermentation
• Finally toddy is produced after completion of the fermentation process

Biological activity

Antioxidant activity

• Micronutrients present in toddy act as strong antioxidant and protect the body from oxidative damages
• Its consumption is closely related with enhancing cellular functions as it helps to protect every cell from the detrimental effects of free radicals and reactive oxygen species
• It helps to protect various important biological substances of body from oxidation hence helps to sustain their functionality

Anti-carcinogenic activity

• It exerts anti-carcinogenic activities as well
• Its antioxidant activity is accountable for decreasing oxidative stress in body, which helps to lower the risk of cancers, as oxidative stress is considered as one of the most vital causes of carcinoma

• B vitamins present in toddy also play important role in suppressing the growth of cancerous cells in body hence decreases the prevalence of carcinoma

Role of toddy on health and disease prevention

Role on immunity

• It helps to improve the immunological responses of the body
• It is associated with stimulating the synthesis of WBC that ultimately helps to enhance the ability of body to fight against infections
• It also helps in improving the functionality of immune cells that subsequently improves the resistance power of body
• Its Vitamin C content plays vital role in preventing normal cold and flu
• Its consumption is also very effective for decreasing the prevalence of sneezing and coughing

Role on nervous system

• It contains desirable amount of B vitamins that help in improving the overall functionality of central and peripheral nervous system
• Its Vitamin B6 component is responsible for improving the health and activity of brain as well
• Its antioxidant activity is also accountable for protecting neurons from oxidative damages thus decreases the prevalence of neurological disorders

Role on eye

• Vitamins present in toddy plays vital role in improving vision
• Its antioxidant activity is responsible for protecting the retina from oxidative damages whereas its B vitamin components also help in preventing vascular related issues, which concern the retina

• Vitamin C present in toddy helps in promoting the synthesis of connective tissues of the blood vessels of eye and helps to maintain proper blood circulation to the eye that ultimately promotes eye health
• Its potassium content is also accountable for improving eye health by keeping the eye moist thus plays imperative role in preventing eye dryness and eye muscle spasm

Role on cardiac health

• It contains several cardio protective nutrients that help to promote cardiac health and functionality
• Its potassium content plays imperative role in preventing hypertension
• It also helps to improve the activity of cardiac muscle
• It helps in maintaining normal heart beat as well

Role on developing body structure

• Toddy or palm wine contains various important amino acids, which act as the building blocks of proteins thus consumption of toddy is closely associated with providing lot of amino acids, which are well utilized by the body for synthesizing cells and tissues
• It also helps in the development of muscle as well as bone by promoting protein synthesis
• As the amino acid present in toddy helps in stimulating the re-synthesis of cells and tissues thus its consumption is thought to be extremely beneficial for repairing damages of body that accelerate healing process

Role on skin

• It contains various micronutrients that help in boosting up the overall health and beauty of skin
• It helps to protect the skin from free radical induced oxidative damages
• It helps to prevent ageing as well
• It helps to keep the skin hydrated
• It is very effective for preventing skin rashes
• Its Vitamin C content plays imperative role in stimulating the synthesis of collagen that ultimately helps to improve skin elasticity
• It is also closely related with synthesizing new skin cells that help to replace dead cells from skin as a result give the skin a smooth and soft appearance

Role on hair

• It plays significant role in improving hair health as well
• It contains iron that helps in stimulating circulation by promoting the synthesis of hemoglobin thus its consumption is linked with enhancing blood circulation to the scalp, which stimulates hair growth
• It also prevents alopecia

Role on lactation

• It plays imperative role in increasing breast milk production in lactating mothers thus mothers who are not able to produce or secrete enough breast milk can try toddy
• It has seen that in many parts of Africa toddy is extensively used as a natural remedy for enhancing breast milk production

Other health benefits

• It contains desirable amount of fluids and electrolytes that play imperative role in protecting the body from the harmful consequences of dehydration
• Being a fermented product it acts as strong probiotic thus its consumption is closely related with improving gut health

General consideration of using toddy

• It is generally consumed after fermentation of the sap collected from palm tree
• It is better to consume toddy within 12 hours of tapping otherwise it becomes relatively acidic and bitter in taste
• It also needs distillation before consumption
• It has a shelf life of about 24 hours but the shelf life can be extended if toddy is refrigerated

Risk factors

It has various health benefits thus it can be easily incorporated in diet but it should be kept in mind that over consumption of toddy may develop various health hazards like –

• It may affect the nerves
• It may influence muscle contraction thus increases the rigidity of the body
• Ethanol component of toddy is responsible for impairing fat metabolism
• It also damages liver by increasing fat deposition
• It may interfere with blood coagulation as a result increases the risk of hemorrhage 

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Chandrasekhar, K., Sreevani, S., Seshapani, P. and Pramodhakumari, J., 2012. A review on palm wine. International Journal of Research in Biological Sciences, 2(1), pp.33-38.

Ezeagu, I.E., Fafunso, M.A. and Ejezie, F.E., 2003. Biochemical constituents of palmwine. Ecology of food and nutrition, 42(3), pp.213-222.

Kurniawan, T., Kustiningsih, I. and Firdaus, M.A., 2020. Palm sap sources, characteristics, and utilization in Indonesia.

Mbuagbaw, L. and Noorduyn, S.G., 2012. The palm wine trade: occupational and health hazards. Int J Occup Environ Med (The IJOEM), 3(4 October).