Contents
Description
Vodka – an alcoholic drink, which is colorless with a characteristic alcohol odor. This is the most common drink in the world. In most countries, vodka is popular as neutral alcohol to create cocktails. In the Slavic countries and the former Soviet Union, people use it as a standalone drink. The strength in different countries can vary from 32 to 56 vol. It all depends on the state laws regulating beverage production.
A pioneer of vodka, we think, was the Persian doctor al-Razi, who lived in the 10th century and first received the alcohol by distillation.
The word “vodka” came into the Russian language in the 14th-15th centuries as an infusion of roots, herbs, and berries. Its modern meaning the drink gained in 1936 after the adoption of the standards. By the regulations, vodka meant the solution, diluted with water, pure ethanol to the strength of about 40. Thus, the story of the origin of vodka in the former USSR divides into two stages: the history of the word and the history of the drink with the same name.
The modern production of vodka is the most voluminous among produced alcoholic beverages. Each year, the plants supply the world market with more than 4.7 billion liters. However, the international statistics Committee includes vodka all other alcoholic beverages as well. The fortress of which exceeds about 40. (absinthe, cognac, brandy, tequila, whiskey, rum, etc.).
The process of making vodka consists of several stages:
- Production of alcohol by distillation in a vertical column grain wort. The grain components include rye, wheat, and a small amount of barley, oats, millet, buckwheat, corn, and peas.
- Preparation of water for dilution of the alcohol by filtration, decantation, aeration. For best flavor, they use the softest water.
- A mixture of water and alcohol goes through re-filtering through activated charcoal.
Vodka is a raw material for cooking various alcoholic drinks, the most popular of which are: screwdriver, brush, bloody Mary, and others.
Vodka benefits
Useful properties of vodka are manifested only in the use of quality products and in small doses. The drink is good as a disinfectant for cuts, abrasions, scratches, external anti-inflammatory poultice for abscesses, boils.
At the first signs of otitis (shooting pain in the ear), vodka, diluted in half with water, is good for backfilling. Often people use vodka for grinding in high temperature or thermal burns. This is due to the ability of the alcohol to evaporate quickly and create a cooling effect. A moderate vodka intake positively affects the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, gall bladder, and urinary tract.
Tinctures
Firstly, based on vodka at home, people produce a large number of medicinal tinctures. To treat colds, coughs, pneumonia, and scurvy, they prepare the tincture of bitter red pepper vodka. To prepare a high-quality tincture, you need finely pound bitter red pepper (50 g), ginger (10 g), and cardamom (10 g), pour all the vodka (6 l) and leave in a dark place for 2 weeks. Throughout the day, you should shake the mix. Take a pepper tincture of 30 g 2 times a day before meals.
Secondly, in gastritis, ulcers, and other gastrointestinal tract diseases, people use gastric infusion. For its preparation, it is necessary to pound in a powder of dry orange peel (50 g), cloves, myrrh and cinnamon (6 g), and red sandalwood (4 g). All components are put into the bottle, and pour the vodka (3 l). All you need to leave in a warm place (not less than 22°C) for three days. I finished medicine to take 50 g before meals in the afternoon and evening.
Thirdly, like cough, disinfectant, healing, and pain reliever, people use vodka infusion of young birch leaves. Prepare birch leaves (100 g), wash thoroughly and pour vodka (3 l). Leave for 10 days. Drink the infusion twice a day.
The harm of vodka and contraindications
Firstly, as a representative of alcoholic beverages, Vodka rapidly absorbs the stomach and intestines’ mucous membrane, leading to an intoxicating effect. Excessive use will lead to severe toxic poisoning. Poor-quality vodka produced in the handicraft often has impurities of heavy fractions, which can cause significantly greater harm to the body and even death. One-time intake of more than 500 ml of vodka leads to disorientation in space, impaired movement due to severe injuries, brain hemorrhages, heart attacks, heart failure.
Systematic use of the drink provokes severe alcohol dependence, violation of the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and mental retardation. Women who drank during pregnancy bring harm to their children, who are lagging in mental and physical development, and having several pathological deviations in the work of internal organs. Vodka consumption for underaged children is prohibited.
