Milk is an essential part of our lives. We first start having it when we are born. As we go through life, we start having it to stay healthy and keep our bones strong. Milk can either be consumed on its own, with some sort of flavoring mixed into it, or as a part of another dish. There are hundreds of ways to use milk, and we have been doing so for thousands of years.
However, in recent times, dairy farming has proven to be one of the largest contributors to global warming. The greenhouse gases produced because of it are causing irreversible damage to the atmosphere. This has forced us to find more sustainable alternatives for animal milk that offer the same taste and many of the same nutrients.
A few years ago, this might have sounded strange to people but there are now many different options to choose from. The most common is almond milk.
How It’s Made!
Almond milk is made by crushing almonds, mixing them with water, and passing the mixture through a sieve until you get the right consistency. This pulpy mixture is then put into a blender where it is mixed with fresh water, salt, and other additional ingredients depending on how you like it. Let this blend until you think it’s the right consistency, and there you have it – your almond milk is ready.
When made right, almond milk should have a creamy texture, a nutty taste, and should be refreshing. It’s okay if you don’t get it right the first time, trial and error save the day. It doesn’t take too much to learn how to make it and because it is so versatile, you can make it with a variety of different things.
You could always use store-bought almond milk. It saves you the time of having to make it, but then, you must accept the taste you get. However, most brands added a variety of protein, vitamins, and minerals to their almond milk to make it more appealing to their customers. This is a pretty sweet deal for people who don’t or can’t consume dairy.
One drawback of store-bought almond milk is that most brands use blanched almonds. A blanched almond has lost most of the fiber as well as many of the antioxidants found in raw almonds.
Does It Last Long?
Almond milk behaves similarly to dairy milk. Depending on what ingredients you add, how clean your equipment is, and how you store your almond milk, it can last for a varying amounts of time. Similar to dairy milk, almond milk also goes sour, usually after 4 to 5 days, so make sure you keep it refrigerated to ensure that it lasts as long as possible.
In the event that your almond milk has gone sour, don’t worry; it’s totally fine. Make sure you thoroughly clean out the equipment it was in. The last thing you want is the sourness from the old milk mixed into a fresh batch.
Benefits of Almond Milk
There are many benefits to consuming almond milk. Here are the top five benefits that almond milk brings to the table.
Rich In Nutrients
Understandably, almond milk is not the same as dairy milk, but it makes quite the case for itself. For starters, almond milk is rich in vitamin D, protein, and most importantly, calcium. This already makes it good enough to serve as a replacement. Furthermore, almond milk also contains vitamin E and many other nutrients, such as potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Almond milk is definitely doing fine in the nutrient department; however, you shouldn’t be giving it to nursing infants. Almond milk contains phytic acid, which restricts the absorption of zinc, magnesium, and iron.
Low In Calories
It is common knowledge that almonds are almost 50% fat, but surprisingly, almond milk is considered a low-calorie beverage. As a result, you can have a sizable amount of it and not have to worry about gaining weight.
Commercial almond milk has water added to it to reduce the fat content in it. However, if you use homemade almond milk, you might not benefit from reduced calories since you don’t employ the same techniques as big brands.
Not all almond milk is the same. As a result, you should do your due diligence before picking a brand. Some have low-calorie counts while others are the same as dairy milk.
No Sugar? No Problem!
Most people are concerned that almond milk might raise their blood sugar. However, if you are drinking unsweetened almond milk, your blood sugar isn’t at risk of rising. Its fat and protein content, relative to its carbohydrate content is high, which makes it an ideal choice for people with diabetes.
Dairy-Free!
Understandably, this is a no-brainer. Almond milk is a wonderful source of nutrition for people who struggle with lactose intolerance but want to enjoy milk. This is a godsend because now, people with lactose intolerance can also enjoy milk without having to worry about whether they can digest it. They can enjoy milk without worrying about imminent diarrhea or bloating.
Furthermore, vegans can also enjoy milk because there are no animal products in almond milk. It is produced with almonds, a nut, and water, which menas that it falls perfectly into their preferred dietary requirements.
Reduced Risk Of Heart Disease
Nuts are known to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. This is because nuts contain many healthy fats. One research study suggests that the oleic acid in almond oil can show a positive change in our blood lipids.
Moreover, nutritionists believe that vitamin E, in tandem with its bioactive plant compounds can highlight the many health benefits of almond milk. Some of these compounds are known to contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are good for our body as well as our heart.
Final Thoughts
There is a reason that almond milk has developed so much hype in recent times. There are many different health benefits that come along with which make it a viable option to replace dairy milk. For the most part, dairy milk is still going strong but it wont be long before almond milk also comes up to speed with it.
