Tastier and better tolerated than cow’s milk, almond milk is a vegetable milk which is rich in benefits, and can be used daily in the kitchen. With its many vitamins, it remains a food of choice in designing your pastries, sauces or just breakfast. Digestible and healthy, we recommend its use especially if you are lactose intolerant or if you want to give a unique flavor to your dishes. Let’s see its properties, its various uses, and also how to make a quality almond milk.
A medieval history
At the time of the knights, people did not have current technology to keep food as fresh as we became used to with cow milk. Cow milk tended to go bad pretty quickly. It had to be used to make butter or cheese. As milk was an essential component of the diet of the Middle Ages, especially in the Christian and Muslim world, they had to find an alternative to cow’s milk. History says that it is the abbots in their monastery, who found a solution in this nut regularly consumed at that time. They discovered that by pressing the almonds, they could get a delicious milk which had the ability to be kept longer. In addition, this drink could be consumed during Lent, a Christian fasting period during which animal foods are banned.
Exceptional nourishing qualities of almond milk
In addition to an original and delicious taste, almond milk contains multiple vitamins, minerals and trace elements that have so many beneficial factors for our body. If you are sensitive to your daily well-being and want to bring your body enough vitamins to be in shape to prevent disease, then we recommend that you replace your classic cow milk for almond milk.
Indeed, a handful of almonds cover 12% of our daily protein needs. If you pour the almond milk in your cereal at breakfast or if you are preparing a cup of hot chocolate with it, you will be ready for a new day on a note full of energy.
In addition, almonds are known for their high vitamin E and selenium, two particular antioxidants that help to keep your cells effective and youthful. These elements allow the body to fight against the effects of aging, fight against cancer and reduce cardiovascular disorders.
Among the minerals present in this milk, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus combine to ensure the smooth cardiac function, the regulation of blood pressure and maintenance of the nervous system in top form. Almond milk has beneficial actions in order to help the blood circulate effectively in the veins, resulting also in a better circulation of nutrients. Our system is now better fed and this causes a general well-being. Our brain also takes almond milk for boosting memory and concentration while reducing stress. Drinking almond milk for an examination period is strongly recommended to students!
How almond milk improves your health
Many people can enjoy the the almond milk properties and benefits. For example those who want to lose weight, control their cholesterol, or people with gastritis. All can include it in their daily diet.
We will inform you of the 8 ways how drinking almond milk can be beneficial to your health:
Almond milk’s low calories make it ideal for all those who wish to lose weight. Simply replace cow’s milk with almond milk can have positive effects on weight loss. Moreover, it is very simple to include it in the diet because it has a similar texture and the same organoleptic properties than cow’s milk.
Consuming almond milk can help people who suffer from high cholesterol and triglycerides. Almond milk increases the levels of good cholesterol (HDL) and lowers bad cholesterol (LDL). In comparison, it reduces cholesterol levels similar to olive oil, and in addition, it strengthens the heart1.
It promotes the absorption of sugars and fats in the intestines.
Almond milk is easy to digest, and is especially recommended for all people with lactose intolerance. It makes minimally intrusive digestion2.
It is advisable to treat diarrhea and vomiting, because these two problems lower potassium levels. Almond milk, with a high potassium content helps recover this mineral when it was lost under certain diseases.
The fiber in almond milk protects the walls of the intestine.
In many cases, people who suffer from gastritis or gastrointestinal problems, and integrate almond milk in their diet experienced positive results because it allows good control of such functions.
Vitamin B2 present in the almond milk helps nails and hair to become stronger, and the skin is better hydrated. It promotes the absorption of sugars and fats in the intestines.
A gourmet and esthetic ally
Almond milk is easily substituted for cow’s milk daily. If you like a bowl of cereal with milk for breakfast, go for the almond milk that works just as well by providing a little extra flavor. Pastry fan? Most recipes of creams, panna cotta, ice cream, milkshakes, yogurt or even cakes can be made with this vegetable drink. If you plan an evening with friends or family in which the pancake is festive, you can easily replace the conventional cow milk by almond milk. Your cakes will have an original taste and can be packed in salty or sweet. In summary, in the kitchen, when milk should be included in the recipe, it may be animal or vegetable, and it is up to you to experiment and see what works best for you.
But the almond milk is not only tasty, it poses as an ally of choice in cosmetology. Thanks to its richness in antioxidants but also in essential fatty acids, it moisturizes, softens and nourishes the skin deeply. It is an excellent barrier against premature aging of the skin and protects against UV rays. We recommend you opting for soaps or lotions containing almond milk to cleanse your skin every day. Its active ingredients also act on the hair to make it more flexible and shiny. Feel free to use shampoo enriched with vegetable milk or add yourself a few drops of this ingredient in your bottles of shampoo.
Commercial almond milk warning
Almond milk is popular because it is an excellent alternative to cow’s milk because of its taste but also for its lack of lactose. Indeed, people intolerant for or allergic to milk have few alternatives. This vegetable milk is free of lactose and allows everyone to digest it properly. Strictly vegan, almond milk is suitable for people who do not consume any food from animals but also for those allergic to soy milk because it contains estrogen and hexane.
As you can see, this milk is for almost everyone since it does not cause allergy. Almond milk corresponds for vegetarian and vegan diets and helps people with bad cholesterol because it does not contain sterols. The food industry could not do without such a market and is set to make almond milk, pre-packaged, and easy to use. Although not bad, it is not nearly as beneficial as the homemade almond milk, for which you have mastered the dose ofnuts. In general, the brands indicate on the label that milk is actually “made” almond, without elaborating on the exact amount used. To give it a sweeter taste, and therefore make it more enjoyable, it is also possible that the sellers are adding sugars and additives for better preservation. Almond milk is so good for health, may thus lose its benefits and can be associated with poor properties. We advise you to do it yourself or, if necessary, to read the notice on the bottles to ensure the quality of the beverage. Know that a good recipe should contain about 200 grams of almonds per 1 liter of milk.
How to make homemade almond milk?
Whether you are looking to make your own cosmetic product or cooking excellent pastries, you can do a quick and easy almond milk. This recipe ensures a good nutritional quality of the product, unlike those already prepared and sold in supermarkets.
List of ingredients
To prepare 1 litre of milk, here are the ingredients:
- 1 litre of water
- 200 grams of whole almonds
- 1 teaspoon of sugar (optional)
- 1 nut milk bag or a tight-weave cloth
Steps of the recipe
- Soak almonds in water all night (8 to 12 hours).
- Drain them, rinse them and place them in a blender.
- Add 1 litre of water, and mix at high speed for 2 minutes.
- Filter the liquid through a nut milk bag or a tight-weave cloth.
- Press with your hands to extract a maximum of almond milk.
- In a glass bottle, pour the almond milk.
Advices
You can keep the almond milk in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. If it splits into 2 phases, stir it well and it will be good to drink. You can use the pulp and the almond powder as a seasoning in your products cooked in the oven, to make a good cake or even to thicken a soup. To do this, spread the powder on a flat plate going in the oven, and turn it at low temperature (90° C) for about 2 hours to remove moisture.
References
- Abbey M, Noakes M, Belling GB, Nestel PJ. Partial replacement of saturated fatty acids with almonds or walnuts lowers total plasma cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994 May;59(5):995-9.
- Salpietro CD, Gangemi S, Briuglia S, Meo A, Merlino MV, Muscolino G, Bisignano G, Trombetta D, Saija A. The almond milk: a new approach to the management of cow-milk allergy/intolerance in infants. Minerva Pediatr. 2005 Aug;57(4):173-80.
