Almond milk benefits

Almond milk is a great and healthy choice for those who are lactose intolerant or who have to avoid milk and dairy products for any other reason. This beverage, contains many of the important nutrients found in almonds and thus provides similar health benefits as almonds do. Almond milk can be bought in large supermarkets and in specialized health food stores, or it can be made at home, from scratch.

Making almond milk at home

Almond milk is very easy to make at home. All it takes is some raw almonds, fresh water and a good blender. The basic recipe for almond milk, which can then be combined with other ingredients, requires one and a half cup of raw almonds and four cups of filtered water. The almonds should be soaked in some water for several hours, until the skin becomes easy to peel using thumb and index fingers. Almonds are then drained and placed in the blender. When they are ground into a smooth paste, water is gradually added until the mixture has milk-like consistency. It is recommended to use a cheese cloth or any other fine strainer to remove the granules. The remaining paste can be used for making cookies or cakes, and the milk should be placed in glass bottles or jars and kept in the refrigerator for the maximum of five days. Those who like their milk sweeter can put a spoon or two of honey. Vanilla or cinnamon also go well with almond milk.

Benefits of almond milk

The greatest benefit of almond milk is that it does not cause problems commonly associated with cow’s milk, like lactose intolerance, bloating, indigestion, allergies and similar problems, which makes it a great and healthy alternative to cow’s milk. Almond milk is a better choice even for those who have no problems with dairy products. In addition, it contains no preservatives, hormones or antibiotics that are claimed to be present in store-bought cow’s milk.

This milk offers all the health benefits that almonds do. It is rich in vitamins and minerals, especially potassium, magnesium and copper. It is also a great source of vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant and an important part of many detox diets.

It is believed that almonds have the ability to lower the blood sugar levels, which is why almond milk is recommended for people suffering from diabetes. It is also observed that this beverage is a great cure for constipation.

The only problem with almond milk is that its basic ingredient, the almonds, are not exactly cheap, which is why manufacturers offer less expensive pre-made almond milk. This almond milk, however, contains very few almonds and more other ingredients like water, sweeteners and flavors, which makes it less healthy than home-made almond milk.