Here’s Why You Should Drink These Plant And Nut-Based Milks
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For anyone looking to dive into the world of plant and nut-based milks, you should know the key players. Plant-based milk has been used for centuries in cultures around the world and more specifically as a dairy substitute for those who can’t digest milk from cows or other animals. Here are the dairy-free kinds of milk you should know about.
Hemp Milk
Yes, organic hemp milk is definitely legal and doesn’t contain any THC. This milk alternative comes from the seeds of the hemp plant and it’s a healthy alternative to dairy for vegetarians or vegans. One glass of hemp milk has digestible protein, Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids, Vitamins A, E, B-12, as well as Folic Acid. There’s also magnesium and potassium in a serving of hemp milk. These nutrients can give you results like healthier hair, skin, nails and heart. It’s also fairly easy to make your own if you can find hemp seeds. Just combine water, hemp seeds and honey (or agave nectar) in a blender until you get your desired consistency and then you can strain out any large seed particles.
Oat Milk
Made from grains, oat milk has no cholesterol (and can help to reduce your LDL, which is the “bad” cholesterol in your body) and it’s full of vitamins and minerals. If you’re watching your weight or calorie intake you’ll be happy to know oat milk is very low in fat (one serving contains 2.5g of fat) and has a mildly sweet flavor, similar in taste to low-fat cow’s milk. You can make oat milk from all types of oats, once they’re soaked in water for a period of time. It also may contain skin cleansing properties to contribute to a healthier complexion.
Coconut Milk
There’s a reason so many chefs and home cooks use coconut milk in their recipes (like curries, soups, smoothies, etc.). It has a naturally creamy texture and sweetness and falls in the same family as coconut oil and coconut water, which happen to be among the world’s healthiest foods. Natural coconut water is the milky white liquid found inside fully grown coconuts. Coconut milk comes from blending the coconut meat and straining it. The versatile milk is full of healthy saturated fatty acids and antioxidants.
Almond Milk
When the controversy over soy became known to the masses, it seemed like almond milk became the go-to dairy-free milk that consumers flocked to. While a glass of chocolate almond milk is just as delicious as any cow’s milk, it’s production isn’t the best on our environment because of the high volume of water that’s needed to grow each individual almond. You’re better off just eating whole raw almonds for the most nutritional benefits, but almond milk is high in Vitamin E if that’s what you need. Enriched almond milk, from commercial brands like Silk, is a decent calcium source for people who don’t consume dairy products. There’s also cashew milk which is a little thicker and less nutty than almond milk but has about the same nutritional profile and lacks in protein.
Flax Milk
Flax milk comes from cold-pressed flax oil mixed with filtered water and it comes with a whole list of health benefits — it contains Omega-3 fatty acids which have been known to prevent cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Flax milk is free from the majority of allergens, including gluten, and it’s a lot creamier than other milk alternatives. You can drink it on its own or add it to smoothies or cereal and use it for cooking, just don’t rely on flax milk as a protein source, you’ll have to find that elsewhere.
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