How to Make Almond Milk at Home

When the word "milk" immediately triggers the stereotype that it is a product derived from a cow. But there are many cases where the name has been preserved, and the animal has nothing to do with it, and in general, the origin of the drink is vegetable. Almond milk is one of those cases. It does not cause lactose allergies, but it is quite nutritious and low in calories. You can buy it in a store, relying on the decency of the manufacturers or do not take the risk and make it yourself at home.

What is almond milk

For many products there are restrictions on eating during Lent or for health reasons. Almond milk is safe for almost everyone, given that it is derived without heat treatment from a plant base. Aside from its color, there is nothing in it that would make it similar to the usual cow's milk. But there is a tangible benefit, which has been proven for centuries, because the drink was not invented yesterday. It has been known since the Middle Ages and was used as a substitute for cow's milk because it was stored longer and did not require temperature control. There was no risk of catching one of the diseases that cattle often suffer from. In Russia it was known under the name of orshad.

Then for a long time almond milk was almost forgotten, fans of vegetarianism were left with only soy milk. About 15 years ago a new rise in the popularity of the product began.

First the almond drink in an industrial version appeared in the United States. It began to be brought to regions where the vast majority of residents were Hispanics. Statistically, it was this part of the population that had a strong allergy to lactose. Then research on the beneficial properties of almonds was activated. It turned out that the ancient recipes were very effective and the product is in demand in cooking, as a therapeutic food and a powerful cosmetic. Almond milk was well known in the USSR and was popular as an excellent cleanser and moisturizer.

How is almond milk useful?

Its composition is very interesting and rich. Among the components:

• Vitamins A, C, E, D, almost the entire line of the B group;
• phosphorus;
• calcium;
• magnesium;
• potassium;
• sodium;
• iodine;
• iron;
• zinc;
• copper;
• starch;
• arginine;
• tryptophan;
• lysine;
• omega acids;
• antioxidants;
• sterols.

And you can not look for cholesterol there, it does not exist. The caloric value is low, only 80 kcal per 100 grams of product. The drink serves as an excellent source of calcium, it is there in an easily digestible form. Abuse is not recommended. Its excess in the diet in some cases leads to the growth of goiter. But within reasonable limits of almond milk is observed considerable benefit. It is advised to include it in the weekly menu for:

• strengthening tooth enamel and reducing bone fragility;
• eliminate an increased risk of heart attack or coronary disease;
• slowing down aging;
• reducing the risk of cancer;
• maintaining visual acuity;
• reducing eye pressure if elevated;
• elimination of toxins;
• stabilization of the gastrointestinal tract;
• helps reduce body weight.

For women and men, almond milk has about the same effect, but there are differences. In the beautiful half of humanity attention is paid to maintaining beauty and this helps high levels of vitamin E. The low calorie content gives grounds for replacing cow's milk with almond milk, preserving the amount of useful substances in the diet.

Men are more important to stimulate the production of testosterone, rapid satiety and reducing the harm of constant stress. It is also not bad to switch to this drink for those who do not move much due to the nature of the work.

It is important: For the male body in this drink are most valuable zinc and selenium, involved in stabilizing hormonal balance and improving spermatogenesis.

There are no contraindications for children, except for individual intolerance and allergies to nuts. For many lactose-intolerant babies, it will be a good alternative to cow's milk, but it will not replace breastfeeding.

Using almond milk in cooking

In principle, almond milk becomes an excellent base for ice cream and cocktails, and can also be part of other dishes.

Pancakes

A liquid batter is made from 1 cup of vegetable milk, 150 grams of flour and 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed and 5 grams of cane sugar. Salt and soda on the tip of a knife. The ready pastry should stand for 4-5 minutes to swell the flax particles, then the soda is added, and you can bake thin, airy pancakes on a hot, greased with vegetable oil pan.

Lazy oatmeal

Mix half a glass of almond milk with 50 ml of Greek yoghurt. In a glass of oatmeal, add 60g. Pumpkin shavings and nuts to taste. Mix both parts of the dish and put in the refrigerator for 1 hour. You can enrich the taste with honey and a pinch of cinnamon before using.

Mayonnaise

Cooks quickly, the calories are small, the taste is excellent. You will need:

• 200 ml. each of almond milk and vegetable oil;
• 100 gr. tofu and coconut oil;
• 3 tablespoons each of lime juice and dijon mustard;
• Salt and white wine vinegar to taste.

Transfer all ingredients to a deep bowl and whisk thoroughly with a blender. Optionally, add ground black pepper and finely chopped herbs. Keep in the fridge for no longer than 2-3 days.

Cocktail .

Cut into small pieces 2 bananas, add 1 cup of cooled almond milk, 1 tbsp. any berries. Whip the mixture with a blender until a thick homogeneous mass, pour into a tall glass, garnish with grated chocolate or coconut shavings.

Cosmetic applications

Almond milk is rich in vitamins, of particular value are E, D, A, group B. They stop age-related changes, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, reduce the adverse effects of external factors. Therefore, almond milk is one of the most useful ingredients that can be included in almost all kinds of homemade masks. The product is also used in brand care cosmetics, but there is no guarantee that the composition is completely natural. So it is cheaper and more effective to make a mask or cleansing liquid based on almonds yourself.

Whitening

You will need 2 tablespoons of milk, an egg white and 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous mass is obtained. It is applied in an even layer to the face and left for 20 minutes. If the skin is sensitive and dry, the time is halved.

Nourishing

For 2 tbsp. The mixture is whipped to a light lather and applied to the face in a circular motion. The mixture is whipped to a light foam, applied to the face in a circular motion, lightly massaged and left for 5 minutes. During this time, it is better to take a relaxed pose and think about good things. Then the mask is washed off with cool water.

After using products based on almond milk, additional moisturizing and nourishing is not required.

How is almond milk better than cow's milk?

It is not quite correct to compare products of animal and plant origin. But if we go from the degree of influence on the body, the differences are clearly visible:

1. Does not provoke fermentation in the intestines.
2. There is no lactose or cholesterol in the composition.
3. There are no contraindications to allergies, except for intolerance to nuts.
4. It is possible to use in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, except for periods of exacerbation.
5. The product is stored longer.
6. Allowed its introduction to dietary meals.
7. The low calorie content of this milk allows it to be consumed during weight loss programs.

The product is recommended for athletes to increase stamina and gain muscle mass at an accelerated rate. In diabetes, the benefits are also great because this type of nuts increases the sensitivity to insulin.

How to choose the right almonds

Milk is obtained only from the fresh product, the nuts should not be roasted. Guided in the choice should be a pleasant nutty smell without extraneous impurities, creamy shade of kernels, their integrity. Do not buy chipped, half-peeled, with a greenish tint - they are not of the best quality. Moreover, you should refuse to buy if you can clearly see the darkened spots and smell moldy.

You can buy the product by weight or in a package, but in the second case it should be transparent, so you can see the "goods face. The expiration date is always paid attention to. Peeled almonds are stored for 6 months, in the shell - a year.

How to make almond milk at home

The preparation process is very simple. Nuts are peeled, pour water and leave overnight. During this time, the germination process begins, but only the initial stage, nevertheless, the nut is already activating its natural powers. Then the kernels are transferred to a bowl and crushed with a blender with the addition of water. Its amount can be varied. The ratio of nuts and water is considered a classic one: 1:3. Then the resulting mass is strained through gauze. The milk is poured into containers with tightly lapped lids, and the cake is used in the manufacture of bread, cookies, candy, as an additive to salads, so that the production is obtained almost without waste.

The shelf life of almond milk is short from 3 to 5 days. The most useful is freshly made. It is allowed to add vanilla sugar or honey to improve the taste. It can be boiled, as well as cow's milk, and cook soups, porridges and desserts with it.

5 interesting facts about almonds

1. In China, the plant is considered a symbol of prosperity.
2. On February 16, the festival of blossoming almonds is held.
3. Almond oil is the base of many massage and cosmetic compositions.
4. In terms of composition almond milk is considered one of the richest among the plant-based drinks.
5. Based on the kernels of this nut, Amaretto liqueur and blancmange dessert were created.