Buttermilk: composition, useful properties and uses

Among the variety of dairy products, which are constantly in demand, buttermilk is slightly losing in popularity. This is unfair, because it is a valuable product, which includes many useful substances with minimal calories.

What is buttermilk and why is it useful?

It tastes buttery and a little like sour cream. It is sometimes called nonfat cream or buttermilk. Buttermilk is an excellent thirst quencher, a recognized dietary product that is valued and widely used in many countries around the world. The drink is now produced specially by taking skimmed milk and adding a number of lactic acid bacteria. While the basic fat content is very low, the composition of buttermilk is still rich in beneficial substances, including:

• vitamins P, A, B, D, K, E, PP, C;
• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• magnesium;
• sodium;
• potassium;
• copper;
• iron;
• selenium;
• substitutable and essential amino acids;
• saccharides;
• acids of various kinds, including oleic, linoleic, omega-3 and 6.

The caloric value of the product is about 40 kcal, which meets the requirements of dietary nutrition. Unlike milk, it is recommended for the elderly, children and pregnant women with intestinal problems to improve metabolism, in the case of chronic constipation and sluggish peristalsis.

Useful properties of buttermilk

Lactic acid bacteria have beneficial effects not only on the digestive system. Thanks to their properties, it strengthens the walls of blood vessels, normalizes the cholesterol index. Stabilizes the nervous system, reduces anxiety, emotional lability, restores disturbed sleep. Buttermilk increases performance and mental activity, facilitates the process of remembering new information, sharpens attention.

Regular use of the product restores liver cells and prevents the development of obesity. It is useful to include it in a diet program for weight loss and overall health.

Important! Buttermilk increases blood clotting and improves regeneration.

1 glass of drink a day increases the body's defenses, creating a natural barrier against the penetration of viral and fungal infections. The inclusion of vitamins and calcium ensures the improvement of hair, nails and strengthening of dental enamel.

Using buttermilk in cosmetology

Along with sour cream, buttermilk is successfully used as part of nourishing and whitening masks. Due to its acidic environment, it has disinfectant and anti-inflammatory properties, reduces greasiness, stabilizes the sebaceous glands. It is especially useful for aging skin: it maintains the necessary water balance. A few affordable recipes take a little time and give an excellent cosmetic effect.

1. The easiest way to combat age spots is to wipe your skin with buttermilk daily. It is applied with a cotton pad for 20 minutes, then washed off with slightly warm water.
2. A 2:1 mixture of oil and tomato juice whitens and nourishes, relieves local inflammation. The mask is kept on the skin for 30 minutes.
3. Rejuvenating and soothing mask is prepared with the addition of talcum powder. It should reach the consistency of thick sour cream. Apply a thick layer to the skin and leave for 15 minutes. Remove with boiled water or herbal decoction of chamomile.
4. For dry, prone to peeling skin, a cosmetic on the basis of oatmeal flour is suitable. Pour it in oil, let it swell, put it in a generous layer for 20 minutes and remove it with herbal decoction.
5. A vitamin mask based on mashed boiled carrots is necessary for thin, prone to micro-trauma skin. For this purpose, a mixture of buttermilk, vitamin E, aloe vera gel or juice is made, mixed with carrots until homogeneous and applied for 15 minutes.

When using the oiler, remember that it contains lactic acid. It should not be applied to the skin around the eyes to avoid irritation.

During the procedures, the generally accepted rules apply. The skin must be pre-cleaned, the removal of the mixtures is made with a cotton swab, for washing, boiled water or herbal infusion is prepared in advance.

For hair, too, this product will benefit. He will nourish them with strength, increase elasticity, strengthen the roots, carry out the prevention of excision of the ends.

The most popular recipes

1. A mask of 100 g of buttermilk and 1 egg yolk is rubbed into the scalp, warmed, washed off after 30 minutes.
2. After washing, apply the oil to the hair, comb and rinse.
3. To improve hair structure mix 100g buttermilk with 1 tbsp mustard and add 5 drops of jojoba oil. Keep the mass for 30 minutes, then rinse the hair with a decoction of nettle or chamomile.

Harms and contraindications

The first factor will be individual intolerance to lactose and dairy products in general. With such indications, buttermilk can not be used in food, or as a cosmetic. It is allowed to use it as part of a culinary recipe: after heat treatment, many substances disintegrate or change their properties, so you can eat baked goods.

Carefully introduce buttermilk into the diet is necessary:

• In the case of exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases;
• a tendency to diarrhea;
• flatulence;
• diabetes.

In other cases, it will bring only good.

How to make buttermilk at home

It is not popular in stores, because the demand for it is small. It is not profitable to order such a product, and it is not always available at the market. Its appearance in retail rows can be called a rarity, so you will have to negotiate with sellers of homemade butter on purpose. If we are talking about a small amount, the buttercup can be made on its own.

One tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice is added to a glass of milk and left to warm for 15 minutes so that the mixture becomes thick and has a sour taste. You can add drinking yogurt to the milk in a 1:2 ratio, drain the juice of half a lemon, stir thoroughly, and put to ferment.

Another recipe involves the use of tartar.

It should be remembered: Low-fat milk takes longer to curdle.

How to store buttermilk

Dairy products have a longer shelf life than whole milk, but temperature conditions must be respected in any case. Fresh product can stand in the refrigerator for 2 days, tolerates freezing well.

Important! Only use containers with a tight-fitting lid, since milk-based products quickly absorb foreign odors.

How you can replace buttermilk in baked goods

The product is excellent as a base for confectionery, muffins, various dietary desserts. It is included in pancakes, fritters, yeast dough for bread and cakes, and muffins. If the cooked product drank one of the house, no problem.

It can be successfully replaced with whey or sour cream, diluted with boiled water at the rate of 1:2. In some recipes you can use skimmed kefir or a mixture of fresh milk and lemon juice.

What can be cooked from buttermilk: recipes

There are many recipes, the product is traditionally used in different countries as an invigorating drink that relieves thirst in a period of heat, make on its basis dough, used as a dressing for salads and soups.

Pancakes

Thin, weightless, almost transparent pancakes are perfect for breakfast. They are quite nutritious, have a slightly unusual taste, go well with jam, honey, jam or sour cream.

To prepare the dough you need:

• buttermilk - 500 ml;
• eggs - 2 units;
• sugar - 1 tbsp;
• salt - a tip of the knife;
• baking soda - 0,5 tsp;
• vegetable oil - 2 tablespoons;
• flour - 200 gr.

The consistency is like a thick sour cream. First, all ingredients are mixed, except for the flour. It is added gradually, in small portions, with constant stirring. If you use a mixer, the dough will be more airy. Bake in a pan greased with sunflower or olive oil.

Vanilla Fritters

A great flavor in baked goods is given by spices. Vanilla is considered a major additive in pastry making. It is important not to disturb its quantity or use vanilla sugar.

The ingredients include:

• 1 cup buttercup;
• sugar - 70 g;
• egg;
• soda - 0.5 tsp;
• salt - 0.1 tsp;
• vanilla on the tip of a knife or vanilla sugar (20 g).

There is no need to quench the baking soda beforehand: the reaction will come from the fermented milk component in the base of the dough. Combine separately the liquid and dry components, then gently mix them, immediately start baking in a heated pan. You can add a handful of small raisins or apple shavings to the batter beforehand for flavor.

Cheese

Despite the fact that buttermilk is a secondary product, it is used again to make a delicate and very tasty cheese. It resembles adygeyan with a subtle creamy hue.

The cooking process:

1. The buttermilk is heated to 70 degrees and kept at a constant temperature for 60 minutes.
2. Cool. Transfer to a thick cotton or linen cloth.
3. Hang for 3-4 hours to remove excess liquid.
4. Place under a light weight for 6 hours.

Cocktail with fruit

It perfectly quenches thirst, contains few calories, and gives room for imagination through a variety of combinations of ingredients.

Basic recipe:

• butter - 200 g;
• strawberries - 50 gr;
• raspberry - 50 gr;
• Banana - 100 gr.

The ingredients are mixed in a blender until a little foam is formed. You can add honey, mint, ginger.

Interesting facts about buttermilk

Buttermilk is well known in many countries as a valuable nutritious product with a number of special properties:

• it has the ability to regenerate liver cells;
• it is low in calories;
• contains a wide range of vitamins, micro- and macronutrients;
• it is used in cooking and cosmetology;
• Excellent thirst quencher;
• valued as a dietary product;
• used to make traditional oriental sweets;
• in European countries it becomes the basis for fruit cocktails;
• has a complex effect on the body.

Tasty, light and healthy buttermilk will be a great addition to the daily diet of adults and children.

Buttermilk photo