2016 Naufal Khairuddin http://hbfoods.info 2/1/2016
Benefits of Almond Milk
Benefits of Almond Milk Have you ever drink almond milk? If you never drink it yet, you should try it sometimes. Why? Because almond milk has a lot of benefits for you. We will tell you the benefits of almond milk later. For now let’s talk about almond milk first. Technically, almond milk is not milk. It is made by blending almonds with water and then straining them. Additional ingredients like salts or sweeteners can also be added. Commercial almond milk manufacturers usually add other nutrient fortifications, carrageenan and vitamins.
Nutrition Almond milk contains some of the benefits almonds bring, such as riboflavin and vitamin E. But generally, the nutrient levels of almond milk are lower than almonds. The following is the nutritional value of almonds. Every ounce serving almonds, it contains 6 percent Daily Value (DV) potassium, 8 percent DV calcium, 20 percent DV riboflavin, 20 percent DV magnesium, 35 percent DV vitamin E , 4 grams fiber and 6 grams protein. The lower amount of nutrition is not surprising considering that the number of almond used is very small. For example, a carton of Alpro’s , British brand of almond milk, is only 2 percent almonds; the rest of it is thickening agents, minerals, vitamins and water. Also, according to Business Insider and Los Angeles Times, the recipe of commercial almond milk recipes are similar to each other from brand to brand and most of them also list almonds as second or third ingredient, after water and sweeteners. Homemade almond milk
If you want to make almond milk yourself, you can follow these steps: 1. Soak 1 cup of almonds uncovered in water for about one to two days 2. Drain and discard the water 3. Rinse the almonds 4. With 2 cups of fresh water, blend them on high 5. Strain using cheesecloth 6. Add a little cinnamon, sweetener or vanilla
Easy, right? You should consume it within two days. Almond milk doesn’t last long.
Benefits of Almond Milk
What are the benefits of almond milk? A lot. From cow milk substitute, healthy for heart to cancer prevention. The benefits can vary from one brand almond milk to another, or if it is homemade. Usually, the commercial almond milk manufacturers add other nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, B12, protein and calcium, and you can benefit from them also. Just like almonds, almond milk is beneficial for your heart. This is the first of benefits of almond milk in our list. Almond milk is cholesterol free and the monounsaturated fats it contains are good for your heart. Study shows that substituting nuts for saturated fats resulted in 45 percent reduced risk of heart disease. The second of benefits of almond milk you can get is that it will maintain your body energy flow. The riboflavin almonds contain also makes it into almond milk. Also known as vitamin B2, riboflavin is useful in releasing energy from the carbohydrates you eat and also helps producing red blood cells. Cancer prevention is also one of the benefits of almond milk. In one study in 2011, published in Nutrition and Cancer, samples that drink almond milk have their prostate cancer cells growth suppressed by more than 30 percent, while the other samples that drink soy and cow’s milk don’t have the same result. Another benefits of almond milk, this time is for dieters, is that it can help in weight loss. Almond milk is popular with dieters, and one of the reasons is that almond milk contains low number of calories. Almond milk contains only 30 to 60 calories per cup. A study published in the International journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders in 2003 suggest that combining almonds with high monounsaturated, low calorie diet led to more weight loss than did a low calorie diet with lots of complex carbohydrates. Because almond milk is dairy-free, it is a good option for people with dairy or lactose intolerances who are looking for something to add on their cereal. Three fourth of world population have lactose intolerance, and if you’re one of them, you can choose almond milk as an alternative. The protein and calcium almond milk contains is not as much as cow’s milk, though. Source: Benefits of Almond Milk