Almond Milk (A nut milk for the Lactose Intolerants)

The Wikipedia States the following definition for Lactose Intolerance :

” Lactose intolerance is a condition in which people have symptoms due to the decreased ability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk products. Those affected vary in the amount of lactose they can tolerate before symptoms develop. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea, gas, and nausea. These typically start between half and two hours after drinking milk. Severity depends on the amount a person eats or drinks.”

So we see the seriousness of a so called “health food” aka Milk which was touted as the main source of nutrition in the 60’s,70’s and 80’s of the last century.During both the World War years women particularly expecting women and growing up children were given milk with a vengeance.A friend from Europe told me her grandmother during the post war years suffered from bloating and gas during her pregnancies but was force fed to provide nourishment to the child.However a good doctor advised her medicines which counteracted the conditions.

Many people suffer from lactose (the main compound present in milk) intolerance these days and there are deaths associated with this in certain cases.In India owing to changes in weather and other conditions not to mention the already notorious Global Warming people are becoming increasingly Lactose as well as Gluten Intolerant!The concept of Nut Milks came with the sole aim of targeting the patients who suffer from allergies and issues from diary products!

Almond Milk is one of the most popular nut milks as it is loved by all and packs in so much of goodness in the human body!Here are the benefits of Almond Milk :

1. Helps in weight loss and weight management
2. Keeps heart healthy
3. Keeps bones strong
4. Keeps skin glowing
5. Maintains blood sugar for Diabetic Patients
6. Maintains muscle strength and enables internal healing
7. Keeps complexion radiant and skin smooth and blemish free
8. Enables proper digestion
9. Tastes better than Cow’s Milk – according to a survey
10. Does not require refrigeration (though I would prefer it in tropical countries like India)
11. Easy to make
12. Reduces and maintains blood pressure
13. Promotes Kidney health
14. Helps prevent Cancer
15. Reduces risk of Osteoporosis
16. Improves vision

Now how can anything having so many benefits be not good!Lets see how this easy to make nut milk is processed!

Preparation Time : 5 minutes

Soaking time : Overnight to 2 days

Serves : 3 people

INGREDIENTS

1 cup Almonds

2 cups water

Sweetener as needed – Sugar,Honey,Agave,Stevia or artificial sweeteners

METHOD 

Soak the Almonds in 2 cups of water overnight.You can soak them up till 2 days.The longer you soak them the creamier the milk.

Drain the water from the Almonds and put them in a blender.Add 2 cups water and blend thoroughly till the Almonds are ground in the water and the liquid looks like milk.

Use a nut mik mesh bag to strain the milk or simply use a tea strainer.

Straining the milk..

Strain into a pan and pour into a jug to store.Cover the jug with a small plate or better if the jug has a lid.If you stay in countries like India where there is a lot of pollution and heat,its better to refrigerate the milk.Otherwise it stays fine unrefrigerated!

Use it in smoothies or as it is.Cheers to a healthy life!