Cashew milk is a non-dairy and vegan alternative to dairy or regular milk. It is made by blending cashew nuts and water together. For years and years, most of us consumed only animal milk, be it of a cow or a goat. But now there is a huge variety of non-dairy milk that is made from nuts and oats. They are available in the market almond milk, soya milk, and cashew milk are some of them. They can be easily made at home by following a specific process. Now you can get such packs easily in the market.
Their popularity has increased over time and it has two main reasons behind it. The first reason is that cashew milk is dairy-free. So it is really good and a go-to option for people who have lactose intolerance. People who feel dizzy and nauseous after consuming dairy milk now prefer it because of its non-dairy properties. And the second reason is, cashew don’t consume other milk because they are plant-based. So, cashew milk is a great option for vegan people. There are three types: silk, unsaturated, and skim cashew milk.
Nutrition
A glass has around 60 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 45% DV Calcium, 170 ONG Sodium, and around 1 gram of protein. These make this milk highly nutritional and good for health.
11 Amazing Health Benefits of Cashew Milk
Good for Immunity
It is full of nutrients and has important things like zinc. It can boost the immunity of the body and helps in the proper functioning of the immune system.
Fights Anemia
Our day-to-day diet might lack iron sometimes. It can help you fight against iron deficiency because it has a good amount of iron in it.
Good for Dental Health
It has a good amount of calcium in it which helps your body fight against tooth decay and other dental problems. It also helps in strengthening your dental health and is really good for growing children.
Adds Shine to the skin
It is loaded with copper and rich and other minerals as well that result in skin elasticity and strength. So, consumption of cashew milk can help in maintaining good skin and can show good results against other skin problems
Good for Eye health
Lutein and Zeaxanthin are really good for the eyes and may protect eyes from cellular damage. So, this milk can play an important role in fighting against issues related to eyes and vision.
Boosts your Heart Health
It is a plant-based drink so it is rich in monosaturated fatty acids that are good for the heart. Apart from that, it has low level of cholesterol which is also good for maintaining heart health.
Powerhouse of Nutrient
It has a lot of nutrients like healthy fat, minerals, and protein. They are needed for the proper function of the body.
May Improve Digestion
Fiber is needed for good digestion. Cashew milk is really rich in fiber because it is nut-based. So, it helps in proper functioning of the digestive system and keeps your stomach and gut healthy.
Good for Lactose Intolerant People
Dairy milk is full of lactose but a lot of people suffer from the problem of lactose intolerance. Whenever they consume dairy, it can result in a bad stomach. So it is a really good non-dairy option for people with lactose intolerance.
Aids Blood Clots
Vitamin K is really necessary for blood clotting and cashew milk is rich in it. So, whenever a person gets injured, Vitamin K helps in blood clotting so that excessive bleeding can be prevented. It is good for people who suffer from problems like IBD and malabsorption
Maintains Blood Sugar Level
Cashew milk has compounds that promote blood sugar control in the body. So it is good for people with diabetes. Apart from that, it is low in carbs as well.
Because of all these amazing health benefits popularity of cashew milk and other plant-based milk has increased over the last 5 years. And if you are not sure about consuming packed cashew milk that is available in the market, then you can make it easily at home with simple ingredients. And the best part is that homemade milk is more concentrated and has more nutrients.
How to Consume Cashew Milk
Soak one cup of cashew nuts in hot water for around 15 to 20 minutes. Then drain and rinse cashew. Add around 2 cups of water and then blend it till it is smooth and forth. Then strain it and voila, your cashew milk is ready.
You can add any flavor of your choice as well, like:
- Vanilla essence
- Cocoa powder
- Honey
Chill it and enjoy it.
Precautions
Cashew milk carries low calories compared to dairy milk or oat milk. It can play a good role if you are trying to control your calorie intake of the day. When it comes to the healthiest nut milk, cashew milk tops the list because it has a lot of benefits.
But it has a few cons as well, like
- Has less density of Vitamins and Minerals
- Lack in Protein
- Lack in Fatty Acid
But still, it would be wrong to say that cashew milk is better than dairy milk and both have their own properties. So, it is usually advised not to switch completely to cashew milk unless you are lactose intolerant. The better thing one can do is consume dairy milk and cashew milk on an alternate basis so that body can get the benefits of both kinds of milk.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5069255/
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