Written by: Different Authors
Credits provided after each writing.
Hemp Milk
Though its name might be a bit misleading, organic hemp milk is a perfectly legal, not to mention healthy, alternative for vegetarians or non vegetarians. Produced from the seeds of the hemp plant, this milk has only begun to be sold in the United States within the past few years.
One concern that people have about organic hemp milk is that it might contain some of the chemical THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is found in marijuana. Rest assured that this ingredient is not present or associated with hemp milk.
Another concern is that the hemp seeds must be imported since it’s currently not legal to grow the hemp plant in the US. Some hemp milk producers have to rely on obtaining hemp seeds from farmers in Canada or Europe, where the growth of hemp plants for oil or milk is perfectly legal.
Health Benefits of Organic Hemp Milk
Organic hemp milk is also a great alternative to toxic cow’s milk and those who cannot consume dairy because of dietary issues.
One 8-Ounce glass contains the following healthy nutrients:
•900mg Omega-3 Fatty Acid
•2800mg Omega-6 Fatty Acid
•All 10 Essential Amino Acids
•4 grams of Digestible Protein
•46% of RDA of Calcium
•0% Cholesterol
•Potassium
•Phosphorous
•Riboflavin
•Vitamin A
•Vitamin E
•Vitamin B12
•Folic Acid
•Vitamin D
•Magnesium
•Iron
•Zinc
•And more…
How To Make Your Own Organic Hemp Milk!
Combine the water and the Shelled Hemp Seeds in a blender. Use more water to achieve a skim milk consistency and less water to produce a heavier cream consistency of the milk.
Turn blender on high for 2-3 minutes, or until you reach your desired consistency. (I use the VitaMix™ brand blender)
After blending you can sweeten the milk by adding: Organic Agave Nectar, raw honey, or Organic Vanilla. Blend again to mix sweetener. You can drink it thick or strain it through cheese cloth to remove the large seed particles. The seed pulp can then be used as an excellent body scrub, facial mask or compost.
Ingredients:
•1 cup hemp seeds (shelled)
•5-6 cups of purified water
•Natural Sweetener, such as Agave Nectar or Raw Honey
Recipe Makes: 6-7 cups and will stay fresh for 3 days in the refrigerator in a sealed glass container (use a mason jar). Shake well before each use.
Parents: This is a very easy way to supplement a good source of organic protein, Omega-6 & Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids in your child’s diet.
Organic shelled hemp seeds can be purchased online. (I personally use ManitobaHarvest.com or Nutiva.com)
Other Things You Need To Know About Organic Hemp Milk
It can be purchased in plain, vanilla, or chocolate flavors, and the boxes they are packaged in do not have to be refrigerated until after you open them. There are now multiple stores selling multiple brands, so if you are a consumer who prefers to stick to organic products, you should not have too much difficulty finding them.
Plain organic hemp milk contains no sugar, no cholesterol, and is free of soy and gluten. For many people, these factors make it an obvious choice for an abundant source of vital nutrients. The essential fatty acids, vitamins & nutrients that are contained in organic hemp milk provide a wide variety of health benefits.
Hemp Milk Benefits Include:
•Strengthened Immune System
•Clear, Healthy Skin, Hair and Nails
•Strong, Healthy Heart
•Increased Mental Capacity
NOTE: As with anything, you should always conduct a sufficient amount of research on any products that you are considering trying. There are actually quite a few different brands available on the market, and not all of them are made with organic ingredients.
Try to get in the habit of reading product labels on everything, not just food and beverage items. When you regularly read ingredients of the things you and your family are using or consuming, you will develop a greater understanding of labeling practices and what to look for to be safe.
Organic hemp milk may very well be the best alternative for those of you who either do not like cow’s milk, suffer from lactose intolerance, or are vegans. While the taste of it may be something that you have to adjust to, you might just find that you actually prefer it to any of the other milk products you have tried.
Written by Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM
Excerpts from The Benefits of Organic Hemp Milk, updated June 16, 2014
GHC Natural Health & Organic Living
Coconut Milk
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins C, E and many B vitamins are abundant in coconut milk. Vitamins C and E help to boost the immune system, and B vitamins are responsible for providing energy to the cells. Coconut milk is also rich in magnesium, potassium, phosphorous and iron. Magnesium is responsible for many biochemical functions in the body, including regulating the heart’s rhythm and supporting the function of nerve cells. Potassium maintains the tissues of the heart, kidneys, brain and muscles. Phosphorus keeps teeth and bones strong, and iron creates red blood cells and carries oxygen throughout your body. Add coconut milk to your cereal and baked goods, or drink a glass or two each day to receive these benefits.
Antioxidants
“Ceylon Medical Journal” notes that coconut milk is rich in antioxidants, which prevents free radical damage. Free radicals are associated with the development of many diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease and age-related dementia. Antioxidants can help reverse previous damage and delay the aging process. Drink a glass of coconut milk while eating other antioxidant-rich foods, such as pecans, raisins and cranberries. Energy-producing snacks that are rich in antioxidants will boost your immunity while rebuilding the damaged cells in your body.
Lauric Acid
Coconut milk is rich in lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that is abundant in mother’s milk. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, lauric acid has many germ-fighting, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties that are very effective at ridding the body of viruses, bacteria and countless illnesses. Lauric acid may also reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which lowers heart disease and stroke risks. There are only a few foods that are rich in lauric acid, so drink coconut milk regularly to benefit from this nutrient.
Heart Disease
According to “Ceylon Medical Journal,” coconut fats do not contain trans-fatty acids. The fats that are present in coconuts are less likely to clog arteries, which makes coconut milk a healthy alternative to cow’s milk when it comes to preserving your heart’s health. Coconut meat contains monoglycerides, which the body absorbs and uses as energy shortly after it is consumed. Because the body does not store coconut fats, there is less chance that your arteries or blood vessels will clog, which lowers your risk of heart disease.
Written by by Tanya Brown, Demand Media
Excerpts from SF Gate. titled, “The Health Benefits of Coconut Milk”
Almond Milk
Most people have no idea that Almond milk is more beneficial and nutritious than ordinary dairy milk, due to the fact that it contains much more nutrients and it has not been subjected to the same processing. It is also an ideal alternative for those who are lactose intolerant or have allergies to soy. Almond milk, like soy milk, is a perfect alternative to cow’s milk and has a surprisingly rich & creamy taste.
The benefits of almond milk are vast, especially for those looking to lose weight. It has a low caloric value, with an 8 oz serving of Plain (which has no added sugar) only containing around 60 calories, which has a much lower impact on your daily calorie intake than skim milk. It is rich in vitamins, and also boasts an impressive dose of bone-building calcium.
Almond milk is a beneficial addition to a diet geared toward weight loss or weight management. Almond milk is also high in fiber. A glass of almond milk contains nearly one gram of fiber per 8oz. serving, and fiber is important for healthy digestion.
Plain, original almond milk provides only 60 to 70 calories per cup, and it’s:
- Low in protein, providing only 1 to 2 g per cup,
- Low in fat 2.5 g
- Has 0 g saturated fat
- Only 8 g carbohydrates
Vitamin-Rich
Like conventional dairy products, almond milk is nutrient-fortified, and a good source of several important fat-soluble vitamins. One cup of plain almond milk has a Recommended Daily Value equivalent to:
- 10% for vitamin A
- 25% for vitamin D
- 50% for vitamin E
These totals make it exceptionally high in nutrients compared to the amount of calories it provides per serving. Vitamins A and E act as antioxidants, enhancing immunity and protecting the body’s cells and tissues from damage. In addition, vitamin A and is important for healthy eyesight, improves the skin and supports normal growth and development. Vitamin D helps build and maintain strong bones and teeth, and enhances immunity.
Almond milk is lower in both potassium and phosphorus than regular milk or soy milk. Individuals with chronic or acute kidney disease, must restrict their intake of these minerals according to the Medical College of Wisconsin, making almond milk a better choice.
It is also a good source of omega fatty acids, which are most commonly associated with fish.
High in Calcium
Almond milk is rich in calcium, with one cup offering approximately 300 mg, meeting 30 percent of the DV for this major mineral. Calcium plays a big role in building and maintaining strong bones and teeth. Almond milk contains 25% of your daily recommended Vitamin D intake and 30% of calcium both of which aid in building and maintaining strong healthy bones. Having strong bones is paramount in fighting off the risk of osteoporosis in later life.Calcium is also needed to help regulate blood pressure and is necessary for muscle contraction. Those who cannot tolerate dairy products, or do not use them, often come up short on this important nutrient.
Diabetic Benefits
Almond milk is wonderful for those who are diabetic or who are looking for a milk that is blood sugar friendly, as a typical serving only contains 8 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of which are sugar. These sugars make up the carbohydrate content that has minimal impact on our bodies, in comparison to that of normal dairy milk, which contains simple sugars our bodies store as fat causing our bodies to miss out on these vital nutrients. Also, almond milk has such as low amount of simple sugars, giving it a low glycemic nature, which means it is digested fully by the body and used for energy.
Heart Healthy
Opting for the almond milk can also promote a healthy heart, as there are only 5 mgs of sodium and no cholesterol in a typical serving. The low amount of sodium, lack of cholesterol and presence of around 150mg of Potassium within the milk helps keep blood pressure levels normal and aids in maintaining a healthy heart.
Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention
I mentioned that almond milk is packed with Vitamin D which is known to improve cell function and immunity, and this has also been proven that it can help decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Body Building
Almond milk helps increase muscle power, which is perfect for body builders looking for a natural way to increase muscle strength and give them the explosive power that ‘unnatural’ products give. It helps improve muscles due to the presence of riboflavin which is a form of Vitamin B and iron. In a typical serving of almond milk benefits is 4% of your recommended daily intake of iron, which helps regulate oxygen absorption. And a high dose of riboflavin appears to be useful in the prevention of migraine headaches.
Other Beneifits
No Refrigerated Needed
Dairy milk has to be refrigerated or it will spoil, but you will see in the stores that almond milk is set on the shelf with dry foods. It doesn’t have to be set on ice to keep it’s integrity. This fact is excellent for road and camping trips. Use almond milk instead of regular milk and lessen the load in your ice chest.
Lighter Alternative Than Soy Milk
Soy milk isn’t that good for a diet because it is full of sugar. Therefore, the lift people feel after drinking it largely has to do with it’s sugar content. Soy milk also provides about 100 calories per every one cup, where as almond milk has about 40 calories less. Soy milk has 4 grams of fats compared to the 2.5 grams in the almond alternative.
Almond milk is a no-nonsense nutritional powerhouse. Use it in recipes as part of your daily diet or with your morning cereal or coffee and you may notice a positive change in your health and mood.
Written by The Science of Eating Website