Non-dairy milks have become a staple in most homes these days. It is not strange to see a carton of almond, coconut, rice, soy or hemp milk in just about anyone's fridge. This was also the case for me until a few months ago when I took a closer look at the label of my seemingly innocent Organic Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk. What should be a healthy drink of almonds, vanilla and water had a few sneaky ingredients like carrgeenan, a processed seaweed used as a thickener in everything from yogurt to frozen pizza and also an extremely inflammatory additive shown to induce colitis in laboratory rats. Unfortunately it is still an allowed substance in organic foods. (More info HERE)
Other suspicious ingredients include sunflower lecithin, D2, "natural" flavors, soy, and vegetable oils. All of these ingredients are super processed and have a plethora of harmful side effects you don't want polluting your body. Not to mention, if your nut/seed milk is not labeled "unsweetened" you can be sure it has at least 7 grams of added sugar per cup.
I had been wanting to try making my own nut and seed milks so I decided to give it a shot. After a few test batches I came up with a pretty incredible blend of almonds, hemp seeds, vanilla, cinnamon, Himalayan sea salt, and dates that we lovingly have begun to call "Nutty Jugs" or better yet truly "Natural Nutty Jugs." No funny business (except the name) in these jugs just real food ingredients.
I chose to blend almond and hemp for several reasons. Almonds have cholesterol-lowering effects, help reduce the risk of various heart diseases, and have high quantities of vitamin E (an excellent antioxidant), magnesium and monounsaturated fats. Almonds also contains manganese, copper and riboflavin which play an important role in energy production.
Hemp on the other hand is my new favorite superfood. Hemp seeds are a complete source of protein (15 grams in just 5 Tbs), packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and have the perfect nutritional balance of Omega 3, 6 and 9. Hemp supports brain function, digestion, immune function, energy and healthy hair, skin and nails. Not to mention they taste of creamy nutty goodness. What more could you ask for?!!
For added deliciousness and health benefits I add Himalayan sea salt, cinnamon, vanilla and dates. Himalayan sea salt restores the body's natural alkaline balance crucial to wellbeing. Cinnamon has been proven to lower blood sugar and cholesterol and also reduce inflammation. Dates are a traditional Ayurvedic food used for centuries. Date sugars contain more complex carbohydrates than other fruits. These complex carbohydrates are heavier to digest, and because they release their energy more slowly into your body, curb your appetite longer than simple sugars.
So without further adieu I give you Nutty Jugs, the tastiest non-dairy milk you have ever tasted.
In a blender add:
I had been wanting to try making my own nut and seed milks so I decided to give it a shot. After a few test batches I came up with a pretty incredible blend of almonds, hemp seeds, vanilla, cinnamon, Himalayan sea salt, and dates that we lovingly have begun to call "Nutty Jugs" or better yet truly "Natural Nutty Jugs." No funny business (except the name) in these jugs just real food ingredients.
I chose to blend almond and hemp for several reasons. Almonds have cholesterol-lowering effects, help reduce the risk of various heart diseases, and have high quantities of vitamin E (an excellent antioxidant), magnesium and monounsaturated fats. Almonds also contains manganese, copper and riboflavin which play an important role in energy production.
Hemp on the other hand is my new favorite superfood. Hemp seeds are a complete source of protein (15 grams in just 5 Tbs), packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and have the perfect nutritional balance of Omega 3, 6 and 9. Hemp supports brain function, digestion, immune function, energy and healthy hair, skin and nails. Not to mention they taste of creamy nutty goodness. What more could you ask for?!!
For added deliciousness and health benefits I add Himalayan sea salt, cinnamon, vanilla and dates. Himalayan sea salt restores the body's natural alkaline balance crucial to wellbeing. Cinnamon has been proven to lower blood sugar and cholesterol and also reduce inflammation. Dates are a traditional Ayurvedic food used for centuries. Date sugars contain more complex carbohydrates than other fruits. These complex carbohydrates are heavier to digest, and because they release their energy more slowly into your body, curb your appetite longer than simple sugars.
So without further adieu I give you Nutty Jugs, the tastiest non-dairy milk you have ever tasted.
In a blender add:
- 1 Cup Raw Almonds (soaked in water overnight)
- 1/4 Cup Raw Happy Hemp Seeds (Awesome Austin based company. Support local!)
- 2 pitted dates
- 1 Tsp. vanilla
- 1 Tsp. Cinnamon
- Pinch of Onnit Himalayan Sea Salt
- 5 cups of water
- Blend on high for 1 minute. I don't have a fancy blender and my blender has no problem pureeing this mixture.
- Strain mixture through a nut milk bag.
- Chill and enjoy. I find it tastes better the next day. Not sure why though. Let me know what you think!
