Cashew milk, a popular non-dairy beverage is prepared from whole cashews and water. It has a creamy, thick texture and is high in vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and other beneficial plant components. Cashew milk, which comes in unsweetened and sweetened variants, may be used in lieu of cow's milk in most recipes.
Cashew milk contains major health benefits. Let’s discuss some important health benefits you may not be aware about:
Rich in Nutrients
Cashew milk contains healthy fats, protein, and a range of vitamins and minerals. The majority of the fat in this very healthy beverage originates from unsaturated fatty acids, which enhances heart health and provide other benefits. Store-bought varieties may have different levels of nutrients than handmade versions.
Commercial cashew milks are generally enriched with vitamins and minerals and have higher levels of certain nutrients than handmade ones. They do, however, supply less fat and protein and do not include fibre. Furthermore, store-bought variants may contain oils, preservatives, and sweeteners.
Because homemade cashew milks do not need to be filtered, their fibre level is higher. They're also high in magnesium, which is essential for numerous bodily functions such as neuron function, heart health, and blood pressure management.
Beneficial to Eye Health
The antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin are abundant in cashews. These compounds may protect your eyes from cellular damage produced by unstable molecules known as free radicals.
Eating a diet rich in lutein and zeaxanthin may lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a vision-loss eye condition.
Another study found that those who consumed the most lutein and zeaxanthin, as well as had the highest anticipated blood levels of these antioxidants, were 40% less likely to acquire advanced AMD.
Because cashews are high in lutein and zeaxanthin, including cashew milk in your diet may help prevent eye problems.
May Aid Blood Clotting
Cashew milk has a lot of vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting. Excessive bleeding might occur if you are not receiving enough vitamin K.
Consuming vitamin K-rich foods, such as cashew milk, can help maintain adequate amounts of this protein. Increased dietary vitamin K consumption, on the other hand, may reduce the efficacy of blood-thinning medications.
Consult your healthcare professional before making dietary changes if you are using blood-thinning medicines.
May have Anticancer Properties
Test-tube research shows that chemicals in cashew milk may inhibit the growth of some cancer cells. Cashews are high in anacardic acid, a chemical that may combat free radicals, which are considered to have a role in cancer formation. Anacardic acid was discovered to inhibit the spread of human breast cancer cells in one test-tube research. Another study found that anacardic acid increased the action of an anticancer medication against human skin cancer cells. Consuming cashew milk can provide your body with anacardic acid, which may help inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Iron deficiency anaemia may improve
When your body doesn't get enough iron, your body can't generate enough haemoglobin, a protein that helps red blood cells carry oxygen. This causes anaemia, which causes tiredness, dizziness, shortness of breath, chilly hands and feet etc.
According to one study, women with poor iron intake are about six times more likely to develop anaemia than those with sufficient iron intake.
Because cashew milk is high in iron, it may assist you in maintaining appropriate levels. However, your body absorbs this form of iron better when combined with a supply of vitamin C.
To enhance iron absorption from cashew milk, mix it in a smoothie with fresh strawberries or oranges, both of which contain vitamin C.
Cashew Milk Recipe
There's no need to spend money in buying cashew milk from the shop. You can easily prepare it at home with some easy steps. The most difficult step is just remembering to soak the cashews the night before. Here's how you do it in 4 easy steps:
• Soak 1 cup of cashews in water overnight, then drain and rinse it
• In a high-powered blender, add the cashews and 4 cups of water (plus additional sweeteners).
• Blend on high for a minute.
• Refrigerate after pouring into a storage container.
Cashew milk can be consumed straight up or can used in recipes in the same way any dairy milk would.
