Things to know about nut milk and health

Along with vegetarianism, the trend of using milk powder is growing in the community. In addition to being used for adults and elderly people, many mothers still "advocate" to get all kinds of nut milk to feed their children because they believe in "gods" rumors that nut milk is better and safer than animal milk.

And analytical nutrition science, how to explain right and wrong?

Identification

Nut milk is the name for drinks made from nuts.

Nut milk is the name for drinks made from nuts. Therefore, we have quite a lot of 'vegetable' milk with the name by type of grain for processing such as soy milk, peanut milk, green bean milk, corn milk . And drinking milk powder works. The nutrition is exactly the same as when eating their processed nuts, the only difference is in liquid liquid form of solid particles instead.

According to the nutritional composition of nuts, the types of nut milk are divided into two groups: fat-rich nut milk, protein (almonds, walnuts, beans .), and cereal milk (oats, brown rice, sweet potatoes, corn .).

Advantages

According to nutritional composition, nuts have advantages such as:

• (1) the amount of carbohydrate (carb) from 15-45%, lower than in grain.
• (2) protein content, especially in beans, is quite high, averaging 7-35%.
• (3) high fat content, especially polyunsaturated fat (PUF), like omega-3, 6, 9 acids.
• (4) high in fiber.
• (5) Many vitamins and minerals.
• (6) Many anti-oxidants.

Therefore, nutritionists concluded that nutritious milk is a very good nutritional supplement for both men and women.

Defect

According to the analysis of nutritional ingredients, scientists point out the disadvantages of nut milk are:

• (1) Although nuts are rich in protein, the general characteristic of plant proteins is not 'complete' because there is often no balance and lack of essential amino acids (essential amino-acid) for body, especially for growing, mature children. Therefore, when eating a lot of unbalanced plant protein, the body will not synthesize the necessary proteins, so the body is difficult to develop completely, balanced,
• (2) Like other plant-based foods, 'pure' milk formula will not contain vitamin B12, a dark vitamin that is essential for the synthesis of hemoglobin, hemoglobin, Hb. Pure milk drinkers without vitamin B12 will definitely suffer from anemia.
• (3) In milk powder containing phytic acid, it will bind to calcium, iron and zinc. Young children who drink nut milk will be deficient in calcium, iron, zinc . may suffer from rickets, nutritional anemia.

Fake grain milk, 'chemical' granulated milk

Currently, food safety is a red alert in Vietnam. Among 'dirty' foods, contaminated food, fake milk powder, chemical formula milk , 'corn-free milk' is also a concern for consumers.

Only with sugar water, some corn water, a tablespoon of corn and dairy essential oil, dishonest 'producers' immediately released the introduced corn milk 'to ensure food safety and hygiene'. , no preservatives, no coloring, no sugar, very good for health . '.

With soy milk, the processing is also based on similar chemicals: with only 1 kg of milk powder without labels, adding a little "soybean oil", the seller has up to 50 liters of "soy milk" overflowing. spread on the street .

Nut milk is being counterfeited a lot.

Although there is no situation of counterfeiting milk of precious nuts such as walnuts, almonds, chestnut ., but the exchange of origin occurs frequently. Unusual distributors often swap seeds from China to market with prices as genuine from Europe and America .

Something discussed

Currently, vegetable milk, especially nut milk, is increasingly favored by its benefits. Milk powder is currently a product group with very fast growth in the world market. According to data from Innova Market Insights, the global market for vegetable-nut milk will reach $ 16.3 billion in 2018, twice the $ 7.4 billion of 2010.

Thanks to nutritional ingredients rich in protein, fat, vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, grain and nut milk in general are a group of foods with high nutritional value, very good for humans. Also because of the 'special' nutritional value, walnuts and milk are considered as 'kings of nuts'.

Cereal milk is a form of "liquid porridge" food that can be taken directly instead of chewing like normal food, very convenient for small children, elderly people, and vegetarians. To compensate for the pros and cons, many processors now produce blended products: milk powder with fresh milk or cereal milk.

In my opinion, there are three issues to keep in mind:

• (1) One is nut milk, which is a very good plant-based diet for humans. In particular, a mixture of granulated milk and fresh milk to compensate and supplement nutritional ingredients is a very good idea, science.

Dr. Anders Gustafsson, grain and grain expert, Tetra Pak Marketing Manager, asserts that the combination will take advantage of milk and nutrient protein from nuts, thus providing great benefits for health.

• (2) two is vegetable-based milk, so it has disadvantages like non- complete plant protein , no vitamin B12, calcium deficiency, iron, zinc . Therefore, when using granulated milk, especially for young children, consider these issues.

Prof. Dr. Le Thi Hop, Director of the Institute of Nutrition said that it is not recommended to replace whole milk for fresh milk because 'fresh milk and nut milk differ in terms of ingredients and nutritional value'. The idea is that nutritious milk is a functional food, complementary food and nutritious milk are actually 'vegetarian' milk, which is limited to young children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and sick people.

• (3) three is to pay attention to food safety and hygiene, avoid misusing fake milk, 'chemical' milk floating in the market.