Milky Way

Milk these days can be a confusing subject.  A friend told me the other day that their family is now only on rice milk.  I asked her to please check the ingredient list.  If it is not a very good brand, it can be loaded with corn starch syrup, a GMO food, highly processed, and contains seed oils like canola.  This makes some people inflammation prone.  It also often contains carrageenan, a thickener that can cause intestinal issues.  It is high in carbs and lower in protein than other milks and is higher on the GI scale.
   Coconut milk is a healthier option.  It will be more nutritionally dense if you make it yourself and avoid those in tinned cans.  Use 1 cup of unsweetened, desiccated coconut with 2 cups of boiling water.  Let it stand for 5 hours and then strain.
   Nut milk, especially almond milk is very healthy if not sweetened with sugar.  It is cholesterol free and nutritionally dense.  Make your own almond milk by soaking 1 cup of raw almonds with a pinch of salt in water, overnight (This soaking is to break down Phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors).  Blend almonds and 4 cups water together with a pinch of salt and half a teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.  Strain the milk through cheese cloth and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
   Soy milk is extra controversial.  It is a GMO food and contains high levels of phytoestrogens.  These are plant compounds that the body perceive as oestrogen.  This is not good for young boys that must still go through puberty.  One advantage of soy milk is that it contains almost as much protein as cow’s milk.
   Oat milk is a good choice for people with dairy and nut allergies.  Oat milk contains a high level of Vit A and iron.  It is cheap and easy to make.  The leftover pulp can be used in cooking and baking.  Soak 1 cup of oats with 3 cups water for 8 hours.  Add another cup of water with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon honey.  Blend until smooth and strain through a fine sieve.
   At our own Ermelo raw cow milk outlets, like Lucan, we buy milk for the simple life.  Not pasteurized or homogenized, all the vitamins and minerals are intact.
   If using a dairy alternative, just make sure it does not contain sugar and is nutritionally dense.