The Properties Of Hazelnut Milk

The properties of hazelnut milk are useful to take advantage of if you are vegan, vegetarian or suffer from lactose intolerance. Although most people know it by this name, we could say that it is actually a vegetable drink.

It is made from hazelnuts and water and contains the nutrients of this nut. That’s where the good qualities come from. Do you already know its many benefits? Keep reading to find out what these traits are!

The properties of hazelnut milk

Although the composition of vegetable milks is not comparable to that of animal milk, hazelnut milk also offers many benefits for the body. However, these benefits are most apparent when you include it in a varied and balanced diet.

In fact, like other nuts, hazelnuts are energy-rich and healthy. They contain vitamins, minerals, protein and unsaturated fatty acids, as well as dietary fiber and antioxidants.

Drinks made from hazelnuts also have these properties. Let’s take a closer look at the beneficial properties of hazelnut milk.

Hazelnut milk contributes to tissue growth and formation

According to data from Argentina’s National Food Directorate (Spanish link), hazelnut contains the following minerals:

• potassium
• calcium
• phosphorus
• magnesium
• zinc
• iron

These minerals are all necessary to form tissues and carry out vital processes and contribute to growth. In fact, some of the minor metabolic processes in our cells also require these essential elements.

Keep in mind that the body does not absorb 100% of the calcium in this milk. The absorption is lower than is the case with dairy products. However, hazelnut milk can be an important source of calcium for people who cannot (or cannot) consume dairy products.

Hazelnut milk can help prevent cardiovascular disease

Most of the fats in hazelnuts are unsaturated fatty acids, especially omega-9 fatty acids. The same goes for the fats in almonds and pistachios. They also contain omega-3 fatty acids, but to a lesser extent. These lipids are key to, among other things:

• the development and proper functioning of the nervous system.
• keeping the ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) at a low level.
• increasing the amount of good cholesterol (HDL)
• the reduction of triglycerides.

According to available scientific studies (Spanish link), regularly drinking hazelnut milk can therefore contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

It can delay aging

This plant-based milk contains zinc, magnesium and vitamin E. As a result, hazelnut milk has antioxidant effects. Thus, it can help prevent cellular damage and delay aging. It also helps to maintain the elasticity of the blood vessels.

It can aid digestion

Hazelnut milk can help prevent constipation and improve digestion. This is because hazelnuts contain dietary fiber. These contribute to the optimal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and can prevent and reduce related problems, such as constipation.

Dietary fiber is a natural regulator of peristalsis and therefore helpful in people with chronic constipation. In any case, the total daily consumption should be established based on the functionality of the gut microbiome (Spanish link), as it interacts with it.

Hazelnut milk can help protect the nervous system

These nuts contain iron, folate and other B vitamins, such as B1, B2, B3 and B6. Therefore, drinking it can benefit neural development and care of the nervous system. Even young children can drink it.

How do you make hazelnut milk while retaining its properties?

If you want to make hazelnut milk at home, pay attention to this recipe! It is very easy to make hazelnut milk at home. You only need drinking water and hazelnuts. However, if you like, you can also add raisins, dates, vanilla or other flavored ingredients.

Here are the steps:

• First, soak the hazelnuts for eight hours so that they absorb water and double their volume. Keep in mind that they must be raw. This recipe will not work if they are toasted.

• After this time, you need to strain them and put them in a blender.
• Normally you can use three cups of water for every cup of soaked hazelnuts. However, if you want the drink to be more concentrated, you can vary the amounts. You have to add the water little by little to make it easier to get the right thickness.
• The next thing to do is strain it through a cheesecloth to separate the liquid from the nut pulp. After that, your plant-based drink is ready!
• Finally, store it in a sealable glass bottle and add flavor if desired.

In general, industrial hazelnut milks contain added sugars, a fact you can verify by reading the labels. Sometimes they are fortified with calcium to approach the amount in animal milk. Naturally, preservatives are often added and industrial methods are used to make these drinks.

What you need to remember about the properties of hazelnut milk

This drink is tasty, useful and complementary as part of a varied and healthy diet. However, it is important to remember that it does not contain exactly the same nutrients as cow’s milk.

If you don’t consume dairy products, make sure you get enough calcium and protein from other food sources. Ideally, you should consult a dietitian to avoid any problems in the future. A deficiency of vitamins and minerals and other nutrients can have serious long-term consequences.

Including hazelnut milk in your diet may contribute to your cardiovascular health and slow the aging process. Remember to choose natural homemade varieties to avoid the industrial additives of the food industry. If you buy it in a supermarket, read the label to know what the product contains.