Hazelnut Milk

Watch the How-To Video here!

Many of our clients &  patients cannot tolerate dairy. A dairy sensitivity can show up in a number of ways. The most obvious is with digestive upset – gas, bloating, stomach pain and irregular bowel movements. Other symptoms include headaches, mood swings, skin breakouts, sinus congestion, allergies, joint pain, fatigue, and frequent colds/flus.

It can be hard to pinpoint a food intolerance because symptoms may not show up for up to 72 hours after a food is consumed. Dairy is one of the top 5 foods to show up as problematic for people along with wheat/gluten, corn, soy, and eggs. While these foods are commonly bothersome, they aren’t problematic for everyone and many people have foods outside of this group that are bothersome. Finding out your particular food intolerances can be a really helpful way to improve your health. One way to find out your specific food intolerances is to do a blood test.

Because so many avoid dairy for health or other reasons, a lot of people have turned to plant-based milks like almond milk, soy milk, rice milk, and coconut milk. While these boxed milks are quick and easy, there are a few reasons why  they aren’t very healthy.

1. They are packaged/processed. The less a “food” resembles the plant it came from, the fewer nutrients it contains. For example, apples are better than apple sauce which is better than apple juice. The same is true for nut milks. Also, more packaging means more waste. Even if your city recycles these cartons, it’s still not as earth friendly as using the same jar over and over again.
2. They are high in sugar. A lot of these milks have added sugar and even the “unsweetened” ones are higher in carbs than homemade nut milks.
3. They are less palatable. Boxed nut milks are generally watered down and have a “thin” consistency. Many of Dr. Holly’s pediatric patients won’t drink them because of this.

Making your own nut milk is surprisingly easy, quick, and delicious!

 Ingredients:

1 cup nuts (brazil nuts, hazelnuts, almonds)

4 cups water

Pinch of salt

Dash of vanilla extract

2 drops liquid stevia

2 tsps coconut butter (adds texture but this is optional)

Tools:

Blender

Large cup or bowl

Reusable nut milk bag ($8 from Amazon)

1 quart Ball jar

How to:

Soak the nuts overnight or for at least 4 hours in some purified water. Pour off the excess water, rinse the nuts, and place them in your blender. Add 4 cups water and blend on high for at least a minute. Strain mixture into large cup or bowl through nut milk bag. Set pulp aside. Rinse blender and pour liquid back into blender. Add other ingredients and blend again. Pour mixture into Ball jar. Done!

Keeps in fridge for up to 1 week. Enjoy!