If you’ve noticed your social media feed turning a pale green all over again, no it’s not matcha making a comeback. It’s the new alternative milk (alt-mylk, in hipster-speak), pistachio milk. As straightforward to make at home as the rest of the alt-mylks (soak, blend, strain), it spotlights pistachio nuts (or seeds?). In this article, we’ll learn all the benefits pistachio milk has to offer us.
Pistachio Milk Nutrient Benefits
It’s worth noting that pistachios are healthy nuts. A 1-oz serving has 159 calories, 8g of carbs, 3g of fiber, 6g of protein, and 13g of fat (90% are the ‘good’ unsaturated fats). Based on the reference daily intake (RDI) for vitamins and minerals, it provides 6% of potassium, 11% of phosphorus, 28% of vitamin B6, 21% of vitamin B2, 41% of copper, and 15% of manganese.
When you blend one cup of pistachios in three cups of water, naturally you lose a component of the nutrients, especially the fibre. But if you throw the pulp in your porridge oats or bake it in the oven to use as flour for cakes and cookies, then you get all the nutrients, plus hydration from the milk. An 180ml serving of pistachio milk contains about 70 calories, 4g of carbohydrates, 2g of protein, and 5g of total fat. It’s rich in vitamins A, B2 and B6, plus minerals iron and calcium.
Pistachio Milk Antioxidant Benefits
Antioxidants help prevent cell damage and reduce the risk of diseases like cancer. Pistachios take the podium (alongside walnuts and pecans) as championship antioxidant powerhouses. Pistachios are high in lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect your eyes from blue light damage and age-related macular degeneration, a condition that impairs your central vision. They are rich in polyphenols and tocopherols, which may help protect against cancer and heart disease.
Pistachio Milk Weight Loss Benefits
Pistachio is a low-calorie nut, and the resultant milk has one of the lowest calorie counts at a mere 70 (if not adulterated with sweaters, so be sure to check the nutritional label for sneaky sugars). Studies that found pistachios to aid in weight loss suggest it could be the fat content which isn’t fully absorbed. This malabsorption might be due to the fat being stuck within their plant cell walls, preventing it from being digested by our gut. Another plant-fat success story!
Other Pistachio Milk Benefits
It’s pretty common knowledge now (at least within the eco-literate) that plant-milks are far more environmentally friendly compared to cow’s milk since they use less water and land and emit less greenhouse gases overall. However, pistachios go the extra mile compared to other nuts like almonds (think California Drought) because they use significantly less water.
The Bottom Line
If you’re wondering, “Okay it’s beneficial, but is it the best milk?”, then the most accurate answer to the “best milk” is cow’s milk. It’s basically a meal on its own. But do you really want to make something you know is devastating to the environment a staple part of your life? It may not be a fair question, but consumers have a power they should not underestimate. Your choices matter.
We’re not saying that pistachio milk is the absolute best alternative milk out there (okay, maybe a little). Adding pistachio milk into your inventory offers a more wholesome nutritional profile for your body, and supports an economy that cares about the environment, which is a win any day.
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