So, what is oat milk exactly?
Oat milk consists of steel-cut oats or whole groats that are soaked in water, blended, and then strained with a cheesecloth or a special nut milk bag. “While the leftover oat pulp has the bulk of the fiber and most of the protein in the oats, the liquid or ‘milk’ that results does have some of the nutrients in oats, says Jones. “Because oats absorb water more easily than nuts, when blended well enough, more of the food itself winds up passing through the cheesecloth, giving a creamier texture than nut milk without added ingredients.”
What are the health benefits of oat milk?
Oat milk is a good choice for anyone who is allergic or intolerant to dairy and/or nuts, as well as those looking to limit saturated fat in their diets,” says Jones. It’s even safe, generally, for people who have a gluten intolerance. You just must read labels. “If you have a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, you’ll want to be sure it was made with certified gluten-free oats,” says Jones.
“While oats are gluten-free in nature, they’re often processed on the same equipment as gluten-containing grains, which contaminates the oats with gluten enough to cause a reaction in those with celiac or a serious intolerance,” she says.
Here’s how oat milk nutrition measure up to other varieties of dairy and plant-based milk. “One cup serving of oat milk provides 130 calories, 2.5g total fat, 0g saturated fats, 2 grams fiber, 4 grams protein, 35 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for calcium, and 25 percent for vitamin D,” says Gans. “Compared to cow’s milk and soy milk it has less protein; however, compared to other plant-based beverages, e.g., almond, cashew, coconut, and rice, it has more protein.”
Plus, oat milk is the clear winner when it comes to fiber. “Cow’s milk has 0g fiber, almond and soy have 1 gram of fiber per serving—so oat milk with 2 grams of fiber is the highest,” she adds.
“Oats also contain the B vitamins thiamin and folate, the minerals magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, and copper, as well as a variety of other vitamins and minerals in trace amounts,” says Jones.
Oat milk does tend to be higher in carbohydrates, but that’s OK because it’s providing energy through these carbs and fiber opposed to fat, which can typically be the case with most nut milks, says Jones.
….and here’s a simple and delicious recipe:
