Whether you’re a pro at making almond milk at home or want to try it for the first time, adding lavender will add an extra boost of bliss and calm to your day. According to Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs, lavender is also wonderful for relieving stomach muscle spasms and soothing indigestion. Traditionally, it’s been used to imbue courage and strength, so if you have a particularly busy day ahead of you, whip up this heavenly milk to strengthen and calm your heart and mind. Not only that, check out the amazing health benefits that this combo of ingredients provides:
ALMOND MILK:
- Vitamins Galore – Almond contains nutrients like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc. The other nutrients available in this milk include vitamins such as vitamin C, B-6, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate and vitamin E. All these nutrients have various benefits which are essential for a healthy body.
- Heart Healthy – There’s no cholesterol or saturated fat in almond milk. It’s also low in sodium and high in healthy fats (such as omega fatty acids, typically found in fish), which helps to prevent high blood pressure and heart disease.
- Bone Strong – While it doesn’t offer as much calcium as cow’s milk, almond milk does offer 30 percent of the recommended daily amount, as well as 25 percent of the recommended amount of vitamin D, reducing your risk for arthritis and osteoporosis and improving your immune function. Plus, these two nutrients work together to provide healthy bones and teeth formation.
- Muscle Strength and Healing – Although almond milk only contains 1 gram of protein per serving, it contains plenty of B vitamins such as iron and riboflavin, both important for muscle growth and healing.
LAVENDER:
- Cancer Prevention – Lavender has been shown to have a high antioxidant content and a component of lavender, perillyl alcohol, has been studied in cancer prevention.
- Ease Anxiety – A refreshing note to a tired mind, lavender has been named as one of the most useful of the essences for the relief of anxiety and stress.
DATES:
- Promoting Digestive Health – Fiber is essential for promoting colon health and making for regular bowel movements. The insoluble and soluble fiber found in dates help to clean out the gastrointestinal system, allowing the colon to work at greater levels of efficiency
- Boosting Heart Health – In addition to promoting colon health, fiber is also known to boost heart health.
- Anti-Inflammatory – Dates are rich in magnesium – a mineral known for its anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Reduced Blood Pressure – Magnesium has been shown to help lower blood pressure – and again, dates are full of the mineral.
Ingredients:
- 5-6 cups pure, filtered water
- 1.5 cups almonds
- 1.5 teaspoons dried lavender petals or 3-4 drops of food grade essential lavender oil (more if preferred)
- 2-3 soft dates
- 1 pinch of unprocessed sea salt (optional)
Instructions:
- Soak the almonds for 8-12 hours. I like soaking the nuts at night, so when the sun rises, I can have a soothing glass of almond milk with breakfast.
- Place the soaked almonds in a high-speed blender, and add 5-6 cups of water and the lavender petals or essential oil. Blend, and then sweeten with 2-3 soft dates, and add a pinch of sea salt, if desired.
- Strain with a cheesecloth or a nut milk bag, and refrigerate. Use the milk within a day or two, and enjoy it on its own or in a blueberry smoothie!
Sources:
Mind Body Green
Food for Breast Cancer
Natural Society
Organic Facts
Medical News Today
