What are the Benefits and Nutrients of Oat Milk vs. Almond Milk?

Milk is one of the most nutritious and tasty food substances we can come across. When talking about milk, many will picture animal origins, which is not always the case. With the healthy living lifestyle picking up, people have explored different sources of nutrients, and here is where plant-based milk comes to the equation.

There are coconut, oat, and almond milk, among many more that come from plants, specifically the nuts. They also provide the key nutrients that animal milk gives us, the same to the taste, though some nutrients such as proteins may be lower.

In this article, we will look at oat milk and almond milk in a move to see which the best is. As their name indicates, oat milk comes from oats, while almond milk comes from almonds. Let us have an in-depth look at both of them.

Preparation

Oat Milk

Oat milk is a very popular beverage that leans on the health benefits of oats. You can easily make oat milk at home, and all you need is rolled oats. Rolled oats are the variety that is already dehusked and steamed; hence, they are ready for processing. They have also undergone the stabilization process after a light roast.

With your rolled oats, measure one cup, put it into a blender, and fill up with 4 cups of warm water. Put it under the quick blend mode, then strain it, and you have your oat milk.  You can skip the whole preparation process by getting it from your shopping center. However, the taste may vary due to additives such as preservatives, which give it a long life.

Almond Milk

Almond has been the talk in healthy living circles due to the several health perks it guarantees its consumers. It is also quite tasty, and you may use it in baking and general cooking like animal-based milk. You can also prepare it at home, though the preparation process may be quite demanding compared to oat milk due to the time factor.

The main ingredient s the almonds, which you need to soak for some time. Two nights of soaking is recommendable, though you can extend the time if you want the milk to be creamier. With your soaked beans, you can either make the milk with a blender or a food processor.

You need to keep in mind the bean to water ratio, which is ideally 1:2 for the best consistency. Many people would prefer the blender as it has a nice texture.  If you want some grit and a distinct nutty flavor, you can use the food processor.

You can then strain the blend using a cheesecloth to leave you with the milk. You can sweeten it using some honey or syrup, depending on your preference.

The Taste Test of Oat and Almond Milk

One of the areas many consumers look at to determine their preference for milk is the taste. Animal milk has a distinct taste that you may or may not add some sweeteners. When it comes to oat milk vs. almond milk, the debate of which the sweetest is seemed to fall in favor of oat milk.

Oat milk does not need any sweetener to enhance its taste, and you can notice a distant sweetness, which is indicative of its starch composition. Almond milk, on the other hand, needs some sweetener as it has a taste that some food experts describe as bland.

When it comes to sweetening the milk, honey, or other natural sweeteners are the way to go as sugar may come in the way of your move to healthy living.

Nutrient Value 

The nutrient value of each is another area to determine which of the two plant based-milks is the best.  Oat milk has more carbohydrates, which makes it creamier and very consistent as compared to almond milk.

A cup of unsweetened oat milk has 1 gram of fats, while almond milk has more fat content at 3 grams. Almond milk has zero sugar content, while oat milk has 1 gram of sugar. Almond milk also contains more sodium at 160 grams, while the latter has 120 grams.

When you look at other nutrients such as proteins and fiber, oat milk comes on top with 2 grams and 3 grams, respectively. Almond milk contains a gram, each for both proteins and fibers.

As we can see, oat milk comes on top of nutritional value, though the almond substrate also majors in some areas. You should also understand that both have impressive values of calcium and vitamins such as Vitamin C and D.

Health Benefits

With a clear idea of the nutritional value of either of the beverages, you can have a hint of their nutritional benefits. The following are some of the benefits each of them will grant you.

Benefits Of Oat Milk

• It lowers blood cholesterol; hence, it is ideal for preventing heart problems such as hypertension.
• It is rich in iron, meaning it will prevent anemia.
• Vitamin A and D that oat milk supplies will help boost your immunity.
• It high in fiber, which will aid the digestion process.
• It can replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats.
• It can regulate blood sugar levels due to its beta-glucan component. This component slows down the absorption of carbs from the gut to the bloodstream, ensuring a steady blood sugar value.
• The calcium present in oat milk can help strengthen your bones.

Benefits Of Almond Milk

• It is low in calories, making it a good option for a weight-loss program. (1)
• It can help in the management of cardiac conditions as it is low in sodium and lack cholesterol.
• The calcium present in almond milk helps in strengthening your bones.
• It has vitamin E, which can help brighten your skin.
• Almond milk boosts muscle strength and healing.
• Its fiber composition helps keep your digestion in check.
• It is a good option for those who are intolerant to lactose as it is lactose-free.

As you can see from the benefit, both almond and oat milk have many perks that ensure you are healthy. Both of them also have therapeutic effects that can help deal with chronic conditions like cancer and diabetes.

Applications

Milk has many applications from being a beverage to being part of various culinary delights. Oat and almond milk are vegan options for milk, and you can use them in many recipes.

Oat milk, due to its uniform consistency and sweetness, can be used in many cooking applications, it is easy to foam, which makes it an ideal option for baristas who want to make vegan variety beverages such as coffee and tea.

You can also use it to make desserts such as oat milk mousse and milkshakes.

Talking of milkshakes, almond milk is ideal for this due to its creamy consistency. You can also use it to make ice cream. As it has zero sugar, you can use it to make plain yogurt that you can use in various cooking expeditions in your kitchen.

Oat milk is a good cereal accompaniment for breakfast and can complement a bowl of oatmeal cereal. Almond milk can thicken your porridge and will add a rich taste to it.

Cons Of Oat Milk

• It contains sugar. The situation is serious when you get the processed variety with added sweeteners.
• The oats may contain pesticides from the farm.
• They have too many calories.

Cons Of Almond Milk

• The milk is low in calcium as compared to the nuts.
• It might not be safe for babies. (2)
• Almond milk may affect thyroid hormone levels.

Closing Thoughts

Almond milk and oat milk are excellent vegan options to animal milk, though they might be low in protein. The article above tries to highlight key areas in the oat milk vs. almond milk debate.

Oat milk seems to be more nutritious and sweeter, though it has more calories than almond milk. Almond milk, on the other hand, is creamy and packs more sodium.

You can use any of the two beverages in many areas in the kitchen to try out your cooking skills. Both are very nutritious, and it would help if you had a jug of each in your fridge.