Can Nut-based Milks Match Dairy For Safety, Nutrition And Flavor?

From almond to pistachio, scientists opportunity nut-based drinks connection patient fats and spirit but autumn short connected protein; caller tech and probiotics could adjacent nan gap.

Study: An Overview of nan Microbiological, Nutritional, Sensory and Potential Health Aspects of Tree Nut-Based Beverages. Image credit: Goskova Tatiana/Shutterstock.com

In a caller reappraisal published successful Beverages, authors analyzed existent grounds connected microbiological safety, nutritional profile, sensory quality, processing technologies, and imaginable wellness effects of character nut-based beverages while emphasizing that further studies are still needed to optimize production, amended sensory profiles, and standardize methods.

Background 

Plant-based beverages are progressively purchased worldwide, but galore still mobility their taste, nutritional value, and retention longevity compared to cow’s milk. Tree-nut beverages specified arsenic almond, cashew, coconut, hazelnut, pistachio, and walnut connection a creamy feel, patient fats for nan heart, and a dairy-free option. Yet they tin beryllium comparatively debased successful macromolecule compared to cow’s milk, incorporate added sugar, abstracted into layers, and sometimes spoil from microbes.

New ideas for illustration adding nutrients, utilizing fermentation pinch lactic acerb germs (LAB), and applying high-pressure processing look promising for amended nutrition, steadier texture, and improved flavor. Clear labels and strict allergy controls are besides recommended by nan authors. Further investigation is needed to standardize methods, comparison wellness results, and thief much consumers judge these products.

Tree seed beverage nutritional content

Tree seed beverages proviso predominantly unsaturated fats, including monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) that support cardiometabolic health. Processing (soak-grind-filter) dilutes whole-nut nutrients, truthful macromolecule typically falls to ~1-2.5%, good beneath cow’s milk.

Fortification pinch calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 is projected to thief adjacent cardinal micronutrient gaps, while blending pinch legumes tin raise protein. Unsweetened options thief limit added sugars, and products retaining good particle fractions whitethorn lend a small dietary fiber absent from bovine milk.

Families should scan labels for sodium and sugars and see choosing fortified, unsweetened products erstwhile utilized arsenic beverage replacements.

Keeping beverages safe: From power to precocious pressure

Safety intends disabling pathogens for illustration Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli. Heat methods (high-temperature short-time (HTST), ultra-high somesthesia (UHT)) reliably widen shelf-life.

Non-thermal routes for illustration high-pressure homogenization (HPH) and ultra-high-pressure homogenization (UHPH) trim microbes and tighten emulsions. Emerging technologies specified arsenic precocious hydrostatic unit (HHP), pulsed electrical fields (PEF), hydrodynamic cavitation (HC), and ohmic heating thief sphere nutrients and flavor. These devices waste and acquisition little “cook” for much “keep” while hitting information targets.

Fixing texture and sensation without dense additives

Phase separation and “chalkiness” move disconnected galore first-time buyers. Food-grade hydrocolloids (for example, pectin, xanthan gum, aliases gellan gum) stabilize oil-in-water emulsions, trim creaming, and amended mouthfeel. Process choices matter: colloidal milling and two-stage homogenization nutrient smaller droplets; gentle power avoids burnt notes and helps support seed aromas.

Heat tin besides merchandise desirable volatiles, specified arsenic benzaldehyde successful almonds, but oxidation whitethorn raise aldehydes linked to “stale” notes if it proceeds unchecked. Blending nuts, for example, walnuts pinch soy aliases fine-tuning roast levels tin information flavor, while amended droplet power reduces graininess. The reappraisal notes that user acceptance outcomes alteration depending connected nan seed type and processing method.

Fermentation: Turning drinks into functional foods

LAB specified arsenic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium spp. tin toggle shape seed beverages.

Benefits see little pH for safety, smoother texture, and enriched bioactivity: antioxidant capacity rises; antinutrients (for example, phytic acid) whitethorn fall, improving mineral bioaccessibility; and bioactive peptides look pinch imaginable angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) aliases dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory activities.

Some strains nutrient exopolysaccharides (EPS) that thicken people and whitethorn confer prebiotic effects. Viable counts often enactment supra nan probiotic period (typically ≥10⁶-10⁷ colony-forming units (CFU)/mL) during acold storage, though this depends connected nan circumstantial strain and formulation used.  

Nutrition and health: What nan grounds suggests

Compared pinch full nuts, beverages are little successful protein, fiber, and selenium (for Brazil seed drinks). However, they still present MUFA and PUFA, phytochemicals, and, erstwhile fortified, calcium comparable to cow’s milk.

Fermentation and formulation tin perchance amended robust and calcium bioaccessibility, while selective usage of cultures and enzymes whitethorn elevate gamma-aminobutyric acerb (GABA) and pleasant spirit volatiles. From a applicable standpoint, choosing fortified, unsweetened almond, cashew, pistachio, aliases walnut beverages tin support heart-conscious patterns and lactose-free lifestyles.

However, group pinch seed allergies must debar these drinks. Precise allergen labelling and strict cross-contact power are stressed arsenic basal for safety.

From laboratory to fridge: What consumers should look for

Consumers should publication labels, see opting for unsweetened drinks fortified pinch calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12, and cheque nan sodium. The reappraisal highlights that stableness and spirit tin alteration crossed products, which whitethorn impact really good they execute successful uses specified arsenic java aliases smoothies.

Like bovine milk, tree-based beverages should beryllium refrigerated promptly aft opening, moreover for shelf-stable packs, and decorativeness wrong nan stated “consume wrong X days.”

Before acquisition and consumption, checking allergen statements for circumstantial nuts is crucial. If allergies are a concern, debar mixed-nut blends. If choosing fermented drinks, look for unrecorded cultures, CFU details, and fibers specified arsenic inulin that thief cultures persist complete time.

Conclusions 

This reappraisal shows that character seed beverages person nan imaginable to beryllium safe, tasty, and health-forward erstwhile modern processing and smart formulation activity together. UHT, HPH, and UHPH amended microbiological information and emulsion stability; LAB fermentation tin heighten texture, bioaccessibility, and bioactive profiles while maintaining viable CFU.

Fortification whitethorn thief reside micronutrient gaps, and observant spirit engineering reduces off-notes. Challenges for illustration debased protein, sweetener addition, allergen management, and adaptable standards require coordinated solutions. With transparent labeling and standardized benchmarks, fermented and fortified seed beverages could play a domiciled successful supporting heart-healthy, lactose-free, and environmentally mindful diets.

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