PLANT-BASED NON-DAIRY (VEGAN) MILK:
Human digestive system is designed and equipped to efficiently digest the food derived from plant kingdom alone. Hence, it is difficult for it to absorb and assimilate the nutrients present in dairy milk and dairy milk-based products.
Dr. Khadar Vali has introduced us to the ancient wisdom of extraction of milk from plant-based sources such as sesame seeds, peanuts, coconut, pearl millet and so on. He has been creating awareness through his lectures about the health benefits one derives by consumption of vegan milk and the curd prepared from it. He however emphasises that only locally grown seeds and nuts should be used for the purpose and not the imported ones.
Dr. Khadar Vali suggested that plant-based milk may be introduced even to infants right from the time they attain nine months of age. They need to be initiated to these plant-based milks with coconut milk for the first three days and may gradually be introduced to the other varieties of vegan milk obtained from other sources like sesame seeds, finger millet, pearl millet, safflower seeds, etc. However, they are to be given only one kind of milk per day. He even says that it is important for children under three to consume these vegan milk varieties. Vegan milk, coconut milk and sesame milk in particular provide the right nutrition for the optimal growth of bones and overall development in children.
A WORD OF CAUTION:
We generally do not boil milk obtained from plant-based sources. We only warm up the milk using hot water bath method.There is a risk of harmful microorganisms entering our stomach. Since we start giving this milk to kids from nine months of age, utmost hygiene needs to be maintained during the process of extraction of this milk. Before preparing, we should wash our hands, utensils, mixer jars and other equipment used for the process. Even the milk extraction bags should be washed, sundried and later have to be kept in steel boxes.
HOT WATER BATH METHOD:
Boil water in a steel vessel.Turn off the stove and place the vessel contaning extracted milk in it. Once the milk reaches lukewarm temperature remove it.
