How To Prepare Birdseed Milk And What Are Its Benefits
Are you interested in learning how to prepare canary seed milk? In case you didn’t know, birdseed milk is a low-calorie, plant-based drink that has become popular around the world for its interesting concentration of essential nutrients and health benefits.
Although the seeds were known as an exclusive food for birds, today they have gained an important place in the human diet. In fact, there are those who take it on a regular basis, as it is very light and helps to maintain a feeling of satiety.
Nutritional properties of birdseed
According to information published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry , canary seed (Phalaris canariensis L) seeds are composed of 61% starch, 20% protein, 8% crude fat and 7% total dietary fiber.
Compared to other cereals, such as oats, barley, wheat, and rye, they contain more protein. They also provide micronutrients such as potassium, magnesium, calcium and folic acid, and have antioxidant activity.
How to prepare canary seed milk?
Canary seed milk is one of the lowest calorie vegetable drinks. Thanks to this, it can be prepared every day. Its consumption can be a good complement to maintain a healthy weight and promote health, always within the framework of a healthy and balanced diet. The preparation process is quite simple, although it must be started the night before.
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons of birdseed seeds (90 g).
- 4 cups of water (1 liter).
Preparation
- To start, dip the birdseed seeds in a cup of water and soak them overnight.
- The next morning, remove the excess water and put the soaked seeds in the blender along with the rest of the water.
- Beat at maximum speed, until you get a whitish-brownish drink.
- Strain it through a cloth strainer and remove the remains of the shells.
- Take a cup of canary seed milk on an empty stomach and repeat its consumption 2 or 3 times throughout the day.
Benefits of preparing canary seed milk
Research on the health benefits of canary seed milk is still limited to make claims. However, the studies that have been done in this regard have served to determine that this ingredient has potential as a functional food and its consumption is beneficial for the body.
Now, in the first place it is important to deny many of the claims that have been made about its properties and that can lead consumers to have false ideas about this food. In this sense, the following clarifications should be made:
- Birdseed milk is useless to lose a certain amount of kilos in a matter of days or weeks. Although it is a food that can contribute to maintaining a healthy weight, by itself it does not have fat burning properties or the like. Simply, being a nutritious and satisfying food, included in a healthy diet can help.
- This drink cannot purify or detoxify the liver. This organ has the ability to purify itself and there is no evidence to show that this or other foods help to clean it.
- It is not a remedy to cure cholesterol. High cholesterol levels can be caused by many factors. Because of this, your treatment may vary from one patient to another. Although this type of drink can be an adjunct to its control, it is not a cure, much less a substitute for medical treatment.
What does the research say?
As we can see, canary seed milk is not a super powerful food or with miraculous properties. It does not have the ability to cure disease and it is not a weight loss formula either. However, that does not mean that it does not contribute anything to health. In fact, many of its properties are supported by some studies.
For example, a recent research published in the journal Nutrients, which compiles the main benefits of this food, highlights that canary seed milk can be useful for the following:
- Promote the control of high blood sugar levels and prevent diabetes.
- Regulate high blood pressure in patients with hypertension.
- Strengthen the immune system.
- Protect cardiovascular health.
- Fight inflammation.
- Inhibit the effects of free radicals.
- Inhibit the growth of some harmful bacteria.
Canary seed milk is not curative
Preparing canary seed milk is easy and represents a good option to promote well-being. However, it should be clear that it is not a healing food. Included in the framework of a healthy and varied diet can help obtain beneficial nutrients for the body. Consequently, it is associated with the prevention of non-communicable diseases.
