Oat milk is one of those things that once you try it, it’s hard to stop. It’s the creamy and oh-so-delicious mix-in your daily latte has been craving. But it’s also one of those things that’s so good…you have to wonder if there’s a catch. How can something that seems this healthy taste this good? Is oat milk good for you, or are we all just playing ourselves?

What are the benefits of oat milk?

Because oat milk is relatively new, the USDA hasn’t produced a standard for oat milk nutrients. For reference, here’s the nutrition info for one cup of Oatly.

  • Calories: 120
  • Protein: 3 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 16 grams
  • Fat: 5 grams
  • Sodium: 0.1 grams
  • Fiber: 2 grams
  • Sugar: 7 grams

Beyond the nutritional profile, oat milk has a decent amount of benefits to offer, including:

1. It has fiber (unlike other milks). Oat milk has more fiber in comparison to other alt-milks and cow’s milk. In a recent episode of You vs Food, Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, explains this is thanks to beta glucan, “a super dietary fiber found in oats that’s been celebrated for its cholesterol-lowering properties.” Specifically, it’s been shown to lower LDL cholesterol, AKA the bad kind which has been associated with heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems.

2. It’s full of vitamin B. The healthy slow-digesting carbs found in oat milk deliver B vitamins, which aid in red blood cell production and the conversion of food to energy. Beckerman says this provides you with sustainable fuel and energy to get you through your day.

3. It’s (usually) higher in protein compared to other alternatives. The protein count varies from brand to brand, but generally, Beckerman says that oat milk has more protein than other alt milks. (For example, almond milk has only 1 gram of protein per serving.) However, it still does not compare with cow’s milk, which is the gold standard at 8 to 9 grams per cup.

4. It’s a great option if you have food allergies. Alt-milks were off the table for lots of people with food allergies for a long time—people who have nut allergies couldn’t partake in almond or cashew milk, and people with soy allergies had to skip the soy milk. Oat milk is friendly to both of those allergy types, and if you get gluten-free oat milk (since oats can be cross-contaminated with gluten), it’s safe for people with Celiac disease or a non-Celiac gluten sensitivity.

So we’ve established that oat milk’s pretty delish, but what about its nutritional profile?

Beckerman says that oat stands out from its frothy company (dairy, almond, cashew, and so on) due to its fiber content, which has shown that it can reduce LDL—aka, “bad” cholesterol. To boot, the stuff is also loaded with vitamin B (which helps with red blood cell production), and protein. “It does have more carbohydrates than other alt-milks, which is beneficial in providing you sustainable fuel and energy for the day,” says Beckerman. “These are the healthy, slow-digesting carbs that help deliver energizing B vitamins, which means we can make it to our 7 p.m. yoga class, no sweat.”

It’s also worth noting that this oat milk recipe does contain naturally-occurring sugar from good old maple syrup. Don’t worry too, too much about that, though. “Some varieties [of packaged oat milk] sneak in unnecessary added sugar or oils like canola oil during the manufacturing process to maintain structure and viscosity,” says Beckerman. You won’t have to worry about hidden oils with the homemade stuff. And since there’s room for sugars in a balanced diet, Beckerman says not to worry. Just be sure to stick with the 1/2 cup serving size recommended on the back of nearly every oat carton that’s widely available.

“Oat milk has some pretty nice stuff going for it,” Beckerman says, “so I think we’re ready to make it official.”  That’s especially true if you make it from scratch.

Are there downsides to oat milk?

Generally, oat milk is good for you. But as with any food product, you should check the label on whatever kind of oat milk you buy since some brands sneak in added sugar or oils to maintain structure and viscosity, Beckerman says. (Good to know!) But if your go-to brand is a little on the sweet side, Beckerman says you shouldn’t sweat it too much: “It’s such a small percentage added to the beverage and really shouldn’t deter you from adding a splash or two to your coffee.”

Also, if you need to eat gluten-free, definitely make sure the brand you’re buying is certified gluten-free. While oats by nature are GF, they’re often processed in plants that also process wheat, rye, and barley. And looking for organic or certified non-GMO oat milks are also a good idea, since oats are often contaminated with glyphosate, a pesticide and possible carcinogen.

Oats (and thus oat milk) also contain phytic acid, a form of phosphorous typically found in foods like legumes, nuts, and oats. People hate this stuff because it’s considered an “anti-nutrient” that makes it harder for your body to absorb other nutrients, Beckerman says. But if you eat a balanced diet, phytic acid shouldn’t be an issue, she says—and a small amount of phytic acid have protective effects for your heart.

How to make it yourself

The only surefire way to ensure your oat milk is additive-free is to make it at home using organic, gluten-free oats. All you need to do to DIY oat milk, Beckerman says, is to soak oats in water in the fridge overnight, blend them, and then strain them. That’s it. If you want a better recipe, check out this perfect recipe that Oh She Glows shared with us.

“Oat milk has some pretty nice stuff going for it,” Beckerman says, “so I think we’re ready to make it official.” Count me in.

The Secret on How to Make Oat Milk That Is Smooth and Delish

Ever since oat milk hit store shelves (and coffee bars) en masse, it’s been wildly beloved by the dairy-free crowd. If you’re lucky, your local coffee (or matcha) shop may have the popular alt-milk on-hand. But the best way to sidestep unexpected shortages—hey, it happens—of store-bought oat milk is to learn how to prep oat milk from scratch.

Over the past few years, oat milk has gone from being a niche find to a fan-favorite. “There’s a new alternative milk in town and it’s winning our hearts,” says Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, on a recent episode of Well+Good’s You Versus Food. “In just one year, oat milk has gone from being served in 150 coffee shops in the United States to over 2,000.”

Since oat milk is so widely available now, you may think it’s a tad bit extra to blend your own coffee creamer when you very well could waltz through the alt-milk aisle, grab a carton, and call it a day. But I’m here to tell you that this will take you about 20 minutes from start to finish with minimal effort. Below, you’ll learn exactly how to whip up your very own alt-milk. Plus, get all your questions answered from “How healthy is this stuff?” to “Um, is this gluten-free?”

Keep reading for the step-by-step process on how to make oat milk:

Here’s your 6-step recipe for making the alt-milk

Yields about 7 cups of oat milk, or 14 servings

Ingredients

1 cup of gluten-free steel-cut oats
6 cups filtered water
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp sea salt

Instructions

  1.  Add the oats and three cups of water to a large bowl.
  2. Soak the oats for at least 20 minutes (but not too long, or the milk will be a slimy texture!), then rinse and drain.  “Keep an A-plus strainer on hand, It takes a few strains to get creamy, delicious oat milk, but after that it’s pretty much perfect!”
  3. Add soaked oats, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, and remaining three cups of water into a powerful blender. Blend for about 20 seconds, but again, don’t overdo it: you want your milk’s texture to be perfect.
  4. Pour and strain the mixture into a large bowl. The mixture will take several minutes to strain completely.
  5.  Repeat blending and straining process two to three times until the consistency is thick and smooth.
  6. Store in the fridge and use in your coffees, matcha, teas, and cereals.
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