DAIRY-FREE CREAM CHEESE and SOUR CREAM

DAIRY-FREE CREAM CHEESE and SOUR CREAM

Healthy Vegan Cream Cheese
Makes 1 to 1-1/2 cups

Mix Together

2 Tsp. Agar Agar powder

1/4 cup hot boiled water

1 cup coconut milk (or a plant based milk) 

Simmer while stirring steadily
for 7-10 mins. until thick
Let cool in fridge about 20 mins.

Once set, take it out and whisk
it until it feels like cream cheese.
Then add
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 Pinch raw sugar
Optional: 1/2 tbs, nutritional  yeast (For a more  savory flavor)

Mix thoroughly.
NOTE: Add agar agar to the pan first

followed by hot water and milk

 

 

 

*CASHEW SOUR CREAM

Makes about 1¼ cups
This simple vegan sour cream is wonderfully
rich and tasty. Try it with chopped salads in place
of mayonnaise, with anything Mexican or on its
own as a dip for vegetables or crackers.

Ingredients:

1 cup raw cashews
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt (half of ¼)

Place cashews in a cup or small bowl and cover
by about ½ inch with boiling water. Let soak 30 minutes.

Drain cashews and place in a blender with vinegar, lemon,
salt and about ¼ cup water. Blend until very smooth,
adding more water as required to purée the mixture.

Nutritional Info:
Per Serving:
Serving size: about 2 tablespoons,
80 calories
(50 from fat), 6g total fat,
1g saturated fat, 30mg sodium,
4g carbohydrates, 2g protein.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


* Health Benefits of Cashews

Cashews are believed to have beneficial effects on oxidative
stress levels, inflammation and vascular/arterial

activity that promotes a healthy heart.

Cashews can help lower LDL
cholesterol (considered the dangerous kind) and improve HDL
cholesterol (the “good” kind). This is responsible for their
cholesterol-lowering abilities and the reason cashews may be

able to help prevent the formation of plaque within artery walls.

Cashews are also associated with lowered triglyceride levels and
reduced levels of inflammation, all of which help protect you
from heart disease, heart attacks or stroke.

2. Help Prevent Gallstones -Some research has found that eating
nuts weekly, including cashews, can help lower the risk for having
gallstones.

3. Can Help with Weight Loss or Maintenance
Weight Loss – Nuts have a high total fat content, — cashews are made
of approximately 46 percent fat but they’re also very nutrient-dense
and provide a lot of important minerals and fatty acids that

support weight loss. Cashews can help you feel fuller after a meal.

Cashews are also a good source of plant-based protein known to help
improve vascular reactivity and circulation. Improved blood flow helps
draw toxins out from the digestive system and can add to an improved
metabolism, higher energy and better digestive health.

 

4. Help Maintain Bone Health –  Cashews nutrition benefits include
bone health improvement
due to the presence of calcium, magnesium
and potassium, together with a low sodium intake. These are associated
with protection against bone demineralization. Cashews provide over 12
percent of your daily vitamin K needs in just a ¼ cup serving.

 

.

5. May Help Prevent Cancers: Colon, Prostate and Liver Cancers
Cancer cells – Regularly eating nuts, including cashews, is associated with
a lower risk for certain common cancers, especially cancers that occur in
the digestive tract, including liver and colon cancers.

See the full story at Dr. Axe
https://draxe.com/cashews-nutrition/

6. Support Healthy Brain Function -The brain is made up of mostly
fat and relies on a steady supply of healthy fatty acids within the diet.
Nuts can help support cognitive abilities and multiple brain processes,
are one of the natural plant foods richest in fat and support cognitive
function, healthy aging and mood regulation.

 

Several dietary components of cashews particularly the healthy fats
in cashews but also trace minerals like zinc,iron and copper.

7. Lower the Risk for Diabetes – Cashews are a great source of
MUFA fats, which slow the rate at which blood is released into the

bloodstream. Its principal compound, anacardic acid, stimulate
glucose uptake. Cashews also help lower levels of inflammation,
and studies show that a diet higher in nuts results in lower circulation
of  inflammatory biomarkers that can contribute to insulin resistance
and diabetes formation.

8. Help Prevent Migraine Headaches – Cashews help
support healthy brain function and improve blood

circulation while lowering blood pressure.

Nuts also provide plant-based phytosterols, which are beneficial for
reducing headache duration and occurrence. Additionally, cashews
fight rapid changes in blood sugar and hypoglycemia, another
well-recognized trigger for migraines.

9. Cashews Help Maintain Healthy healthy skin due to
the presence of healthy essential fatty acids. Healthy sources

of fat are needed to keep skin hydrated and free from
irritation, flaking and premature aging.

Cashews are also a high source of copper, which helps with the
production of the skin and hair pigment called melanin, as well
as the formation of collagen, which supports skin’s elasticity and
defenses against aging.

 

See the full story at Dr. Axe
https://draxe.com/cashews-nutrition/