by Dr. Marli Botha
Plant foods may have been a part of fad diets over the years, from cabbage soup to all-day grapefruit to tofu, but today’s plant-based offerings have become a part of the natural landscape rather than a short-term trend. And with a heightened consumer interest in health-focused and sustainable products, plant-based offerings are primed for growth.
Here are 4 more interesting facts about plant-based dairy products:
- In many ways, plant-based dairy products got the ball rolling for the broader plant-based sector. Plant-based milks made from coconut, almonds, oats, quinoa and more have transformed the fluid milk category.
- It’s tricky to replicate the real deal, but alternative cheeses are really improving. They’re made using a variety of ingredients, including coconuts, aquafaba, nuts and solidified vegetable oil.
- Aquafaba, the water from a can of chickpeas is a superb substitute for egg white or milk. It can be used to make meringues, mousses and lots of bakes like macarons, sponges and brownies. Add chickpea water to dairy-free buttercream and you’ll get a much lighter frosting. You can even mix it with icing sugar and lemon juice to make a vegan royal icing. It can even be a central ingredient in dairy free batter and sauces like mayonnaise.
- Flavour is a hallmark of many alternative dairy products, which are enhanced with vanilla, fruit and/or spices like cinnamon and pumpkin spice for extra consumer appeal.
It is important to mention that no food is meant to be a cure-all for any condition, though there are certainly health and skin benefits contained within them. The one thing you should always do before using a new skin care product is to do a patch test to look for allergies and sensitivities.
