Almond milk is full of nutrition while also considered to be low calories. It is often a popular choice for those who are looking for some dairy free alternatives to milk. This means that almond milk is lactose-free and therefore those who are lactose intolerant can freely enjoy almond milk. Whereas, for others like me, we simply enjoy almond milk for their nice nutty flavour and the fact that it is so much lower in calories than milk.
Almonds are actually native to the Middle East. However, most of the almond milk you drink are usually farmed in California. As much as it is suggested that it is more eco-friendly than dairy, it is actually also relatively bad for the environment. One of the biggest problem is that almonds are being grown in California, a state that is increasingly hit with droughts. Growing almonds requires a lot of water! It requires around 2000 gallons to just grow a pound of almonds. This is an extreme amount of water and evidence suggests that there has been negative consequences for this.
To make almond milk, the almonds are grinded and then mixed with water. The mixture of almonds and water is then filtered out to make almond milk. A lot of companies also add extra nutrients to the almond milk to make it more nutritious for you.
Almond milk is great for those who are trying to lose weight. Because only a little amount of almonds are in the milk, it is therefore much lower in calories than regular dairy milk. One cup of unsweetened almond milk is generally only around 30 calories, whereas skim milk would be around 80 calories. This is less than half the amount of calories compared to dairy milk. Unsweetened almond milk is also very low in sugar. One cup of dairy milk tends to contain around 13 grams of sugar, whereas one cup of unsweetened almond milk has no sugar at all. One good tip to know is that the supermarket is full of almond milk in various varieties. Make sure you check the container as most companies produce both sweetened and unsweetened almond milk. The sweetened almond milk has added sugar into their milk, usually this would be around 4 to 18 grams of sugar.
Almond milk is high in vitamin E, one cup would usually provide around 20% to 40% of your daily vitamin E requirements. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that fights against inflammation and stress in your body, it also helps protect you against cancer and heart diseases. Studies have shown a correlation between a diet with vitamin E and a lower risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive diseases.
Unlike dairy milk, almond milk actually contains a relatively small amount of calcium. Because most people who substitute dairy milk are lactose intolerant, many companies tend to add calcium into almond milk. This makes it easier for those who are lactose intolerant to drink almond milk as their source of calcium. It is very important that people consume food with calcium as it is a mineral that helps with the development of your bones as well as keeping your bones healthy.
Brands such as Almond Breeze also enrich their almond milk with vitamin D. This is an important vitamin that helps with keeping you healthy. Your body is able to naturally produce vitamin D when you are directly exposed to sunlight. However, sometimes people might be unable to be in the sun and therefore might be lacking in vitamin D. If you do not get enough vitamin D, your body will be at risk of developing bone issues and even become less resistant to diseases such as the coronavirus.
Almond milk is completely plant based, therefore it is suitable for those who are vegetarians or vegans. It is often the favourite choice of vegans as it is nutritious and high in calcium. In fact, it is often considered to be around 50% higher in calcium than dairy milk.
Almond milk is nowadays used in pretty much everything. You can use it in the same way people have been using dairy milk for. I personally love to eat my frosted flakes with almond milk or even just blend a banana smoothie with almond milk. It’s so versatile and completely up to you!
Let me know how you drink your almond milk in the comments!
While I like the taste of almond milk as an alternative to actual milk, I prefer lactose-free milk. I drink tea with milk in and with almond milk it is nice, but seems to need more, at least to make it as white-looking. In coffee it separates, although there are some alternatives that avoid this. Also, given that almond milk is mostly water (Alpro Almond Milk contains 2% almonds! – https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/09/10-things-you-need-to-know-if-youre-drinking-almond-milk ) that makes it somewhat expensive at best.
P.S. I also avoid frosted flakes (sorry!)