Recently I’ve been seeing a lot of information about the disadvantages of drinking dairy milk. One of my big concerns was with the hormones that dairy cows are injected with to make them produce so much more milk than they are naturally designed to produce. These hormones are present in the milk we consume and can have a negative effect on our bodies. Although I don’t drink a large enough amount of milk to be overly concerned, my daughter loves milk and drinks it like water. I had always believed that milk was good for us because of all the calcium and vitamin D it contains (we all want strong teeth and bones, right?) but after learning about the disadvantages of dairy milk, I started looking at the alternatives. That’s when I found almond milk.
Almond milk is a natural product made from ground almonds and water. It’s easy enough to make at home as well but I prefer the convenience of just picking up a carton at the store. There are several different varieties available at the grocery store including sweetened, unsweetened, vanilla, and chocolate. Obviously, the sweetened and flavored varieties have had flavorings or sweeteners added.
A side by side comparison of original almond milk and skim milk shows the differences between the two:
Almond milk contains fewer calories per serving that skim milk and 50% more calcium. This is great news for people wanted to reduce their caloric intake or watch their weight. While neither option contains any saturated fat, almond milk has no cholesterol either. Skim milk contains more protein, while the almond variety contains less sugar and more vitamins such as vitamin E (an antioxidant that aids in the functioning of many of our organs), phosphorus, magnesium, and iron. Almond milk also contains omega-3 fatty acids, making it a heart healthy choice, and is lactose-free, making it a good choice for those that are lactose intolerant.
Almond milk can be used just like milk: for drinking, cooking, on cereal, and in smoothies. I start my day with an almond milk smoothie for breakfast. To make the smoothie, add 8 ounces of almond milk (I personally love chocolate), a small handful of blueberries, and a few ice cubes and blend. Sometimes I add a scoop of protein powder to add a few more calories. You could easily add different types of fruits or mix and match different fruit blends for variety. It’s a quick and easy breakfast loaded with vitamins and nutrients that I can blend and take on my way out the door.
Do you use almond milk? What made you switch from regular milk?
mgking76 says
October 23, 2012 at 12:39 pmYour blog is very similar to mine. Its good to know other families are taking the step away from processed foods. Check out our blog too!
myrealfoodfamily says
October 23, 2012 at 1:00 pmThanks for visiting my blog! I will definitely check your’s out. I love hearing about other families that are eliminating processed foods….it’s much easier than people realize!
uberdish says
October 23, 2012 at 9:14 pmWe are BIG fans of almond milk! I switched my family to plant-based milk in the early spring. After my 9 year old daughter was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I decided to do A LOT of research and reading. That is when I learned how harmful dairy can be on the body, especially those with autoimmune diseases. I also learned how we absorb so much calcium from plants – more so than dairy. My kids are adjusting slowly. I am not hearing any more complaining. And…my daughter’s inflammation has decreased. 🙂 My blog is about gluten free, plant-based foods.
myrealfoodfamily says
October 23, 2012 at 9:20 pmGlad to hear that your daughter’s inflammation has decreased! I am finding it shocking that certain things that we thought were healthy are really harmful. I’ll check out your blog!
janicedoty says
October 26, 2012 at 8:42 amI’ve had similar concerns about the milk side effects and actually read an article that skim milk is actually a “waste product” of cream production but they found a way to promote it as healthy rather than discard it–very disturbing as they have to ‘inject/infuse’ milk fat back into it to lose the blue tint (which increases cholesterol)…..stay healthy, stay informed! Thanks for a great post!
myrealfoodfamily says
October 26, 2012 at 8:46 amThanks for the comment! You are absolutely right – we have to stay informed and learn a little more to make the right decision.