Growing up, most of us have been brought up to think that everyone needs milk in order to grow up to be strong and healthy, however many people don’t realize the downfalls of cow’s milk. Cow’s milk is high in fat, specifically saturated fat, calories and cholesterol, so whenever possible substitute with almond milk. You can drink it straight or add it to smoothies, coffee, tea, and it makes an amazing substitute for milk when used in baking.
Almond milk is probably the best substitute, as it contains a sufficient amount of vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin D and high in vitamin E. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, helping to enhance our immunity and to ward off free radicals, protecting our body from any tissue or cellular damage. Almond milk provides many nutrients including fibre, which provides for healthy digestion and elimination. Surprisingly, almond milk is rich in calcium, as it contains an equivalent amount of calcium as regular cow’s milk. One cup of almond milk is known to contain 300mg of calcium which is 30% of the daily nutritional value. So, it’s beneficial to consume almond milk on the regular to ensure an adequate intake of calcium. Almond milk is free of any saturated fats and also gluten, lactose, casein and cholesterol free, making it a healthy choice for those individuals with certain intolerances.
Those who are diabetic will really benefit from consuming almond milk because it only contains 40 calories per cup and actually helps to lower blood-sugar levels, as it’s low in glycemic nature. Homemade or unsweetened almond milk is ideal and is especially great for children with diabetes, because of the low sugar content and friendly blood-sugar properties. Although almond milk is a healthier choice than cow’s milk, it is lower in protein, as it has 1g of protein per cup, in comparison with 8g of protein in one cup of cow’s milk. However, cow’s milk is higher in calories and contains simple sugars that just store as fat within our body, so for diabetics it’s definitely a healthier and smarter choice for a milky beverage.
Be sure to read labels when purchasing processed almond milk, as there may contain various unwanted sweeteners or additives. Fortunately, almond milk is actually so easy to make, so whenever possible choose to make your own homemade milk. I made two types of almond milk, because I like to keep a sweetened milk and a non-sweetened milk in the fridge for variety. I chose to flavour the unsweetened milk with vanilla for some extra taste. That’s the beauty of making your own milk, since you have complete control over what goes into your milk to sweeten or flavour it. Homemade almond milk is free of any preservatives, artificial sweeteners and other unwanted additives. This is important in ensuring natural, good quality ingredients.
Unsweetened Almond Milk Ingredients:
- 1 cup of soaked almonds
- 3 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Or
Sweetened Almond Milk Ingredients:
- 1 cup of soaked almonds
- 3 cups of water
- 1 tablespoon honey
Directions:
In a high-powered blender combine ingredients and blend for 4-5 minutes. Strain milk to remove excess almond particles. Double strain for a silkier consistency. Store in the fridge and enjoy.
It’s that easy.
Tip: Try and soak the almonds overnight in water for better results.
