Move over, milk. There's a seriously delicious alternative in town
Almond milk has been gaining in popularity in recent years, but there are a few downsides to
the product that you might want to know about. Hey, before you take the next sip of almond milk
listen to this. There's no doubt about it, almond milk is a booming business these days. In fact
dairy milk alternatives in general are making some serious bang. Obviously, that's great news
for all those almond milk brands out there, but it's very bad news for dairy farmers
In 2019, Dean Foods, one of America's biggest dairy companies, declared bankruptcy
It's just one of several dairy brands that's seen a sizable dip in sales in recent years
The reason? Eric Berengoss, the chief executive of Dean Foods, told MarketWatch
Despite our best efforts to make our business more agile and cost-efficient
we continue to be impacted by a challenging operating environment marked by continuing declines in consumer milk consumption
Unfortunately, there are bankruptcies happening at the farm level, and now we see a bankruptcy at a much higher level in the supply chain
Sales of non-dairy milks increased by more than 60 percent between 2013 and 2018
racking up more than $2 billion in 2017. Needless to say, dairy farmers aren exactly thrilled with this development In fact a few of these farmers have been lobbying the Food and Drug Administration to stop allowing almond milk manufacturers to use the term milk Even some government representatives are getting in on the action For example both Representative Peter Welch and Senator Tammy Baldwin have claimed a product
must derive from a hoofed mammal to be called milk. In 2017, Welch told The New York Times
The bottom line for us is that milk is defined by the FDA, and we're saying to the FDA
enforce your definition. Welch and Baldwin represent Vermont and Wisconsin, respectively, two states with lots of dairy farms
Guess what? Almonds and almond milk aren't just delicious. Reportedly, they're also great for your skin. Plenty of cosmetic brands, from The Body Shop to Lush
use almond milk in their products because it makes for an absolutely incredible moisturizer
Blended with almond oil, almond milk can reduce fine lines on your face, prevent premature wrinkles, and smooth your skin all around
Oh, and guess what? Products made with almond milk are reportedly great for people with sensitive
skin. Plus, you don't have to drop a bunch of cash on high-end products. And it's worth mentioning
that making almond milk masks at home is super easy. Simply dip a cotton ball into some almond
milk and spread it on your face. Your skin will feel impeccably soft, and you'll smell nice, too
Making your own almond milk may sound like a daunting task. After all
how does one go about milking an almond, exactly? Well, here's some very good news for you. You don't
have to milk almonds at all That uh not how it works Almond milk is made by soaking almonds in water for a long time We talking 8 to 12 hours here According to The Kitchen the longer the almonds soak the creamier the almond milk
Raw almonds, too. Want to point that out. Raw and raw organic, if you're really gonna go there
Your almonds should be quite plump after they've been soaked. Next, drain and rinse the almonds and put them in a blender, along with a small amount of room
temperature water. Blend for about two minutes and then strain the contents using a towel or
cheesecloth. Congratulations, you've just made almond milk. And guess what? When you make your
own almond milk, you get to use whatever flavor enhancements you want, because that light almond
flavor is basically a blank canvas. We suggest adding vanilla, cinnamon, or nutmeg for a warm
cozy taste. If you want to get super fancy, and we're quite sure you do
add in some matcha or even lavender. That ensures a highly flavorful and aromatic almond milk. Enjoy
If you've been drinking almond milk for its nutritional benefits, you might be better off simply eating a handful of crunchy almonds. In just a single one-ounce serving of almonds
you'll consume 6 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, and plenty of vitamins, including vitamin E
magnesium, riboflavin, calcium, and potassium. The almonds in almond milk are seriously diluted
so they just don't deliver the same benefits. A one-cup serving of almond milk has about 30
calories 2 grams of fat and just one gram of protein Dietitian Emily Holdorf RDN told Mashed While almonds in their whole form are packed with protein almond milk on the other hand only has one gram per cup This is because almond milk is strained causing a lot of the protein to be lost If you are drinking almond milk as your main milk product be
sure to get enough protein from other foods in your diet. So now you know. Almond milk isn't for everyone. When it comes to feeding infants, almond milk really isn't
the way to go, at least according to Dr. Julie Lamal. Her 2014 study concluded that infants
who drink almond milk develop nutritional deficiencies and growth problems. For children under two years of age, almond milk isn't a suitable replacement for cow's milk or formula
If your child happens to be allergic to milk or lactose intolerant, consult your pediatrician for help finding an appropriate formula
Almond milk doesn't contain a particularly high amount of protein and calcium, nor does it have as many vitamins and minerals as regular milk
Obviously, that can be a problem, since growing children need calcium to strengthen their bones
That's not to say children older than two can't have almond milk. It just needs to be consumed alongside other food and beverages that provide all the essential
nutrients. Basically, it's all about moderation. The ketogenic diet has become increasingly popular in recent years. This extremely low-carb
diet forces the body to burn fat by sending itself into ketosis. The keto diet doesn't
allow for high amounts of sugar and carbohydrates, typically relying on full-fat foods instead
Well, as it turns out, almond milk is quite