Why Almond Milk is Good for Health

The latest ‘food replacement’ fad nowadays is Almond Milk – If you or your kids aren’t fond of cow’s milk (or you have an intolerance to it), or your simply avoiding it because it’s not on the Paleo/4HB diets – then almond milk makes a perfect alternative.

Almond milk is not milk as we know it but rather a “milky” sort of drink derived from ground and soaked almonds.

I’ve had friends ask me if this is just a case of “paleofying” a traditional food – and to that I would say no…almond milk is totally different than regular dairy and has a host of benefits so adding it to your diet isn’t simply just using it as a dairy replacement

Healthy, low fat and low calories

I’m not one to stress about the fat content of my foods (except for trans-fats which are deadly and articially made). But if you can’t shake the notion that you need to be concerned about the fat in your diet – then almond milk should ease your worries.

If you’re following 4HB/Slow Carb – then you know one of the maxims is to avoid “drinking your calories” - so you might want to be careful using this stuff on 4HB, but if you’re on a traditional Paleo diet, this is a great drink to include – especially post workout.

Those of us interested in weight loss will be pleased to know that almost half the calories in a single serving come from healthy fats which will actually help in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol.

Almond milk is also an excellent choice for those who are lactose intolerant or those wanting to avoid soy milk.

It’s also a great low carb option as almond milk contains only 6 grams of carbohydrates!

Nutrient dense composition

Almond milk contains a number of nutrients and benefits bundled with it. One serving will give a person at least 30% of his/her daily calcium need.

It is also rich in important vitamins like D and E, Manganese, Magnesium and Riboflavin

It is low in sodium, which is good thing because most of us get entirely WAY TOO MUCH sodium in our diets.

Riboflavin helps to hydrate the skin and keep it supple and it also enhances Vitamin B6 which ensures good cell regeneration, growth and repair.

Anti-oxidant rich

For all of us beauty conscious people out there – almond milk is a good friend to have.

As mentioned earlier, almond milk is an excellent source of vitamin E, a powerful anti-oxidant that helps regulate your body’s use and availability of Vitamin A as well as improving skin health

Anti-oxidants act as shields for skin cells against the attack of free radicals.

Build Muscle

Looking to pack on some muscle in addition to losing fat? Almond milk can increase muscle power, which is good for those of us that enjoy lifting weights.

With the presence of  riboflavin (which is a form of Vitamin B and iron) you get a potent tool for the production of energy in your body – it also helps with converting carbs to glucose.

An additional benefit? A high dose of riboflavin appears help with the prevention of migraines.

Want to make your own Almond Milk?

Here’s a simple (but not exactly quick) recipe for making your own, homemade almond milk. This takes at least 24 hours to make (almost all sitting time)

One extra benefit? the “leftovers” can be used to make almond meal…

• 1 cup raw almonds
• 3 cups water
• 2-3 dates (optional)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla (optional)

Preparation: