Let’s talk about milk!

Milk is found in a lot of households. We consume milk because we believe it is good for us, we like the taste and it’s affordable. In this post, I want to share with you why I switched over to a milk alternative and how to make almond milk.

Although milk consumption has declined steadily in the past couple of years, the average American consumes just under 2 cups of milk daily. This is still huge considering all the research that has come to light.

Any product that we keep at home and consume daily should be vetted. I strongly believe that we are what we eat. For this reason, I try to make as many food products as I possibly can at home.

The myth that milk is as nutritious as the milk industry makes us think has been debunked. The only way to make it at home is to buy a cow and milk it every morning. Since this is not the reality for most of us, I often chose milk alternatives. Some of these have shown to be considerably more nutritious than regular milk.

Cow’s Milk Cons…

Cow’s milk is simply not the best alternative for human consumption. Our body warns us about products that are not bad for us. If after consuming milk, you notice abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and/or diarrhea, you may be lactose intolerant. Milk contains lactose for which we need the enzyme lactase to break down lactose. As we age, our body’s production of lactase decreases. This is our body telling us to decrease the intake of cow’s milk.

Aside from an upset stomach, studies have shown a link between casein, a protein found in cow’s milk, and cancer. This is especially true for ovarian and prostate cancer. Yes, we are told that cow’s milk is good for us. As it turns out, casein promotes the growth of cancer cells at the cellular level. By removing cow’s milk from our diet, we remove a large amount of casein from our diet. This will, in turn, decrease the chances of developing cancer. Read my post on coffee and how it decreases the risk of cancer in this post: Coffee and cancer

We have grown thinking that we need to drink milk to have strong bones. Calcium and vitamin D consumption strengthens bones. The amount of calcium and vitamin D in milk is low. Currently, there is no evidence that the consumption of milk reduces the risk of fractures. Plus, green leafy vegetables like kale, contain more calcium and vitamin D than cow’s milk.

Switching to a milk alternative…

Reading all the cons and pros of consuming cow’s milk leads me to switch over to a milk alternative. I could not justify the health benefits of cow milk when compared to other milk alternatives. What I can say I miss is the texture and flavor of cow’s milk in my coffee. I have had to learn to like almond milk in my coffee. I know my body and future self will thank me for it.

After doing a lot of research, the most fitting milk alternative for me is almond milk. It is very easy to make, has a lot of health benefits and it is inexpensive. Store-bought almond milk ofter has fillers and additives that homemade almond milk does not because you are in control of what you add to what you make at home.

Here are some of the things I had to purchase to start making almond milk at home:

• Nut Milk Bag
• Large Fine Mesh Strainer
• Large Bowl
• Blender

Below is the recipe I use to make almond milk at home. I usually make it twice a week.

Homemade Almond Milk

Ariadna

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Prep Time 8 hours hrs

Hands On 15 minutes mins

Total Time 8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings 1 Liter

Equipment

• Blender
• Nut Milk Bags
• Mesh Strainer
• large bowl

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup almonds unsalted, raw
• 4 cup filtered water
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp stevia
• 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Place almonds in water to hydrate for 8 hours.
• After the 8 hours have passed, place a colander on bowl with a cloth over it.
• Once hydrated, you should have about 2 cups of hydrated almonds. Add almonds to a blender and add 2 cups of filtered water per cup ofhydrated almonds. Blend until milky.
• Pour mix over cloth and extract all of the milk.
• Once the milk is ready, pour it back in theblender and add salt, stevia, xanthan gum and vanilla extract. Blend for 60 seconds.
• Pour milk in a glass jar and store in the fridge. Thishomemade almond milk lasts 7-10 days.

Keyword Almond, Almond Milk, almond milk recipe, best almond milk, make almond milk, Milk

Take care of your body, stay healthy and happy! xoxo, Ariadna.