Almond milk is a creamy, widely available dairy substitute, and you can find a wide variety of products including ice creams and beverages made with almond milk. Exercise caution, though, because almonds used to make almond milk can be processed in facilities that also process other nuts. Nutritionally, almond milk and cow's milk offer different benefits.
Why Choose Almond Milk?
Individuals may substitute almond milk for dairy products due to allergies, intolerances, or dietary preferences. KidsHealth reports that a lactose intolerance and a milk allergy are distinctive from each other. A dairy intolerance is a result of too little lactase in the body, which helps digest the lactose, and symptoms include bloating, gas and discomfort. A dairy allergy, by contrast, is an allergic reaction characterized by hives, swelling, severe diarrhea, bloody stool, irritability and possibly anaphylaxis.
Calcium
The primary reason individuals consume dairy products is to ensure that enough calcium is in the diet to maintain good health, and dairy substitutes can provide sufficient calcium. According to Nutritiondata.com, 1 cup of almonds provides 25 percent of an individual's calcium requirements, and 1 cup of Almond Breeze Original Sweetened milk provides up to 30 percent of those calcium needs. This makes it comparable to 1 cup of 2 percent reduced fat milk, which provides 29 percent of the daily calcium, according to Nutritiondata.com.
Vitamin D
The Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health recommends consuming fortified milks that provide 25 percent of the daily value of vitamin D. Almond milks are supplemented to provide vitamin D, and Almond Breeze milk is fortified to provide 25 percent, making it a good source of vitamin D.
Protein
Almond milk does not provide as much protein as an equivalent serving of cow's milk. Almond Breeze reports that 1 cup of Original Sweetened milk provides just 1 g of protein, whereas NutritionData.com reports that 1 cup of 2 percent reduced fat milk provides 8 g of protein. Individuals desiring more protein could consider a soy-based dairy substitute.
Vitamin E
Almonds are well-known sources of vitamin E, and Nutritiondata.com reports that 1 cup of almonds provides 125 percent of the daily value. One cup of Almond Breeze Original Sweetened milk provides 50 percent of the daily value. In contrast, 1 cup of 2 percent reduced fat milk provides 0% of the daily value.
Fat and Sugar
One cup of almonds provides 47 g of fat, according to Nutritiondata.com, but 1 cup of Almond Breeze milk provides 2.5 grams of fat and 0 grams of saturated fat. In comparison, 2 percent reduced fat milk provides 5 g, with 3 g saturated fat. The sugar content in almond milk is also 5 g less than the same amount of 2 percent milk, because cow's milk provides the lactose carbohydrate. Choosing almond milk can be a good choice when fat and calories are important.
Member Comments
mebrooks1 April 1
I just had some almond milk for the first time, i like it better than cows milk.