STOP BUYING ADDITIVES IN YOUR MILKS!
Since buying alternative milks have become the new rage, there are now a million nut, oat and vegan milks out there to choose from. As with many things worth buying… they are not all equal.
When I decided years ago to start trying new alternatives to milk, thinking I was choosing healthier options, I had no idea what to look for. I saw coconut milk and thought… ooooo this sounds delicious. And chocolate coconut milk… even better!
If You Can’t Pronounce It…
I wouldn’t say necessarily getting a degree in Nutritional Science was what helped me determine the good stuff from the bad, but it did teach me to do my research.
One motto I try to live by is… if you can’t pronounce it then most likely you don’t want to be consuming it. By eating and drinking food that is closest to its natural source, the better it is for your body and the ability for your body to break it down and absorb its nutrients.
Ok… Ok.. so you can pronounce some words but that doesn’t mean you should be consuming them, especially when they are added to your nut milks. And I highly recommend doing your research.
Additives…
Do not buy your nut (or oat) milks in the dry isles of your grocery store. You know the ones that most likely have been sitting on the shelf for who knows how long. These have so many additives in them that you might as well eat Twinkies. This is not a healthy option. Take a look at the ingredients on the side and see how much stuff they have added to the coconut or almond milk.
Ingredients In Your Favorite Nut Milks…
Here’s a list of well-known Almond Milk brands. By looking at it, right off the bat, I can see there are a lot of ingredients for almond milk. Almond milk should be just almonds and water and maybe some salt… and that’s really it.
S,o lets break down some of these items…
Locust bean gum is a safe food additive with few side effects. However, a good amount of people are allergic to it. This allergy can take the form of asthma and breathing issues. That sounds pretty serious for almond milk.
Gellan gum is a viscous soluble fiber, artificially produced by non-pathogenic bacteria Sphingomonas elodea from lactose (cheese whey) or glucose (corn starch). It is an indigestible carbohydrate.
Ok, let’s talk Natural Flavors. Whenever I see this I want to run away, but unfortunately, I end up buying this ingredient in some of my favorite foods cause it’s literally in everything!
Natural Flavors… Government regulations define natural flavors as those that derive their aroma or flavor chemicals from plant or animal sources. This can be anything from a natural source or manipulated in a lab. So you aren’t going to really know what this ingredient really is, which is why it is so frustrating when you see it in everything! You don’t know what you are getting and if your body is going to be ok consuming it.
What To Buy…
Head to the refrigerated section and take a look at those alternative/vegan milks there. Look at the ingredients in those as well, because some of them will still have additives to thicken and preserve the milk. But you are more likely better off here than in the other isles of the store.
My favorite brand is Malk. It’s not the easiest to find but it’s getting more well-known. Take a look at their ingredients…
Water, Sprouted Almonds and Salt… that’s it! I have recommended this brand to so many people, not only because of the way it tastes (which is amazing), also because sprouted nuts are much easier on your digestive system, and also because of their company’s mission statement: Create a better dairy alternative. And it’s true!
MALK Organics products are dairy-, soy-, gluten-, GMO- and lactose-free and vegan friendly. No carrageenan, binders, colors, or sweeteners. And I’m telling you… it’s worth it in taste and your body will thank you!
Check them out and find a store that they distribute to near you. https://malkorganics.com
Here’s how you can make your own heavy cream without Casein or Whey:
Make Your Own Lactose-Free, (Keto/Paleo) Heavy Cream With 2 Ingredients
