Why Using Almond Milk is Nuts

Is almond milk just a fad, or does it have nutritional value?

Among the many nutritional fads that are popular today, whether “paleo” or “raw” for example, each of which suggests you can improve your diet by eating like cavemen who lived to about 30, nut milk has become a huge trend. Among almond, chestnut, and hazelnut milk, almond milk I by far the most popular.

In the interest of truth, let’s take a look at the efficacy of almond milk as a nutritional benefit.

Is Nut Milk Even Healthy?

For anyone who is lactose intolerant, almond milk makes sense because it has less sugar than dairy milk; sugar in milk being the problem caused by lactose. Soy milk is also a good alternative and, though some have questioned its safety, there is little evidence that a soy alternative to dairy milk is harmful – in moderation.

Based on price alone, about $2.49 – $2.99 for 2% a gallon of dairy milk vs. about $10.00 – $11.00 for a gallon of almond milk, finding an alternative makes the most sense.

You should also consider these facts about the “nutritional benefits” of almond milk:

  • A 48-oz. jug of almond milk containing roughly 39 cents worth of almonds, plus filtered water and additives, retails for $3.99, while offering about 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fat. Cashew milk is about the same.
  • By comparison, a single ounce (28 grams) of real almonds contains six grams of protein (about an egg’s worth), three grams of fiber (a medium banana), and 12 grams of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (half an avocado).
  • Plus, there’s this: “Given that it takes 1.1 gallons of water to grow a single almond in [drought-stricken] California, where 80 percent of the world’s almonds are produced, drenching the finished product in yet more water seems insane.” (MotherJones.com)

To conclude; except for those with a lactose problem (and there may be better alternatives for you), consuming nut milk offers no nutritional advantage over dairy milk and is far more expensive. For these reasons and more, for most of us, using almond milk is nuts.

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