Almond Milk – Why Not Make Your Own?

I ask many of my clients to eliminate milk, especially cows’ milk,  from their diets as for many people, dairy creates digestive issues and inflammatory conditions in their bodies. People find it very hard to give up milk and naturally it is important to discuss other options.

One of the reasons for this is that milk and other dairy products contain morphine like substances that make them difficult to remove from our diet.

‘Dairy cheeses are a hard habit to break due to the opiate receptors they activate in our brains’ says oncologist Dr Thomas Lodi.

Another issue people have is they are concerned that if they give up dairy they will not consume sufficient calcium in their daily diet. A fact that seems to be misunderstood is that dairy is not the only food that contains calcium.

Culturally Asians get by with virtually no dairy in their diet and do not have an higher incidence of osteoporosis or fractures. Their calcium needs are met through a plant based diet which includes nuts, seeds (especially sesame seeds), green leafy vegetables and seaweed.

Also of importance in Asian cultures that do not consume dairy are the lower levels of certain cancers, in particular breast and prostate cancer. The same population studies found increased incidences of breast and prostate cancer in Chinese and Japanese who migrated to Western countries.

According to Dr Patrick Kingsley (now retired), author of The New Medicine, dairy products should never be consumed by people who have cancer and are undergoing cancer treatments. Experts believe that removing dairy from the diet gives the sufferer the best chance of recovery.

Previously milk alternatives were notoriously hard to find but now the choices are endless – quinoa milk, rice milk, coconut milk etc. and all with significant health benefits.

Almond milk is a favourite of mine and easy to make.  It is full of nutrients – it is both high in protein and omega fatty acids, not to mention iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc. Almond milk also contains the antioxidants Vitamin A & E without the saturated fat. Not only that but almond milk, or any nut milk, is very easy to make.