Work it out in your smoothie with Almond Milk
Growing up as a child I loved the taste of milk and all the different kinds of foods that were made with dairy products – chocolate, ice cream, macaroni, cake, and all the other rich in dairy creamy products out there. But as I started to grow up and take notice of my adult body, I began to feel the effects that lactose can have on someone who’s intolerant to milk products; the bloating, cramping, gassy stomach, and even painful bowel movements. I also started to do quite of bit of modeling and needed to find ways to shed a few pounds, so I began to search for lower calorie options. I will admit that my search for a lactose-free substitute was more about losing weight; however in the process I realized that my stomach was not able to digest dairy products and I needed to doo do something about it.
My first attempt was Lactaid, the lactose-free milk substitute that did in fact work for my digestive system; however I didn’t really care for the taste of it. The same goes for soy milk, which was my next option, but again the taste turned me away and made me not like my usual foods that I paired with milk as much. My third attempt was the Lactaid pills, which worked for a while but then stopped after my digestive system got used to them. After complaining to my mother about my issues, she told me about this new milk substitute that not many people knew about at the time called almond milk, and how it contained no dairy and was literally made from almonds. At first I was skeptical, but after trying some of her almond milk at home, I soon grew to prefer it to regular milk because the taste was absolutely delicious. It made my daily cereal yummier and my smoothies and coffee creamer healthier with fewer calories. Check out a few of the benefits of almond milk listed below and see if it could be a good milk-substitute for you like it was for me. Work it out in your smoothie with almond milk like I have learned to.
The Benefits of Almond Milk
- Weight Management – One cup of almond milk is just 60-80 calories, while one cup of whole milk is 146 calories, one cup of 2% milk is 122 calories, one cup of 1% milk is 102 calories, and one cup of skim milk is 86 calories.
- Glowing Skin – Almond milk contains 50% of the daily recommended vitamin E intake, which helps to fight against harmful UV rays from the sun.
- Strong Bones – Although it lacks the calcium milk provides, it offers 30% of the recommended calcium intake and 25% of the recommended vitamin D intake. This helps to fight arthritis and osteoporosis, and helps provide healthy bones and teeth.
- Heart Health – Almond milk contains no saturated fat or cholesterol, is low in sodium and high in healthy fats such as omega fatty acids. This helps to prevent high blood pressure and heart disease.
- Reduces Diabetes Risk – Almond milk is low in carbohydrates which mean it won’t significantly increase blood sugar levels, thus reducing your risk of developing diabetes. The low glycemic index is used by your body to transfer the carbs into energy and not stored fat.
- Muscle Strength and Healing – Almond milk has 1 gram of or protein per serving, containing B vitamins important for muscle growth and healing.
- Healthy Digestion – Almond milk contains about 1 gram per serving which helps with a healthy digestive system.
- Refrigeration Free – Almond milk can be stored at room temperature which means it’s more easily transported and convenient to take in.
- Easy To Make – Almond milk can be made (if you don’t want the store-bought versions), by grinding up almonds, blending them with water, and filtering them through a pulp strainer.
- NO LACTOSE! – Almond milk is a great substitute for the 25% of Americans who cannot digest the sugar contained in cow’s milk, otherwise known as lactose.
Want to give it a try at home? Follow our easy-to-follow recipe below and tell us how you like our Almond Milk Peanut Butter and Mixed Fruit Smoothie!
Recipe: 1 cup almond milk, 1 cup mixed fruit, 1 raw banana, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 cup of ice chips.
Add your favorite whey or protein powder for a delicious pre and post workout smoothie.
Kat Turner
