The truth about almond milk
A trip to the supermarket milk aisle can be a minefield of information. From low fat skim milk to calcium-enriched soy milk, there’s certainly no shortage of options. If milk choices weren’t confusing enough, an explosive article by The Atlantic has found that almond milk, the leading alternative to dairy milk, might not be as healthy or eco-friendly as you think.
Almond milk is a popular option for those who suffer from lactose intolerance or are searching for an eco-friendly vegan alternative to cow’s milk. And while it can be a good source of vitamin E and omega 3 fats, almond milk may have a few shortcomings you weren’t aware of.
The Sydney Morning Herald revealed that some brands of almond milk contain only two per cent almonds, while the other 98 per cent is actually water with emulsifiers and artificially added nutrients.
It’s also worth noting that those trendy homemade almond milk recipes don’t account for calcium. Making DIY almond milk might seem like a healthy approach but, in reality, soaking and straining almonds for their goodness means your milk alternative is lacking one of the key benefits of milk: calcium.
Nutrients aside, The Atlantic has found that almond milk is having a serious impact on the environment. It revealed that California, which produces more than 80 per cent of the world’s almond supply, is struggling to meet demand during a drought.
In fact, it takes five litres of water to grow one almond in California. One. Almond. To cope with the demand in draught time, farmers are drilling into the ground to tap into aquifers.
"Over-pumping of aquifers threatens infrastructure like roads, which stand to collapse into sunken ground," reported The Atlantic.
So what’s the solution? Seek local. Where possible, try to find milk or milk alternatives from local suppliers. Always check that your almond milk is calcium fortified and that it’s got all the essential nutrients.
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“Healthy” foods that could be harming your health