6 Reasons You Should Make The Switch To Almond Milk

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2. Cholesterol Free

Has your doctor told you that your cholesterol levels are too high? Then drinking almond milk should be a no-brainer. To lower cholesterol levels and give your heart a helping hand, drink almond milk, which is high in monounsaturated fats. The American Heart Association says that these types of healthy fats are associated with a lower risk of stroke and heart attacks. Almond milk has no saturated fat and absolutely no cholesterol.

3. Compare the Carbs

For those of you on a low carb diet, you should know that cow’s milk is much higher in carbohydrates than unsweetened almond milk. Regular cow’s milk has 12 grams of carbs in one 8-ounce glass. This is due to the natural sugar in milk, called lactose. One cup of unsweetened almond milk has less than 1 gram of carbs! Now keep in mind that many commercially made almond milks do contain sugar, which can increase the amount of carbs in one cup to 16 grams of carbs. Opt for unsweetened almond milk and make staying on your low carb diet easier and tastier than you thought possible.

4. Low Calorie Drink

For those of you who are watching your weight (and who isn’t?), you will be happy to know that unsweetened almond milk has half the calories of regular cow’s milk. Please note that almond milk does not have as much protein as cow’s milk, but as long as you get your protein from other sources, this shouldn’t be a problem. Eating a balanced diet is the key!

5. What’s That About Protein?

Cow’s milk is much higher in protein than almond milk, no doubt about it. Protein is a vital part of the diet because it provides your body with the building blocks of lean muscle mass, healthy weight management, and even helps your body to burn extra calories. Whole cow’s milk or even skim milk has 8 grams of protein. Compare this to the 1 gram of protein in almond milk. However, you can purchase protein-enriched almond milk, which should snag you about 5 grams of protein. As we mentioned, however, getting all your protein from one source is not a good idea anyway. Aim to consume a balanced diet for the best health.

6. Almond Milk Might Prevent Cancer

Well, here is something cow’s milk can never claim! In fact, the journal Nutrition and Cancer found that drinking almond milk can prevent prostate cancer while cow’s milk stimulated the growth of cancer cells due to its high estrogen level. This is due to the hormones cows are fed to keep them producing more milk for a longer period of time. Almond milk has the opposite effect and was shown to suppress cancer cell growth by as much as 30 percent!

If you do choose to buy store bought almond milk, look for a brand that has added protein but no added sugars. Many almond milks are fortified with extra vitamins and minerals.

However, if you would like to make your own natural almond milk at home, take a look at the following super easy recipe!

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