Almond milk or Dairy?

[HRHLadyG]

I currently buy Organic Dairy products for the family and am thinking about siwtching to Almond Milk......Any thoughts/Opinions/Experiences? x

[Delatron]

I have switched from organic milk to Hemp milk, I did try Almond but found the taste quite strong but not unpleasant. The thing to note is they both contain the same amount of calcium as milk, so you wouldn't be losing out there. I still give the kids organic milk on their cereal but if I am making porridge for us all I will use Hemp milk and they don't notice the difference.

Though for me I swapped as I wanted to reduce my exposure to hormones (had breast cancer). Current farming methods mean cows are milked constantly, even whilst pregnant. I do think the benefits of milk are overstated too.

One good thing about Hemp milk is it contains lots of Omega 3. It was recommended to me by a dietician.

[neriberi]

have you not thought about buying the Kara dairy free coconut milk? A lot of the alternatives to dairy have hidden nasties in them from sugars to preservatives. I'm extremely lactose intolerant and have tried pretty much all the alternatives, the dairy free coconut milk is by far my favourite and you can have it in tea...!

[HRHLadyG]

Thankyou both! Yes, I am concerned about hormones etc added into the food chain and our bodies.How does coconut milk fit with calcium and cholesterol? Which is the lowest in fats? I'd be concerned about swapping a milk with added sugars or additives..... x

[Delatron]

Neriberi makes a good point about sugar etc. I think that was also why I didn't stick with Almond. Hadn't thought of coconut milk so that is a good suggestion,
probably tastes better than hemp too. Coconut is low in the bad saturated fats and think is comparable to milk with regards to calcium, had a quick look on the Ocado website.

Hemp is cholesterol free and low in fat and has 50% of your daily omega 3 needs. It looks quite pure and is low in sugar. Rice milk is the worst for sugar content, this is what my dietician said so definitely one to avoid. I am keen to try coconut milk now though as well!

[neriberi]

If your worried about hormones stay well away from anything to do with soya! According to the back of the label for the coconut milk it has calcium, vitamin D2 & vitamin B12 in it. My DS loves the stuff & they do a chocolate flavour version too.

[ppeatfruit]

I am totally dairy free (for many reasons) I like organic soya milk; the Japanese have weaned their babies on it for millennia and BEFORE the west started pushing dairy at them they were slim and healthy not cancer ridden or obese (my DDs say that about hormones nereneri maybe the G.M. soya is not good IMO that is propaganda put out by the dairy industry)

I have tried almond milks but they don't taste of almonds very nice (I haven't tried the new Alpro one though!)

[narmada]

Cattle in the UK don't recieve hormones or antibiotic growth promoters IIRC.

[ppeatfruit]

No but of course cows HAVE to be lactating (which is a hormonal condition) to produce milk! No other mammals drink the milk of any other mammal after they've been weaned.

[Fredstheteds]

Just like breast milk then which many babies get.....unless you use the formula milk... Am sure that has plenty of horrors in it

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

But the hormones in breastmilk are their own mums not a different species

[ppeatfruit]

Exactly Wheresmycaffeine Also breast milk is designed for human babies (we don't feed it to calves!).

There's a very interesting paragraph in Flora Thompson's book Lark Rise to Candleford where she describes the health of the other DCs in the poverty stricken hamlet where she lived who were not given cows milk to drink because their parents couldn't afford it and she says how very healthy they were! They were outside all the time too.

Our GD is not given dairy milk because it gives her a runny nose, ear ache etc. she is the healthiest DC in her class!!!

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

I have to say that despite various information on the net going against original thought of dairy being a mucous producing product and can make asthma worse , I have a noticed a marked improvement in the health of dd1 since cutting out her dairy.

Improvements so far :

Her skin- less dry and although the eczema isn't irradicated it's improved alot.

She no longer has the toddler style pot belly

She has stopped looking like a drug addict (pale, skinny, dark circles under eyes, )

She actually looks quite healthy

Her asthma has not been as bad when it has flared up.

Coincidence maybe who knows but the difference has been surprising .

[ppeatfruit]

No Wheresmy not a coincidence at all. DH gets terrible asthma after having ANY milk (even he has given it up ) he's free of it until he has cream in his coffee !!! I get hay fever symptoms from dairy too.

There are a few people who are okay with it but IMO and E it shouldn't be universally acclaimed and used at all.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

I can't STomach alot to be honest. I eat ice cream or a creamy dessert and I always regret it. Three cups of coffee and my stomach feels all bleugh. If I could find a milk sub that works in coffee I'd be away :o the Kara is ok in coffee but goes a little grainy. Trouble is I've already got two milk subs for two children plus the semi skinned for my coffee so that would make a fourth kind :o could open a health store after that!!!

Dd2 is also dairy free. Is due a re-introduction I just can't face doing it now as we r eczema free, no sign of asthma yet (always on loom out though as she high risk of developing it) and I really really can't face rocking the boat to do it.

[ivanapoo]

I drink Alpro almond milk - both the sweetened and unsweetened varieties. I much prefer them to soya. They're on offer in most supermarkets at the moment so a good time to try them. I also like the Kara milk, but it's a bit more watery.

[ppeatfruit]

IKWYM Wheresmy I could def. open a health food shop! I've experimented and found in England the best (richest) and least likely to separate in hot drinks is the yellow pack, expensive japanese soya milk (annoyingly even Waitrose own organic is quite high in water). It makes a fab cappuccino it froths up more than dairy milk because it has no fat apparently.

Ivan I'll try the Alpro almond milk when I'm in Eng. next (I live 50% in Fr. where you can get cheap very good quality,locally grown !!! soya milk) DH drinks rice milk which is not bad but a bit watery and sweet for me; I like it for cooking though.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

I want to try almond milk except I'm worried dp will think I've gone nuts :) I've seen almond, hazelnut ,almond and hazelnut, and hemp milk I want to try !! The kids dubs are sorted it's just me :o

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

Subs

[ppeatfruit]

Try them! its an experiment isn't it? I always look at the ingredients of the nut milks and I don't buy if they put lots of sweeteners and thickeners etc. in them you could always make yr own with a hand held liquidiser it's a hell of a lot cheaper

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

How? Us it just nuts and water? :o

[Hoophopes]

I am currently using Alpro Almond milk as my ds is CMPI so I have had to eliminate dairy and soya from my diet. I find the Kara Coconut milk is good for cooking with. I found the Rice Milk a little sweet for in tea. There is also Oatly milk which is what the dietician is recommending my ds for when I stop breastfeeding.

[ppeatfruit]

wheresmy yes but first you grind the nuts (or buy them already ground but they don't have anywhere near the flavour of freshly ground (like coffee beans) Then I add a couple of dates for sweetness and don't add too much water to start just add the amount of water you like as you go IYSWIM.

Obviously it will separate if you leave it a while but you can just whisk again.

Hoophopes I find I bloat with ANY coconut product so don't use it. Oat milk is good and rice milk is nice in Rooibosch tea and coffee without sugar.