Almond Milk: Make the Swap from Dairy to Delicious

The number one question I get asked is “What should I eat?” I find that people have been sold a bill of goods about what is considered a health food. They are confused because they think they are eating the right thing, but the level of health they are pursuing is elusive. More often than not, those “health foods” are robbing them of the vitality they are so desperately seeking.

Case in point: milk. How many of us have been told that milk is a health food and essential for calcium? I’m sure you’ve heard the slogan, “Milk, it does a body good!” Marketing has done a great job in selling us this mistaken belief.

Make no mistake about it, with the pasteurized, homogenized milk on the market, nothing could be further from the truth. Milk does not provide our bodies with the calcium they need. It actually leaches it out of our bones, causing an overly acidic body, weak bones, and ultimately may lead to osteoporosis!

So what can you eat instead? How can you get your daily need for calcium? How can you truly nourish yourself?

Enter almonds! Almonds are an anti-aging powerhouse food to add to your arsenal. These little nuts are amazing! And they offer a wide array of health benefits.

Numerous studies have been conducted on the health benefits of almonds, and a clear picture has emerged showing that consuming almonds can make you look and feel better. And they taste great!

If you’re concerned about your heart health , you might consider making almonds one of your go-to foods. Almonds help reduce the risk of heart disease by protecting your artery walls from damage. According to the Loma Linda University School of Public Health, adding almonds to your diet five times a week can result in a 50% reduction in risk of heart attack.

Are your your cholesterol levels high? According to a clinical study by Dr. Gene Spiller, Director of the Health Research and Studies Center, Inc., almonds have a beneficial effect on blood cholesterol levels.

Do you worry about diabetes ? Almonds contain fiber, protein, and beneficial fats that help prevent blood sugar spikes, lowering the rise in blood sugar and insulin after meals.

This nut contains magnesium, copper, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron and B vitamins which are bone strengthening minerals. Having a diet rich in minerals helps you build strong and healthy bones and teeth .

Almonds contain riboflavin and L-Carnitine, which boosts brain activity and may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, supporting healthy brain function. According to Ayurveda, they help nourish the nervous system, increasing high intellectual levels and longevity.

Almonds are rich in antioxidants. As a matter of fact, one ounce of almonds has about the same number of antioxidants as broccoli. (Truth be told, I think almonds taste better and are more versatile than broccoli.)

Almonds are the only nut and one of the few proteins that help to alkalize the body . An acidic body ages you, causing you to be susceptible to osteoporosis, poor immune function, low energy, and weight gain.

Finally, almonds aid weight loss because they are rich in healthy fats. According to the Nurses’ Health Study, those who eat nuts are thinner on average than those who almost never consume nuts. In a study involving 8865 adults, those who ate nuts at least two times per week were 31 percent less likely to gain weight than were those who never or seldom ate them.

Incorporating almonds in your diet can help you look and feel younger! The question now becomes how can we eat more of them on a daily basis?

You can simply eat a handful of nuts every day. Almond milk can also replace dairy in your morning cereal or with your afternoon snack.

Almond Milk

Ingredients:

• 3 cups fresh, spring water
• 1 cup almonds (soaked for 24 hours)
• 1 date

Directions:

Soak almonds in fresh water for 24 hours. Rinse and drain thoroughly. Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender until smooth. Strain through a nut milk bag, cheesecloth, or fine strainer. Keep the almond pulp for other recipes. Refrigerate and enjoy.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy almonds is ice-cream!

Chocolate Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh almond milk
• ⅔ cup cashews (soaked for 8 hours)
• ½ cup raw cacao powder
• ½ cup coconut nectar
• ¼ cup Sunwarrior vanilla protein powder
• ½ teaspoon vanilla bean
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

Pour ½ cup of the almond milk and the cashews in a blender and process until completely smooth. Add the remaining almond milk and remaining ingredients. Blend until completely smooth.

Pour into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Serve immediately, enjoy!