Alternatives to dairy milk have slowly started showing up in the aisles of your grocery store, and it may seem like every week there's a new plant-based milk option.
Why so many to choose from?
The latest highlights in health news have deemed dairy milk as unhealthy, saying it could be the cause for allergies and may actually increase your fracture risk.
With that in mind, it wouldn't be surprising if you started looking for a healthier alternative.
And, there are plenty. Instead of just regular whole, skim and low-fat dairy milk, varieties like almond, soy, coconut, rice, raw and many other types are making appearances on the shelves. If you suffer from lactose intolerance, or are simply looking out for your health and well-being, one of the most popular non-dairy milk options is almond milk; milk made from crushed almonds.
But, could there be an ulterior motive behind almond milk?
According to an article published in Mother Jones, a jug of almond milk that contains around 39 cents worth of almonds mixed in with additives and filtered water can cost around $3.99. Is it possible the high demand for non-dairy milk has caused a massive marketing scheme to get you to buy into this "healthier" alternative?
IS almond milk really healthy for you?
According to the same article in Mother Jones, a single ounce of raw almonds (28 grams) contains six grams of protein, three grams of fiber and 12 grams of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
Almond milk comes in a variety of flavors (unsweetened, sweetened, vanilla, etc.) and can range in calories, fat and sugars. One cup of Blue Diamond's unsweetened almond milk contains 60 calories, one gram of protein, seven grams of sugar and eight grams of carbs.
Given that, wouldn't eating raw almonds be a healthier option?
Dr. Holly discusses why you should always be aware of the ingredients you're ingesting, how almond milk is really made, and other non-dairy milk options to consider.