Does anyone drink almond milk?

[punk-a-doodle]

I had tons and tons of problems with cow's milk. I don't know if they lessened as I aged, but when I was older, I started trying no-hormone/free-range/and-so-on milk, and I haven't had any problems. I just can't eat too much yogurt or drink to much milk, or it breaks me out. But, I have to eat/drink quite a bit of the hippie stuff I like for that to happen. I found goat's milk is something I do really well on. I hated the taste as a kid, but I love it these days. I hear sheep milk is similar, but sweeter. Haven't tried it though.

Before I found that I could drink non-commercial milk though, I tried almond (yuck), soy (yuck), something else I can't remember (also a yuck), and then found rice milk. It has a sweeter and more pleasant taste to me. Still couldn't drink it plain though.

Oops, just read that this is an old thread. Sorry!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Thats quite all right Doodle. Good to read of other's experiences. I must admit I cheat. When I know I'm going to be indulging in milk I just take some imodium first.

 

[txchickie]

Both of my girls have MSPI (milk soy protein intolerance) and have struggled since birth. Both ended up on a prescription hypoallergenic formula because neither of them could even tolerate breastmilk. Now that they are older (18m and 5) they both drink regular almond milk.
I've never tried the almond milk, but they sure love the stuff

DH and I drink regular cow's milk, neither of us have any problems. We don't understand how our girls have such bad problems with digestion.

 

[cassie]

It has always been a mystery to me why anyone would use Silk and other milk substitutes (replacers) insead of milk unless they were lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy products. A wise nutritionist once told me not to eat anything that my grandmother would not recognize as food. I follow his advice. On occasion I have had to use milk replacers to raise baby calves and other baby livestock when for one reason or other I was short of milk. No matter how pricey and high quality the replacer is, the animals never do quite as well as those raised on real milk. I have no reason to believe the same isn't true for people.

 

[TriciaHowe]

I prefer the taste of almond milk over reg milk - although due to cost we usually buy regular milk (4 kids!). As to the almond milk being inferior to cow milk, it is actually better for you. There is nothing in almond milk as far as any weird chemicals added to it or anything like that and you can even make a home made version if you wanted too.
Some facts:

Almond milk has been used since the Middle Ages as a substitute for cow's milk. Because cow's milk doesn't keep very long without refrigeration, medieval people processed it into butter and cheese right away to preserve it. They used almond milk in cooking and baking, since it's easier to store.

Almond milk is one of the most nutritionally valuable milk substitutes available today. It is high in a number of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, iron, fiber, zinc and calcium. Almond milk is low in calories, at only 40 calories per eight ounce serving, and low in fat. It contains only three grams of fat per eight ounce serving. Almond milk is lactose, gluten, casein and cholesterol free; it's also free of saturated fats.

Almond milk also contains high levels of antioxidants, so it can help prevent many types of cancer and slow the signs of aging.

 

[AquaEyes]

Quote:
I use them because I like them and consider them just another variation in my diet. Soy milk has been around a long time in Asia, it's just only "new" here. So I'm sure there are plenty of Asian grandmothers who recognize soy milk.

I'm not knocking dairy, but we really can't compare how calves do with milk vs milk replacer as a reason for adult humans to drink milk because of two big differences -- species (cow vs human) and age (infant vs adult). And post-infant humans vary in their tolerance of cow-milk across cultures, strongly correlated with how long dairy was in the diet of their ancestors, as lactase persistence in adulthood is genetic and subject to being naturally selected for in those populations. And there are several other genes that affect taste and digestive abilities that have been selected for in various populations over a long history of particular foods being in their diets. Today, with people moving around and losing touch with "indigenous" diets of their ancestors in favor of mixed-bag "western diets", we find some people can't handle certain foods that are common to the diets of their neighbors, and have to seek alternatives. Unfortunately, some common items in "western" diets are not found in many other cultural diets, and this can explain some of the insensitive reactions people experience.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I know I'm late to the party (again) but I've substituted regular milk with almond, coconut, and soy milk. Honestly, when it's mixed with other stuff, you don't even notice it's different. Sometimes I buy unsweetened coconut milk and use it in creamy campbell's soups. It's delicious and has no extra carbs! I don't like it plain though, which is how I discovered I could use it in other things.

 

[kuntrygirl]

So soy milk is good for you?

 

[AquaEyes]

Quote:
If you have no allergies or problems digesting soy, then soy milk can be a "good for you" addition to your diet. I, personally, LOVE Vanilla Edensoy Extra for cereal, making oatmeal, in my coffee, or just to have some for a drink. It's a good source of calcium, beta carotene, vitamin B12, and other good stuff.

 

[erner]

My mom buys silk almond milk for my younger lactose-intolerant siblings, and it's not all bad. You might try that?