The Health Edit: All about Almond Milk

  • Category: Food
  • January 4, 2018

A popular beverage, almond milk is a healthy and tasty alternative to milk. Here are the facts you need to know about almond milk. 

  • Made from ground almonds and filtered water, almond milk may also contain starches and thickeners to improve its consistency and shelf life.  
  • It is lower in calories than other milks, as long as it is unsweetened.  
  • 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk has around about 30 to 60 calories, with 1 gram of carbohydrates (sweetened varieties have more), 3 grams of fat, and 1 gram of protein. 
  • Even though almonds are a good source of protein, commercial almond milk is not, also not a good source of calcium unless some brands are supplemented with calcium and vitamin D. 

Pros of Almond Milk (BOX-OUT) 

  • It’s low in calories and contains no saturated fat.
  • It’s a good source of vitamin A and can be fortified to be a good source of calcium and vitamin D and B12.
  • It’s free from saturated fat.
  • It’s vegan and naturally lactose-free.

 Cons of Almond Milk (BOX-OUT) 

  • It’s not a good source of protein.
  • Offtheshelf almond milk rarely contains almonds. 
  • It may contain carrageenan,an algae derivative used for consistency, which may cause digestive issues in some people.

 (Credit: Nathalie Djabrayan, licensed clinical dietitian)