Almond Milk

Is cow’s milk bad for us?

If we chose to consume cow’s milk or not is a personal decision everyone needs to evaluate for themselves. I think cow’s milk has a lot to offer, if raw. Raw milk does have many health benefits, which pasteurized milk lacks. Raw milk also comes with many enzymes, which help to digest the milk.

Because I personally don’t like to support industrial farming and their downsides on environment, animals and the actual product, I decided to buy raw milk from a local farmer. I think it is also important to get our children involved in grocery shopping. I know, it is way easier without them, but to let them know where our food is coming from and which choices we have in our food supply, might be more important for their future than anything else.

Meet the milk man!

That said, we meet maybe once or twice a month that friendly man, who really cares about the health and happiness of his cows. Usually, I buy two jars of fresh raw and nutritious milk. Over the years there has been grown a little community of crafty people around him, who also sell their organic homemade products, such as kefir, sourdough bread, sauerkraut and fresh produce. Wonderful.

Still, milk is not a staple in our kitchen. Besides of environmental and quality reasons, there might be also health concerns, why it would be better for some people to avoid cow’s milk completely. Many people can’t digest lactose, the sugar in milk. Milk protein, casein and whey, can also create health issues for some people. Many people experience joint pain, acne, digestive problems, such as bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea.

So the decision what kind of milk you choose in your diet, is literally made by your body. Listen to it and you will know.

Homemade is Best!

In case your body says no to dairy, here is a great basic nut milk recipe, which you can use for any kind of nut or seed. The process of soaking, blending and straining is always the same. The flavour you want to give your “milk” is up to you.

For sweetness I like to use dates, maple syrup, honey or sometimes xylitol, a sugar alcohol made from birch trees (don’t buy the one made from GM-corn). It is a processed sugar from a natural source and it has almost no effect on your blood glucose and insulin. It is a good alternative for people who need to watch their blood glucose level.

Spices are also a great way to add taste and upgrade in health supporting features. Cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, fennel seeds and cloves are beneficial for digestion, blood glucose level, teeth and gum infection and even protective against parasites. You can also blend in some raw cocoa powder, which is very rich in magnesium, or half a vanilla bean for Vanilla Milk.

Almond Milk

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw almonds, soaked
• 3-4 cups of water
• 2 medjool dates or more, pitted
• 1/4 tsp of cinnamon
• 1/2 whole vanilla bean, chopped into smaller pieces, optional

Instructions

1

Soak the almonds over night and peel off the skin the next day.

2

Pit the dates and add all ingredients to your blender.

3

Blend on a high-speed for around 3-4 minutes, depending on the strength of your blender.

4

Pour through a nut milk pulp bag and squeeze the bag to get all the liquid out.

5

Keep in a air-tight container in the fridge up to 3 days.

6

Give it a shake before using it.

Notes

You can also use 1/2 cup almonds and 1/2 cup cashews, or any other nuts and seeds.