Weight-Loss Almond milk - what exactly is the point?

[sharoo]

Somebody mentioned almond milk on one of these threads, so I impulsively picked up a carton without really looking at the nutrition label. I guess I thought - "Almonds! Almonds are good for you - must be a health food." When I tasted it I was disappointed at how sweet it was (I like flavor, but I don't really have that much of a sweet tooth.)

Well, gosh, no wonder!! The first ingredient (after water) is sugar. Oh, excuse me, not sugar - "evaporated cane juice."
Sure, almonds are good for you, but there really doesn't seem to be much almond in this concoction.

Is this actually considered a nutritious food, or is it intended more as a treat for people who like sweet drinks? Or is it simply one of those over-sugared fake foods for vegans that nobody else really uses?

 

[KaraCooks]

one of those over-sugared fake foods for vegans that nobody else really uses?

Wow. That's quite a statement. Aside from vegans who might or might not have made the choice to eat that way for ethical reasons, there are a great many people who cannot drink cow or goats milk and who don't want to drink too much (or don't like) soy milk.

I have a friend who cannot consume milk from an animal - for whatever reason her body won't tolerate it and she gets physically ill (throwing up, diarrhea, etc.). Not only does it affect things like drinking milk and eating cereal and so forth, but she can't eat anything that is MADE with milk - baked goods, casseroles with cheese products,etc.

She doesn't want to consume too much by way of soy products because of the potential estrogen issues, so although she does use soy milk, she also uses almond milk.

She isn't thrilled with the added sweetener, but it's not a "fake food" for her. It's a way that she is able to eat somewhat "normally" w/out making herself ill.

I wish people would remember that not everyone is built the same way and that just because you don't choose/want to use those foods doesn't make them "fake foods".

 

[San2]

Agreed.

In addition, just like coconut milk, you can get almond milk with additional sugar, sweeteners, or pure - the pure version is a lot less sweet, and actually very tasty.

So to get the proper stuff, you have to read the label. Just because it says almond milk on the bottle, doesn't mean that it is 'pure' almond milk.

 

[sharoo]

Wow. That's quite a statement. Aside from vegans who might or might not have made the choice to eat that way for ethical reasons, there are a great many people who cannot drink cow or goats milk and who don't want to drink too much (or don't like) soy milk.

Sorry, I didn't mean it as an attack on anybody that drinks it. I'm just wondering if it is a food that exists only as a substitute food for people who can't or won't drink milk, or if it has some special nutritional qualities that aren't immediately apparent.

 

[KaraCooks]

I'm just wondering if it is a food that exists only as a substitute food for people who can't or won't drink milk, or if it has some special nutritional qualities that aren't immediately apparent.

Why do you assume that people who drink it automatically use it as a milk substitute.

If I eat chicken, am I using that as a pork substitute?
If I eat rice, is that a potato substitute?
If I eat an apple, is that an orange substitute?

I have no issues with milk, ethically or physically, and I still enjoy the taste of almond milk in some things. It has a different flavor and a different texture.
It also has no cholesterol, and it doesn't spoil as quickly as regular milk.

I have a couple of pretty gourmet desert recipes that call for almond infused milk - which is exactly the same thing as almond milk. You can actually make it at home by mixing water with ground almonds, soaking them, and then straining out the bits (or leaving them in if you want the texture).

Oh, and as far as being a "created" food for people who can't drink milk - almond milk was being made in Arabic countries (where the almond originated) 700 years ago. And it was used in the Middle Ages for people observing Lent. So it's hardly a recent "fake food" invention.

But I guess ultimately my question is why do you care? Seriously I'm not trying to be rude or pissy or anything ... I honestly don't get why people care about stuff like this and I guess I really am wondering why it matters. So what if it was created to be a milk sub and now has other uses. Yogurt was created by accident and now it's everywhere. Does it really matter?

 

[katejohnson]

Well i think that almonds are really good for health. Rather i would like to say that dried fruits and nuts are the best nutritional food to snack upon. They have good amount of nutrition and rich in fiber........so i like it.

 

[bodyforum]

Almond milk is useful as part of the diet, and can also be used as a beauty product.

 

[M_Marie]

Oh, and as far as being a "created" food for people who can't drink milk - almond milk was being made in Arabic countries (where the almond originated) 700 years ago. And it was used in the Middle Ages for people observing Lent. So it's hardly a recent "fake food" invention.

But I guess ultimately my question is why do you care? Seriously I'm not trying to be rude or pissy or anything ... I honestly don't get why people care about stuff like this and I guess I really am wondering why it matters

I think originally the question was posed by the OP because she found that something she 'thought' to be healthy didnt 'seem' so healthy after reading ingredients.


I think it was just a matter of her not realizing that is was something like when you buy something like yogurt or soy milk... there are some very healthy soy milks and yogruts... and then there is super sweet soy milk with additives... and yogurt with oreo cookies in it....


not all almond milk is created equal!

 

[sharoo]

Why do you assume that people who drink it automatically use it as a milk substitute.

Why do you assume that I assume that? Nothing could be further from the truth. I happily eat food that is labeled "vegetarian" on restaurant menus although I am also an enthusiastic meat eater. I love tofu, for instance, and find it annoying that many people think of anything with soy in it as a "meat substitute." I also have certain foods I cannot eat or must eat in moderation, and would never assume that everybody is like me (as you said in your ealier comment). I don't see anything in my post that implies otherwise, and do not understand why you are making these assumptions about me.

I have a couple of pretty gourmet desert recipes that call for almond infused milk - which is exactly the same thing as almond milk.

That is interesting, and exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. Except that I think "almond infused milk" is a dairy product with almond added to it, whereas almond milk (at least as sold in stores) seems to be a non-dairy product. I'd imagine you could substitute one for the other in a recipe.

Oh, and as far as being a "created" food for people who can't drink milk - almond milk was being made in Arabic countries (where the almond originated) 700 years ago. And it was used in the Middle Ages for people observing Lent. So it's hardly a recent "fake food" invention.

Thank you. That was exactly the sort of information I was looking for.

But I guess ultimately my question is why do you care? Seriously I'm not trying to be rude or pissy or anything ... I honestly don't get why people care about stuff like this and I guess I really am wondering why it matters. So what if it was created to be a milk sub and now has other uses. Yogurt was created by accident and now it's everywhere. Does it really matter?

Why shouldn't I care? I'm interested in trying different kinds of foods, especially ones that are both tasty and healthful. I bought this product which was labeled "almond milk" thinking it would be something like the food that you have described in your post. Instead it turned out to be essentially junk food - primarily sugar water with a faint almond flavor. The only nutrient it contains in significant quantity is calcium, and I'm pretty sure that was added. I wanted to know whether there really is a healthful and/or interesting ethnic food called "almond milk" that I should keep looking for, or whether it's one of those health food scams - an unhealthy sugary food with a health food label. It sounds like the answer is the former, not the latter. This is useful information.

 

[sharoo]

I think originally the question was posed by the OP because she found that something she 'thought' to be healthy didnt 'seem' so healthy after reading ingredients.


I think it was just a matter of her not realizing that is was something like when you buy something like yogurt or soy milk... there are some very healthy soy milks and yogruts... and then there is super sweet soy milk with additives... and yogurt with oreo cookies in it....


not all almond milk is created equal!

Thank you. That is indeed what I meant.