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Standard milk is chock full of growth hormones, antibiotics, and even pus cells. Just saying. But it's true: the USDA allows up to 750 million of the little nasties from our overworked cows' udders to appear in just one liter of the stuff we buy at the grocery store. You should also be aware that osteoporosis - you know, the disease we've all been made to fear - is not a disease of lack of calcium but a disease of too much protein, a fact that the dairy and meat industries would rather we overlook. Check the research if you don't believe me.
Then there's my own personal research. The fact that, after removing all dairy but high-quality yogurt from my diet I noticed clearer skin, more energy and the disappearance of the allergy symptoms that had plagued me for years.
So, as many of us become wise to this reality, in comes the opportunity for milk-alternative producers to make a buck. Be careful! Many of the substitutes readily available these days simply swap the devil that we know for one we don't expect: extra sugars, salt, carageenan (inflammatory and potentially carcinogenic), "natural" flavors (a catch-all for things like MSG and artificial sweeteners), vegetable oils and more, all in commercially prepared almond, soy and coconut milks.
So what's a savvy, health-conscious consumer to do? Make your own! I'd encourage you to try them all, but in the absence of the time to do so, I offer you one of my favorites. Hemp seed (no jokes here please) is available in some grocery stores, all natural food stores, and on-line. It stores well for long periods of time in the freezer, and is a nutritional powerhouse. You can sprinkle it on your salad, cereal or stir fry (no relation to french fry, sorry) AND use it to easily make a frothy, delicious, TRULY healthy milk alternative.
Just blend 1/4 cup hemp seeds, 2-3 cups water, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract and 10 drops of liquid stevia. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, and use in much the same way you would use cow's milk.
Hope this helps!
♥ Valerie
Then there's my own personal research. The fact that, after removing all dairy but high-quality yogurt from my diet I noticed clearer skin, more energy and the disappearance of the allergy symptoms that had plagued me for years.
So, as many of us become wise to this reality, in comes the opportunity for milk-alternative producers to make a buck. Be careful! Many of the substitutes readily available these days simply swap the devil that we know for one we don't expect: extra sugars, salt, carageenan (inflammatory and potentially carcinogenic), "natural" flavors (a catch-all for things like MSG and artificial sweeteners), vegetable oils and more, all in commercially prepared almond, soy and coconut milks.
So what's a savvy, health-conscious consumer to do? Make your own! I'd encourage you to try them all, but in the absence of the time to do so, I offer you one of my favorites. Hemp seed (no jokes here please) is available in some grocery stores, all natural food stores, and on-line. It stores well for long periods of time in the freezer, and is a nutritional powerhouse. You can sprinkle it on your salad, cereal or stir fry (no relation to french fry, sorry) AND use it to easily make a frothy, delicious, TRULY healthy milk alternative.
Just blend 1/4 cup hemp seeds, 2-3 cups water, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract and 10 drops of liquid stevia. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, and use in much the same way you would use cow's milk.
Hope this helps!
♥ Valerie