As a vegan or lactose-intolerant person, if you’re looking for alternatives for typical dairy milk, you could consider adding almond milk to your diet. Extracted from almonds with a creamy texture, the beverage has many health advantages. Diabetics looking for the unsweetened variety can also find it easily. Although not suitable for people with nut allergies, the benefits of almond milk are varied with a range of vitamins and minerals similar to dairy products. You can drink it as is or add it to tea, coffee, shakes, and even desserts.
Health Benefits of Almond Milk
Contributes to Heart Health
Nutrients like calcium and vitamin D present in almond milk are also essential for maintaining heart health. The calcium prevents the formation of blood clots and relaxes the heart muscles to prevent high blood pressure. If you cannot tolerate dairy or soy products, almond milk could be the next best alternative because it contains similar nutrients. The phosphorus and potassium present in almond milk also aids in proper blood circulation by expanding the arteries and preventing blockages. Added benefits of almond milk include zero cholesterol and saturated fat, but a good amount of healthy fats.
Can be Used to Supplement Breast Milk
The nutrients in almond milk are similar to those found in human milk. The beverage is rich in vitamins C and D in addition to iron and protein all of which are ideal for the growth and development of an infant.
Strengthens the Immune System
The various vitamins and minerals present in almond milk can help you resist the effects of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens that cause diseases. In this way, the beverage can help boost your immune system and resistance.
Builds Healthy Bones and Teeth
A single serving of almond milk can provide you with 30% of the required daily dose of calcium. And, that makes the beverage perfect for growing children and aged people. In addition, it also contains vitamin D which aids in the absorption of the calcium and prevents osteoporosis as well as arthritis.
Improves Muscle Strength and Tone
A regular intake of almond milk can help in improving muscle strength. That’s because the beverage contains rich amounts of riboflavin, a kind of vitamin B that works with iron and protein. All of these nutrients are essential for the development and repair of your muscles. This property also makes almond milk ideal for athletes and bodybuilders.
Rejuvenates Your Skin
The oxidizing effects of pollution and aging together contribute to the appearance of lines and wrinkles. By drinking almond milk regularly, you get the benefits of its antioxidant properties along with vitamins A and E that helps in repairing the damage to your skin. In addition, you can use the liquid as a cleansing and toning agent to lend a lovely glow to the skin.
Improves Digestion and Helps in Weight Loss
The rich fiber content present in almonds is helpful in keeping your digestive system healthy. If you’re looking to lose weight, drinking almond milk may be a good choice. That’s because of the low fat and low calorie content and generous content of other nutrients that will keep your energy levels up.
Other Benefits of Almond Milk
Aside from these benefits of almond milk, the beverage has various other positives you’d like to know about:
- Helps protect you from prostate cancer by preventing the growth of LNCaP cancer cells.
- Keeps your eyes healthy and improves vision thanks to the vitamin A content.
- Beneficial for diabetics since it has a low glycemic index and does not contain sugar, but has a high fiber content.
- You can store the beverage at room temperature because unlike dairy products, it is not likely to go sour.
Aside from the health benefits of almond milk, you can enjoy it simply for the tasty, nutty flavor it has that goes well with any snack.