Living Healthy and Wealthy: June 2012

Does milk really do a body good? If you believe the U.S. government's dairy campaigns, the "My Plate" food pyramid and other old wives tales, then you'd probably say yes.

Did you know we are the only mammals that drink another mammal's milk? We know that most people drink cow's milk, but the most surprising fact is that not only do we barely absorb the calcium in cow’s milk (especially if pasteurized), but to make matters worse, it actually increases calcium loss from the bones.

Unbelievable right? I agree. Especially after having those milk campaigns and doctors drill into your head that you should have a serving a milk with each meal. What a waste!! Still don't believe it? Here's how the calcium loss plays out. Animal protein acidifies the body pH (milk is an animal protein). Calcium is an excellent acid neutralizer. The biggest storage of calcium in the body is in the bones. Therefore, the same calcium our bones need to stay strong is used to neutralize the acidifying effect of milk. The calcium is pulled out of the bones and leaves the body through the urine. The end result is an actual calcium deficit.

So am I anti dairy? No way! Occasionally, I love my full-flavored, full-fat butter pecan and pistachio ice creams. And I absolutely love low-fat cottage cheese. But nowadays, my milk of choice is almond milk. It contains more nutrients than other dairy milk alternatives like rice milk, it tastes great and you can find unsweetened versions that will only set you back 35 to 40 calories per serving.

According to my health nut colleagues "3 fat chicks" - Here are 6 benefits of almond milk:

Benefit #1: Weight Management

The low caloric content of almond milk causes less of an impact on our daily consumption of food calories. Some milk varieties contain more sugars than the cereal they get combined with.

Benefit #2: Heart Health

Almond milk contains no cholesterol and only 5 mg of sodium per serving. Consuming foods low in sodium and cholesterol help us to maintain better heart health and normal blood pressure. Without cholesterol, almond milk also decreases our chances of gaining bad cholesterol levels, all while increasing the good cholesterol levels. Almond milk also contains 150 mg of potassium in every serving. This mineral works to promote healthy blood pressure.

Benefit #3: Blood Sugar Friendly

Unlike other milk alternatives, the plain almond option contains only 8 grams of carbohydrates per serving. The 7 grams of sugars that make up the carbohydrate content have a limited affect on our blood sugar levels. When we consume simple sugars, our metabolic functions tend to miss the nutrients, storing much of the carbs as fat. Instead, the low amount of sugars in almond milk have a low glycemic nature, meaning our bodies fully digest them and use them as energy. Diabetics benefit from this characteristic as well.

Benefit #4: Bone Health

Almond milk contains 30% of our recommended daily value of calcium and 25% of Vitamin D. These nutrients work together to build strong bones in men, women and children. Vitamin D also helps improve immunity and cell function. Some studies have shown that Vitamin D helps decrease osteoporosis and even Alzheimer’s disease. The magnesium in found in almond milk helps absorb more of the calcium provided by the nutritious beverage.

Benefit #5: Skin Care

Every serving of pure almond milk contains 50% of our recommended daily value of Vitamin E. This powerful nutrient has antioxidant abilities in that it helps regulate Vitamin A use and availability.
More importantly, Vitamin E acts as the primary regulatory nutrient that improves skin health.

Benefit #5: Eye Health

The moderate levels of Vitamin A found in almond milk helps keep our eyes functioning properly. Vitamin A directly influences the eye’s ability to adjust to differences in light.

Benefit #6: More Muscle Power

Even though almond milk only contains 1 gram of protein per serving, it does contain B Vitamins in the form of riboflavin, plus other muscle regulating nutrients like iron. Each serving of almond milk contains about 4% of our recommended daily intake of iron, which helps muscles absorb and use protein for energy, growth and repair. Iron also regulates certain cell functions like oxygen absorption.

So there you have it! On your next grocey shopping trip, consider adding almond milk to your list. Try it out, see what you think. You can use almond milk just like you would use regular dairy milk. It works well in recipes, smoothies, cereals and as a stand alone beverage. Just be sure to read the label. You don't want to buy those sweetened and flavored ones with all the extra calories and sugar. Try the plain version or if you just gotta have flavor - try the vanilla- most are under a 100 calories per serving.

There is one caveat: be sure to shake the container well before serving since the milk is fortified with calcium which may have settled. Additionally, the milk should be consumed within about seven days of opening, which you may find is a shorter life than dairy milk. Once you start drinking it, it won't last seven days!!

Until next time, here's to your health and wealth!

Bonus Nugget!!!!!

Looking to add even more calcium to your diet? Coral Calcium may do the trick!!

Calcium is a daily calcium supplement that support your health providing you a complete source of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D, plus chondroitin and glucosamine to help nourish your body and skeletal system. It may also help to increase the absorption of magnesium and potassium while maintaining healthy bones and teeth.

Everyday health benefits: