Almond milk: is it the better milk alternative?

Almond milk is a possible alternative to cow's milk not only for vegans, but also for people with lactose intolerance. In this practical tip, we will tell you whether this is really a good alternative.

Almond milk: is it the better milk alternative?

In addition to soy milk, almond milk is a well-known milk substitute in Germany. For almond milk, the nuts are roasted, finely ground and mixed with water. Usually a little sugar, honey or agave syrup is added.

• Almond milk can be used for almost all dishes like normal cow's milk. You can also froth almond milk for cappuccino.
• Like all nuts, almonds contain a relatively large amount of unsaturated fatty acids and therefore also many calories. Since there are only 2 to 10 percent almonds in almond milk, the fat content of 2 to 3 grams per 100 ml is not greater than that of cow's milk.
• Unsweetened almond milk only contains around 13 calories per 100 ml. However, depending on the manufacturer, the sugar content should not be underestimated at up to 10 grams per 100 ml.
• The proteins and minerals are largely lost during the production of almond milk. Some manufacturers add these substances later. Almond milk is generally not suitable as a replacement for a calcium source.
• Almond milk is a suitable replacement product, especially for allergy sufferers. Soy, gluten, milk protein and lactose are not included here. However, infants should not be switched to almond milk. Due to the low number of nutrients, malnutrition can occur.

Almond milk: Ecologically unsustainable

Almond milk is often not only lacking in nutrients, there are also some disadvantages in production. Almond milk cannot really be produced sustainably for the German market.

• Almonds only grow in warm climates. In many cases, water is becoming scarcer in these areas due to intensive landscape use and monocultures. However, an almond needs around 4 liters of water from flower to harvest.
• Most of the almonds come from California. For the German market, however, the almonds for almond milk come from the Iberian Peninsula or from southern Italy. Bee colonies are generally used to pollinate monocultures.
• Conclusion: Almond milk is not exactly the most ecological food because of the long transport routes and the high water requirements. If you buy an organic product, it will be produced a little more sustainably.

In the next practical tip, we will show you how to make almond milk yourself.