Milking It

Day 3 yeahhhhhh!

Cow milk is something most of us grew up on. It's claim is that if you drink a glass a day you will lose weight. But is that really true? In nature, a cow produces milk for her calf which will one day grow into a 1400 lb. cow. I don't know of any human who should weigh that much. Humans were not meant to drink cow milk. Also, milk is packed with hormones. Hormones have been linked to a variety of health problems. The good news is there are other options. Today we will be focusing on alternative milks.

Alternative milks, you've probably seen them at your local grocery store. The varieties seem endless and overwhelming. Which one tastes better? What's the difference? Will I get high if I drink the Hemp Milk? The following milks have the consistency and look of regular cow's milk. It can be daunting at first, but you can use these milks exactly as you would regular cow's milk.

Soy Milk: This is the milk that everyone has heard of. The good thing about soy is it's made from soybeans which are on their own complete proteins. The bad, the bean itself is genetically modified to withstand certain weed killers while it's growing in the ground. Studies show that it can have an effect on the body and let's face it, do you really want to put something in your body that's been genetically modified. No thanks, I'll leave that for a sci-fi movie starring Jeff Goldblum. Look I eat soy products, it's still better than a lot of other things, but if there is another alternative then I'll take the healthier option. Also if you must have a soy product look for the word organic, this ensures the product has not been genetically modified.

Nut Milks: These come in a variety of nuts. I've seen Hazelnut Milk, Cashew Milk, and Almond Milk. Almond Milk is a staple food out our house. We use it for everything; cereal, cooking, everything. I like these milks because they're not genetically modified and they are made primarily with nuts which are high in protein. Nutritionally this is a good alternative.

Hemp Milk: The name alone sounds like your living on the edge. As the name claims, this milk is made from hemp seeds. Yes, as in marijuana. Fortunately, (or unfortunately for some of you) the seeds contain no trace of THC, which is what gives the hallucinogenic drug effect. So it's safe to drink and you don't have to worry about getting the munchies at 4:20. This milk is a good alternative to nut milk for anyone who has nut allergies. Hemp milk is a good source of Omega's and amino acids, making it a high source of protein. This milk also has a nutty flavor and nutritionally it is nothing but pure awesomeness.

Rice Milk: Rice milk is made from tun-ta-da-da rice! Because it's made from rice it is naturally sweet which makes this a good milk for baking and desserts. Rice milk is usually fortified with vitamins and is high in carbohydrates. This is one I don't particularly drink, only because nutritionally it doesn't compare with the other milks, still not a bad option especially for those with allergies to nuts.

Coconut Milk: Best tasting milk ever! If I had only one choice of milk it would be this one. This one can always be found in our refrigerator. I can drink a whole carton of this on it's own. As the name says it's made from coconut and tastes amazing, at least in my opinion. It has a sweet flavor (it is high in sugar) and it's got a nice texture. This milk is great for everything! Nutritionally, I'd take this over cow's milk, but in the world of alternatives it's probably not as awesome as nut and hemp.

Canned Coconut Milk: This is a much thicker version of coconut milk. I don't recommend drinking it straight out of the can, unless you're into a really thick consistency. This milk is more for smoothies and cooking. 

Give alternative milk a chance and see what you think. If you've tried all these milks and simply cannot give up cow milk then I would suggest looking for milk that is hormone free. When you look at the label make sure it is labeled "NO rBGH." This will ensure that the milk you are drinking is not chock-full of nasty hormones.

Tonight I will be sharing with you a very easy to make Dairy-free yogurt recipe!

Melissa
Our Daily Veg