• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
live love fruit logo

Live Love Fruit

Eat Vibrantly. Live Vibrantly

About Start Here Work With Me

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • About
  • Health
  • Remedies
  • Recipes
  • A-Z Conditions
  • Fitness
  • Environment
  • Self Improvement
  • My LLF
  • Shop
Category: > Health > Store-Bought Almond Milk: Why You Should Stop Buying It and How To Make Your Own

Store-Bought Almond Milk: Why You Should Stop Buying It and How To Make Your Own

Mar 19, 2018 Carly Fraser Save For Later Print

Last Updated: Oct 30, 2018

335 shares
  • Facebook302
  • Twitter7
  • LinkedIn

store-bought almond milk

As more and more people search out healthy alternatives to mucus-producing and disease-causing dairy products, they turn to store-bought almond milk, soy milk, hemp milk, and so on.

For many of us, these all seem like legitimate replacements, but it turns out that it may not be the case. With that being said, I’m referring to commercially-produced almond, soy, and cashew milks that you can find in grocery stores either in the refrigerated or shelf-stable isles.

Almond milk, is, naturally, a great plant-based alternative to milk. But it’s the way companies are producing it that’s the problem.

How Many Almonds Are Actually in Your Store-Bought Almond Milk?

While store-bought almond milk doesn’t contain harmful antibiotics or growth hormones that cow’s milk contains, it turns out that it actually offers very little in terms of nutritional value.

It turns out that a half gallon carton of almond milk contains less than a handful of almonds. In fact, one analysis of UK almond milk brand Alpro revealed that almonds only make up 2% of the total drink (1).

And this is quite consistent across the board. One spokesperson for the Almond Board of California said that ingredient combinations are “pretty similar” among UK and US almond milks (2). It was later revealed by almond growers and processors that this two percent ration recipe is the industry standard across the board.

That’s right – only 2% of almond milk is almonds. No wonder almond milk is so cheap, given the high price of almonds. If almond milk contained a healthy percentage of almonds, it sure wouldn’t be $3-4 for a carton. Instead, almond companies fill the bottles with mostly water, and other fillers that are harmful to our health.

Store-Bought Almond Milk and Unnecessary Ingredients

Due to the lack of almonds and watered-down consistency, almond milk manufacturers have had to come up with a solution by adding in fillers that provide the “bulk” of your almond milk.

This includes things like carrageenan, locust bean gum, gellan gum, and sunflower lecithin. While they’re relatively harmless (aside from some health concerns), you shouldn’t be giving your money to these companies that create products that aren’t even almond milk. You’re better off just making your own.

Carrageenan, while considered safe by the FDA, research indicates that carrageenan can cause gastrointestinal inflammation (3) and may even possibly contribute to cancer (4). It has also been linked to immune suppression (5), fetal toxicity (6) and glucose intolerance (7).

There are also added synthetic ingredients like those listed below:

– Vitamin A Palmitate: a synthetic version of vitamin A, that is associated with birth defects and bone fractures, while providing zero health benefits. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that “the acute and chronic effects of vitamin A toxicity are well documented in the literature. Emerging evidence suggests that subtoxicity without clinical signs of toxicity may be a growing concern, because intake from preformed sources of vitamin A often exceeds the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for adults (8).”

– Calcium Carbonate: this ingredient is derived from non-organic, non-living mineral sources like chalk and eggshells. Calcium carbonate is associated with serious health risks like cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer and kidney stones (9). Recent studies are even finding that supplementing with calcium can increase the rate of hip fractures in older women (10). Always steer clear of calcium-fortified foods. Instead, get your calcium from plant-based sources.

– Dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E): this additive is found in some brands of almond milk, but unfortunately, many people don’t know that it is derived from petroleum, and really does the body no good. This version of vitamin E has been shown to increase the risk of prostate cancer in healthy men (11). Even Dr. Marc Garnick, clinical professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School warns all of his patients to completely avoid any dietary supplements containing vitamin E.

How To Make Your Own Sprouted Almond Milk

If you’ve ever tried real, homemade almond milk, it is absolutely no comparison to store-bought almond milk. Store-bought almond milk tastes very watered down, and is unnaturally thickened in comparison. On the other hand, homemade almond milk tastes deliciously creamy, balanced, and provides your body with much-needed nutrients to fuel the body instead of tire it down.

While homemade almond milk will usually contain a higher fat percentage (that is, unless you really water it down), you should remember that this fat is good fat. Homemade almond milk provides the body with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, high-quality plant-based protein, vitamin E, copper, magnesium and antioxidants.

Homemade almond milk is also made from sprouted almonds, unlike store-bought almond milk, which is not. While most people don’t really care much for sprouting their nuts and seeds, it makes a significant difference in how well your body absorbs the nutrients and proteins in the nut and/or seed.

Almonds contain enzyme inhibitors (sometimes referred to as anti-nutrients), which are beneficial to the survivability of the nut, but can create major absorption issues in the human gut. This can cause many digestion-related issues like bloating, gas, fatigue, stomach pain, and more.

Fortunately, you can avoid these enzyme inhibitors by sprouting (soaking) the almonds first for eight hours, which releases the enzyme inhibitors, making them easier on digestion. Companies that mass-produce their almond milk do not undergo this process unless specifically stated on the bottle (I personally don’t know of any almond milk company that does this).

With that being said, here is how you can make your own homemade sprouted almond milk:

Ingredients:

– 1 cup organic almonds
– 4-5 cups filtered water
– optional: 1 tbsp. vanilla extract, 2 tbsp. maple syrup, 1/4 tsp. salt

Method:

1. Soak your almonds overnight for at least 8 hours.
2. Drain and rinse the almonds in the morning, and if you can, pop off the outer skins.
3. Blend your almonds with 4-5 cups (5 cups would make it slightly more watery) of filtered water in a high-speed blender like the Optimum G2.1.
4. Line a large glass bowl with a cheesecloth or nut milk bag.
5. Pour the blended almonds into the cheesecloth/bag and squeeze and press to extract around 3.5-4.5 cups of milk.
6. Pour the fresh milk into a clean blender and add the optional ingredients at this point. Blend on high.
7. Pour the milk into air-tight containers and store in the fridge. This should last about 1 week!

*You can use the almond pulp to make tasty raw cookies, or include it in your baking to add some extra fibre.

And that’s all! Making homemade almond milk is actually incredibly simple. Let me know in the comments below if you tried it out!

335 shares
  • Facebook302
  • Twitter7
  • LinkedIn

Filed Under: Food Education, Health Tagged With: almond milk, almond milk dangers, homemade almond milk recipe, store-bought almond milk

Carly Fraser

About the Author

Carly Fraser has her BSc (Hons.) Degree in Neuroscience, and is the owner and founder at Live Love Fruit. She currently lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with a determined life mission to help inspire and motivate individuals to critically think about what they put in their bodies and to find balance through nutrition and lifestyle. She has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals to re-connect with their bodies and learn self-love through proper eating habits and natural living. She loves to do yoga, dance, and immerse herself in nature.

View Profile

Reader Interactions

Related Posts

  • Strengthen Your Bones With This Coconut Almond Milk Recipe
  • Store-Bought Ketchup Promotes Weight Gain And Is Full of Artificial Additives. Here’s How To Make Your Own.
  • Make Your Own Coconut Milk To Strengthen Your Bones And Lower Bad Cholesterol
  • Health Proof Your Morning with this Almond Butter and Goji Berry Overnight Oatmeal
  • Drink Ginger and Turmeric Coconut Milk Before Bed To Help The Liver Remove Toxins
  • Drink This Turmeric Ginger Coconut Milk Before Bed To Promote Better Digestion And More Restful Sleep
  • This Citrus Kale Juice Recipe Contains Twice The Amount of Calcium Found In 1 Glass of Milk

Comments

  1. Wyandotte B. says

    Mar 20, 2018 at 9:51 am

    A great article. However, if what I read is correct, the enzyme inhibitors are in the brown skin. So I do not see why we couldn't make almond milk out of the white almonds. Also, I wonder if 8 hours' soaking would be sufficient. As I understand it, some fermentation has to take place, but maybe I misunderstood what I read elsewhere.

    It has always escaped me why anyone would buy that transparent "milk" when it has nothing in it. What garbage.

    Reply
    • Carly Fraser says

      Mar 20, 2018 at 1:28 pm

      Thanks for the comment! The brown skin can definitely be popped off the almonds after 8 hours. The white almonds you see bagged are often blanched, which means they have lost a lot of their nutrients (since they have been cooked). I recommend doing the soaking method for raw almonds, and you can take the skins off before blending if you please.

      Reply
  2. Clive says

    Mar 26, 2018 at 5:52 am

    1) How will you know if the almonds have sprouted properly?
    2) Organic almonds might be difficult to obtain – how important are they versus ordinary almonds?
    3) How important is filtered water?

    Reply
    • Carly Fraser says

      Mar 26, 2018 at 11:28 am

      Organic raw almonds are pretty common, I have been able to find them at my regular grocery store. You just need to soak the almonds until you can pop the skins off. Filtered water is important, just like any other water you drink. I never advise anyone to drink tap water.

      Reply
  3. Mel says

    Mar 30, 2018 at 3:05 pm

    Do you think I could freeze left over almond milk in ice trays to use later in cold smoothie's,? So it would not go to waste after 7 days.I have not made it yet but I am going to

    Reply
    • Carly Fraser says

      Mar 30, 2018 at 3:50 pm

      You could definitely do that! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Clive says

    Mar 31, 2018 at 1:52 pm

    I live in the largest city in South Africa and have been unable to find organic almonds. Should I therefore continue to use shop packaged almond milk rather than make my own almond milk from non-organic almonds?

    Reply
    • Carly Fraser says

      Mar 31, 2018 at 5:27 pm

      You can make almond milk with non-organic almonds, as it would still be better than buying packaged.

      Reply
      • Clive says

        May 1, 2018 at 1:35 am

        Carly, I've made three batches of almond milk now according to your recipe and it is infinitely better than the shop stuff – thicker, creamier and tastier.

        Reply
        • Carly Fraser says

          May 1, 2018 at 11:28 am

          That is so great to hear! Doesn't it taste SO much better?! I love fresh-made almond milk!

          Reply
  5. Connor says

    May 9, 2019 at 1:56 pm

    The blender you recommend is very expensive will a more inexpensive blender work? something like this https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ninja-Professional-1000-Watt-Blender-BL610/45806346 ?

    Reply
    • Carly Fraser says

      May 12, 2019 at 10:27 am

      It might not pulverise the almonds completely, but it should work enough to make a milk. I’ve never tried with a cheaper blender, but I’ve also heard good things about the Ninja!

      Reply
  6. Karla says

    Jul 16, 2019 at 6:53 pm

    Hi Carly,

    I have a Nutribullet 900 Series. Would this work? A new high powered blender is not in the budget….

    Thanks,
    Karla

    Reply
    • Carly Fraser says

      Jul 20, 2019 at 8:20 am

      Hmm, almonds are pretty tough, but I would give it a try to see how it works! No harm in trying 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Free Ebook

Success! Please check your inbox to download your FREE eBook.

Reduce Chronic Inflammation Naturally!

The Ultimate Guide to Fight Inflammation and Restore Your Health!

21 Ways to Reduce Chronic Inflammation

Recent Posts

visual illustration of toxins stored in fat cells in body

How to Eliminate Toxins From Fat Cells That Are Making You Fatigued and Swollen

foot with demonstrated achilles pain

This One Stretch Relieves Plantar Fasciitis, Shin Splints, Achilles Pain, and Heel Pain

Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreens recalled by Johnson & Johnson

Latest Sunscreen Recall Raises Concern Over Chemicals

lemongrass plant in garden

How to Plant Lemongrass to Repel Mosquitoes

Female Reproductive System next to adrenal glands representing organs in the body responsible for hormone production

10 Natural Ways to Balance Your Hormones

freshly pressed pineapple juice

15 Impressive Health Benefits of Pineapple Juice

Popular Posts

Man spraying pesticides on tea plants with other side of image showing dry loose tea bags

Pesticides in Tea: Is Your Favorite Tea Contaminated with Harmful Chemicals?

glyphosate in wine

Monsanto’s Harmful Chemical Glyphosate Found In 100% Of California Wines Tested

whole dandelion plant with flowers and roots on cutting board on a table

Dandelions Are Not Weeds! Top 10 Health Benefits of Dandelion

johnson & johnson baby products in pharmacy

Johnson & Johnson Finally Admits: Our Baby Products Contain Cancer-Causing Ingredients

10 Plants That Attract Dragonflies for Mosquito Control

companion planting chart

Use This Companion Planting Chart to Help Your Garden Thrive

France Bans Neonicotinoid Pesticides

France Bans All Five Neonicotinoid Pesticides Linked to Bee Deaths

Glyphosate in Food: Complete List of Products and Brands Filled with Dangerous Weed-Killer

whales dying from plastic pollution

Whales Dying From Plastic Pollution Are a Grave Reminder to Give Up Our Addiction to Plastics

illustrated piriformis muscle showing trigger points and radiating pain

How To Get A Deep Piriformis Stretch To Get Rid of Sciatica, Hip & Lower Back Pain

RECOMMENDED

Thank you! Please check your inbox to confirm your subscription!

Want to reduce inflammation and restore your health?

Join Live Love Fruit and we'll show you how!

Footer

Stay Connected!

Follows
  • 317k Followers
  • 1.9k Followers
  • 107k Followers
  • 600 Followers
  • 11.5k Followers
  • Home
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Write For LLF
  • Contact

Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
Content on Live Love Fruit may not be reproduced in any form.
Ads provided by AdThrive. Displayed ads do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by Live Love Fruit.

Copyright © 2012 - 2022 Live Love FruitPrivacy Policy | Terms of Service | Full Disclaimer | Affiliate Disclosure

335 shares
  • 302
  • 7