This question has been rolling around in my head for a while now… Which is better: coconut milk vs. almond milk?
Tags: almond milk benefits, almond milk brand, almonds in almond milk. Almond milk scam, how many almonds, and natural almond milk. About Nick Meyer Nick Meyer is a longtime journalist who's been published in the Detroit Free Press, Dallas Morning News and several other outlets. Silk is an American brand of dairy-substitute products owned by Danone North America (formerly WhiteWave Foods). 1 History; 2 Controversy; 3 List of products; 4 References; 5 External links. Carton of Silk Almond Milk.
From a taste standpoint, I enjoy drinking both. Coconut milk feels more hydrating and refreshing to me, but I love the rich flavor of almond milk.
Is Coconut Milk Better than Almond Milk from a Health Standpoint?
I have come to the conclusion that coconut milk is better for my health. Have you heard of the N-3/N-6 ratio (better known as Omega-3/Omega-6 ratio)? Both Omega-3 AND Omega-6 are necessary for good health, but they should be balanced. (For a more scientific explanation, check out this post on Robb Wolf’s website.) To quote Robb Wolf, “With the adoption of grain feeding our cattle and the use of seed and vegetable oils heavy in the short omega 6 fat (linoleic acid) we have witnessed a dramatic shift away from the essential fatty acid profile we’d expect to see from an ancestral diet of ~1-1 or 2-1 N-6/N-3 to more than 10-1. The health implications of this shift have not been great. The N-6 family tends to produce “pro-inflammatory” cellular signaling, while the N-3 family tends to produce “anti-inflammatory” signaling. This is a simplification, but it get’s the idea across. More accurately, with excessive N-6 we see cellular signaling profiles that tend to promote pathology including cancer, autoimmunity and glucose dysregulation. I see this more like a band or orchestra playing out of tune than too much of one thing vs another thing, but the fact remains: folks likely get too much of the short form of N-6 fats. ”
So basically, we get MORE than enough N-6 fats in our diets. That is why many of us supplement with fish oil (high in N-3 fats) to counter-balance… imbalance results in inflammation, as mentioned above.
Because nuts are high in N-6 fats, they should be a limited part of our diet. In fact, the folks at Whole9 suggest that a serving of nuts should be limited to one closed handful.
Coconut milk should also be limited (read: you shouldn’t drink a can at a time), but not as limited, and only because it will fill you up quickly, leaving little room for all the meats and veggies that should surround it!
Therefore, because I am more concerned with my n-3/n-6 ratio than I am about my fat intake, I generally choose coconut milk over almond milk. I already enjoy some nuts as regular snacks, and I like to use almond meal for several baked items, so if I can avoid MORE almonds in the form of milk, I will!
While we’re on the subject, let’s consider your purposes for using either milk.
*If you are just drinking either as a regular beverage, you are better off with water, unless you are trying to gain or maintain weight. Both are easy to overdo because they are liquids.
*In coffee, either will work. I prefer full-fat coconut milk in my coffee. The creamy chunks melt into the dark elixir, and make a delicious treat. Sprinkle some cinnamon on top, and you’ve got it made!
*For baking, I have found that most paleo recipes requiring milk do call for coconut milk. But a glass of almond milk with my favorite chocolate chip cookies is AMAZING!
Coconut Milk vs. Almond Milk Forms Available:
I buy several forms of coconut milk…
1. The full-fat version comes in a can. Be sure to choose one with no added ingredients (except guar gum, which acts as a stabilizer, and is even “okayed” by Whole9 but use with caution). The cream usually rises to the top, so you will have to stir it really well before pouring. For storage, pour the remaining milk into a glass jar and refrigerate.
2. The lite version is just watered down a little. I keep a few cans on hand for smoothies. You can simply add extra water to your bottle/mason jar of full-fat coconut milk if you prefer to water it down yourself.
3. You can also find coconut milk in cartons in the refrigerated section of some grocery stores by almond milk. You should look for the UNSWEETENED version to avoid extra sugar that is really not necessary for the taste.
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There are also a few different forms of Almond Milk.
1. The best way to obtain almond milk is to make your own. Simply soak 2 cups of almonds in water overnight, strain them, and then blend thoroughly with 2 cups of water. Once the mixture is completely liquified, pour it through a very thin strainer (like the one pictured above). I actually purchased a $2 paint strainer from Lowes Hardware, and it works beautifully. Store in the refrigerator for one week.
2. You can also find almond milk in cartons with brands like “Almond Breeze” or “Silk.” These do contain some preservatives, and you should look for the UNSWEETENED version to avoid added sugar.
Hope this helps you!
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Ingredients In Almond Milk
When the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) fails to contract, it allows digestive acids to travel backward from the stomach to the throat, causing burning sensations in the chest. This is what’s known as heartburn, or, in more severe cases, acid reflux or acid indigestion. Other symptoms include bloating, burping, nausea, mouth soreness, dizziness, and hiccups. Heartburn is often triggered by stress and the consumption of greasy, fatty, or spicy foods.
There are plenty of commercial antacids available over the counter, but their effects are short -lived, and they often contain chemicals that cause unwanted side effects. Instead of wasting money on those, try almond milk. It’s a natural, affordable, effective home remedy for acid reflux and heartburn. Before we tell you exactly how to use it, take a look at the reasons why it works.
Is Almond Milk Good for Acid Reflux?
- Almond milk is alkaline, it neutralizes stomach acids that cause heartburn.
- Almond milk contains vitamins D and E, manganese, magnesium, and anti-oxidants that support proper digestion.
- Almond milk is rich in calcium, which helps the LES contract properly, preventing acid reflux.
- Because it is plant-based, almond milk is low in unhealthy fats.
- It contains omega – 3 fatty acids that reduce inflammation caused by digestive acids.
- Almond milk coats the linings of the esophagus and stomach, preventing corrosion of delicate tissues while soothing burning sensations caused by heartburn.
- The natural oils in almond milk also neutralize digestive acids.
How to Treat Acid Reflux with Almond Milk
Almond milk can be used alone and in combination with other natural ingredients that keep the digestive system healthy. Drink almond milk daily, use it with cereal and oatmeal, put it in coffee and tea, and try all the recipes below.
1. Strawberry – Almond Milk Smoothie
- In a blender, mix 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, 1 cup of fresh strawberries, 1 fresh banana, and 1 cup of spinach until smooth.
- Drink at least 3 times a week.
2. Avocado – Almond Milk Smoothie
- In a blender, mix 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, ½ of a fresh peeled avocado, 1 fresh banana, 1 tablespoon each of raw honey, bee pollen, chia seeds, and ½ teaspoon each of ground cinnamon and vanilla until smooth.
- Drink at least 3 times a week.
3. Green Tea with Almond Milk
- Brew organic green tea.
- Fill 2/3 of a mug with green tea.
- Fill the last 3rd of the mug with cool almond milk.
- Drink whenever you get heartburn. You may also try Green Tea as a home remedy for acid reflux.
4. Oatmeal with Almond Milk
Process 1:
- Cook your oatmeal using almond milk instead of regular milk.
- Mix in banana slices and top with raw honey and flax seeds to further neutralize stomach acids.
- Eat at least 3 times a week.
Process 2:
- Cook ½ cup of oatmeal in 1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk.
- Mix in 1 tablespoon of toasted coconut, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and banana slices.
- Eat this to get rid of acid reflux.
5. Pineapple – Almond Milk Smoothie
- In a blender, mix 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1 cup of apple juice, 1 cup of frozen pineapple chunks, ½ cup of strawberries, ½ cup of plain Greek yogurt, and 1 teaspoon turmeric until smooth.
- Drink this before breakfast to get rid of acid reflux.
6. Ginger—Melon–Almond Milk Smoothie
- In a blender, mix 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, ½ cup each of cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew, and 2 teaspoons of ground ginger and 1 ripe banana until smooth.
- Have this whenever you have acid reflux.
Ginger is a best home remedy for acid reflux as it helps to reduce the back up of contents into esophagus.
7. Almond Milk and Herb Smoothie
- In a soup pot, bring 250 ml of coconut milk and almond milk to a simmer.
- Stir in 10 leaves of rooibos tea leaves, 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger root, and1 teaspoon each of ground cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg.
- Let simmer 5 minutes to make a tea.
- Remove from heat and strain out tea leaves.
- In a blender mix, milk/herb tea, ½ of an avocado, 1 tablespoon each of chia seeds and coconut oil and a small handful of almonds and walnuts until smooth.
- sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg powder over it.
- Drink at least 3 times a week.
8. Papaya – Almond Milk Smoothie
- In a blender, mix ½ cup of unsweetened almond milk, 1 cup papaya chunks, 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 banana, 2 tablespoons of raw honey, and 2 tablespoons of almonds until smooth.
- Drink in the morning.
9. Double Almond Smoothie
- In a blender, mix 2 cups of unsweetened almond milk, 1 fresh banana, 1 tablespoon of almond butter, 1 teaspoon of raw honey and ½ cup crushed ice until smooth.
- Have this as a breakfast smoothie to get relief from the acid reflux.
10. Cocoa – Almond Milk Smoothie
- In a blender, mix 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, 1 cup of torn romaine lettuce leaves, 2 fresh bananas, 1 tablespoon of raw cocoa powder, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract and blend until smooth.
- Add 1 cup of almond milk until smoothie reaches desired consistency.
- Drink this to get complete relief from acid reflux.
11. Berry – Almond Milk Smoothie
- In a blender, mix 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk with ½ cup each of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries until smooth.
- Drink 3 times a week.
12. Homemade Raw Almond Milk
- Fill a container halfway with 1 cup of almonds.
- Cover them with water, put a lid on the container, and let soak overnight.
- In the morning, drain water.
- In a blender, mix soaked almonds, 3 cups of fresh water, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth.
- Strain mixture through cheesecloth to extract milk.
- Store milk in refrigerator.
- Have this chilled milk before meals to reduce acid reflux.
- you can also add 1 teaspoon of flaxseeds instead of vanilla bean .
- Or use in the above recipes in place of store-bought almond milk.
Tips and Precautions:
For best results, follow the advice below when using almond milk to treat heartburn and acid reflux.
- Always use homemade or store-bought organic, unsweetened almond milk in the above recipes.
Silk Almond Milk Recall
- Make sure milk is fresh.
- Use almond milk only in recommended amounts as over-consumption of almonds worsens heartburn.
- If heartburn persists after 2 weeks of almond milk treatments, consult your doctor.
- These almond milk remedies must be used regularly for at least two weeks to effectively prevent heartburn and acid reflux.
- Almond milk remedies work best when used in combination with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
- Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day.
Have you tried any of these methods for using almond milk to treat heartburn and acid reflux? Tell us which ones worked best for you!
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I’m from India. I have been visiting India on and off for past few years and my mom was an inspiration for me to start this site. She has a wealth of knowledge on home remedies for a large number of health problems, and we grew up in an environment where frequent visits to the doctor just wasn’t logistically or financially feasible.
Veer zaara mp3. Despite this, she managed to raise a family of healthy kids, and my goal here at Home Remedies for Life is to pass on some of her knowledge of natural remedies.