Have you ever heard of milk allergy? This allergy can lead to diarrhea, bloating, stomach pain, swelling, hives and many more symptoms like trouble in breathing and drop in blood pressure. This milk allergy is different from lactose intolerance because this allergy also attacks the immune system. Good thing, even if you have milk allergy or even lactose intolerance in this case, you can still enjoy coffee with cream or milk as well as desserts made with milk without the upsetting feeling.
Generally, milk is a term used for the liquid from mammals� udders. Yet, there are some milk liquids that are produced from vegetable and of plant origin. An example would be the almond milk. Some will think that almond milk is identical to cow milk or any mammalian milk. The truth is they are not.
Similarities and difference of Cow Milk and Almond Milk
- Texture: cow milk and almond milk look similar in their texture and color. Upon closer inspection, almond milk is slightly beige in color in comparison to cow’s milk.
- Taste: the nutty taste of almond is noticeable in the almond milk.
- Nutrients present: when talking about milk, it is normal to look at the nutrients it carries. For health conscious individuals, the choice between cow and almond milk will boil down to the nutrients present. Generally, almond milk has more calcium content than the cow milk as well as vitamins D and E. however, cow milk has more protein content. In fact, a typical eight ounce of almond milk in a glass has about a gram of protein content. Further details of the nutrients will be discussed below.
- Infant formula: for mothers who cannot breastfeed their babies, the solution will be the intake of baby/infant formula. Powder cow milk is one of the most popular infant formulas used. Vegetable milk like the almond is now gaining ground. Almond milk in powdered form can be used as well. Experts considered the right substitute for breastfeed milk based on the particular composition of the nutrients needed by the infants in general.
Nutritional Values of Almond Milk
In the case of almond milk comparing to cow milk, a single cup of almond milk (which is about eight to nine fluid ounces) contains roughly the following:
- 2.5 grams of fat
- Less than a gram of carbohydrates
- A gram of protein
- 150 milligrams of sodium
- 35 milligrams of potassium
- Fortified with vitamin A (10%), vitamin B12 (50%), vitamin D (25%), Riboflavin (30%) and vitamin E (50%).
- Low amount of fibre
On the hand, cow milk contains eight grams of fat and proteins that are good for the body, 13 grams of carbohydrates and the natural forms of zinc, calcium, vitamins A, B12 and K12 in varying amount. Cow milk has no fibre content.
Can Almond Milk help in managing milk allergy?
First and foremost, it is important for you to have a proper diagnosis of milk allergy. Your doctor can provide suggestions to help solve your problem such as avoiding all products of milk for a short time just to see if your symptoms will improve. In other words, there will be series of test and these experts have varying approach.
The answer to the question above is yes. In general, unsweetened almond milk can be a healthy substitute. Remember that almond milk has nutritional content in comparison to milk, but for those looking for alternatives to cow milk to be used for drinks and foods, almond milk is a great candidate.