Got (Almond) Milk?

Those of you that know me, know exactly where I stand on dairy.  It's fantastically delicious and I do cave from time to time to treat myself to it, BUT I do NOT think it's healthy!  I actually have some pretty graphic names for cow's milk and the foods that are made from it.  I do think dairy is yummy, but I don't incorporate it into my regular diet.  It's a "treat" for me from time to time, but I'm so over it, really. 

There are so many healthy alternatives to cow's milk-based dairy products out there, that there really is no need for it.  I find it to be a little strange that we frown on the mother still breastfeeding her toddler, but that it is OK to be a  human still breastfeeding from cows as adults.  It's disturbing to me to think about the details behind drinking another mammal's milk.  Breastmilk from any mammal is intended for one thing---fattening up the mammal's baby to help brain development and support the high rate of speed that mammal is growing at that age.  It also helps to keep the baby from getting sick by passing down antibodies from mom to baby.  It really is a beautiful thing IF the one drinking the milk is that mammal's BABY.

I should also mention that what lands in the bucket with the milk, (blood/puss from the raw nipples of cows being milked mechanically to no end) ends up in our bodies too!  Then we take a process called pasteurization and throw that into the mix.  I know that it's done to take unhealthy bacteria out of the milk, but it also removes A LOT of the nutritional value in the milk (very important enzymes, like lactase are diminished).  This breakdown really impacts our society by causing things like lactose intolerance because our pancreas doesn't always produce enough of these enzymes naturally.

A study at Yale even confirmed that the countries in this world that consume the most dairy products also have the highest rates of osteoporosis.  How could this be?  Doesn't milk do a body good?  Aren't we supposed to have like 3 or 4 servings of this stuff a day?  Don't be fooled by the food pyramid.  Just think about who is paying for all those "Got Milk?" ads!

I'm not sure if you've ever really thought about dairy this way and I don't want you to think that I look down upon those who consume it.  I like to create awareness about what we are putting in our bodies.  I also like to take responsibility for what I put in my body and the bodies of my children.  There are a TON of alternatives that taste super yummy and that provide WAY more nutritional value than dairy!  There is WAY more calcium, for example, in almond milk than in cow's milk.  There is about 276mg of calcium in 1 serving of cow's milk BUT there's a WHOPPING 459mg of calcium in 1 serving of almond milk!  Non-dairy products provide the same (or more) nutrients to our bodies.

Here are some of the things I choose to incorporate into my regular diet:

• Almond milk
• Soy milk
• Rice milk
• Oat milk
• Daiya cheese (cheddar and mozzarella...and YES it does melt and stretch like cheese...also SOY FREE naturally. Those of you who have tried soy based non-dairy cheeses, don't be afraid...this stuff is creamy and DELISH!)
• Rice or non-dairy based yogurt
• Turtle mountain ice cream (they even have a dairy free/gluten free Cookie Dough ice cream...AMAZING!)
• Tofutti cream cheese, sour cream and ice cream products (these have gluten, so we don't eat them here anymore, but I do recommend them if you do not have a gluten issue in your home).

Please consider taking a day during the week and call it your "Dairy-FREE Day".  Your body will thank you!