Here is a question a lot of people get wrong:
Is milk is essential for calcium?
The answer is no.
In fact, dairy products don't even contain calcium. They're full of fat, cholesterol, animal proteins, lactose sugar, and not to mention hormones and antibiotics. Furthermore, consuming fatty, pasteurised milk regularly has even been shown to reduce calcium in bones; as it is highly acidic in the body, calcium is leached as it works to prevent acids from going into your blood stream.
Do you know where your milk comes from? Adult cows live their entire lives creating an endless supply of milk, which is extracted using machines. They are artificially impregnated, inadequately fed and are regularly shot with hormones and antibiotics. In a lot of cases they live in unsatisfactory conditions, usually in small areas where they cannot move around freely. Cow's can live up to 25 years, but today the average lifespan of a cow is only 4-5 years.
I'll have a soy latte thanks.
With growing awareness of the harm consuming dairy products can do, dairy free milk alternatives are becoming more readily available not only in health food stores but in supermarkets too. But for a fraction of the cost and little bit of time, you can make your own (which is what I do).
Here are 3 homemade dairy free milk alternatives recipes:
Almond Milk
Rich in Calcium, Vitamin E and anti-oxidants Almonds make for a great milk alternative.
What you'll need:
1 Cup Blanched Almonds
3 Cups Purified Water
2 Dates
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Dash of Sea Salt
What to do:
Throw it all in a high-speed blender until smooth and then strain overnight using a nut milk bag. It will last 3-4 days.
Hemp Milk
This super food is the perfect milk alternative as its nice and creamy! Hemp is rich in calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, and amino acids, Vitamin A, E, B 12, Vitamin D and Folic Acid.
What you'll need:
1 Cup Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds
3 Cups Filtered Water
4 Dates
1 tsp Vanilla extract
Dash of Sea Salt
What to do:
Throw it all in a high-speed blender until smooth. It will last 2-3 days.
Pumpkin Seed Milk
As a Bikram Yogi I love making pumpkin seed milk as its rich in Magnesium. It's also nutrient packed with Phosphorous, Zinc and Vitamin K.
What you'll need:
1 Cup Raw Pumpkin Seeds
2 1/2 - 3 Cups Purified Water
2-3 Dates 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Dash of Sea Salt
What to do:
Throw it all in a high-speed blender until smooth and then strain overnight using a nut milk bag. It will last 3-4 days.
For best results I soak nuts/seeds overnight and then rinse them thoroughly as this allows the tannic acid to be removed making it easier for your body to digest. You will also need to store your 'milk' in an airtight glass jar.
About the Author
Marina Daniell is the founder of staple life, an inspiring blog for women about simple living (doing less, so you can live more). A dedicated Bikram Yogi, lover of fashion, beauty and food. When she isn't in the hot yoga room she can be found rolling fresh gnocchi or pasta for her family, or whipping up beauty products with items from her fridge.