But Sass says the popularity of almonds (everything from whole nuts to the varieties used in plant-based milks) has created even more stress, as almond farmers are "so reliant on the honeybee to pollinate their crops, exclusively. ", 30 Best Songs to Rock Out to This New Year’s Eve, What Our Senior Home Editor Wants Right Now, 30 Movies to Watch at Home on New Year's Eve, 30+ Endangered Animals You Should Know About, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Each American, on average, consumes more than two pounds of almonds each year, found in products like almond milk, cereal mixes, and packaged snacks (everything from sweet treats to granola bars). Hemp is also one of the only plant-based complete proteins, meaning it contains all of your essential amino acids and is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. But what about their environmental footprint? One of the big issues is water. Many people are cutting back on dairy while a growing number of people are discovering that they're lactose intolerant.As the public's disdain of cow's milk grows, milk sales themselves are at a forty-year low.. Plant-based "milks" are happily stepping in to fill that vacuum and leading the charge is almond milk. A recent NPR report claims that some almond farmers are using pollen and nectar substitutes to get bees to repopulate their hives in the dead of winter, when bees are supposed to be dormant. One final option for lactose intolerant individuals is to take digestive enzyme supplements containing lactase. Almonds are bad for the environment and using dairy farms and alfalpha to justify almond milk practices is a ridiculous comparison. California grows close to 100% of commercial almonds in the U.S. and 81% of almonds worldwide.And the global almond demand is rising at a rate that exceeds the supply.. Almonds are an easy, healthy snack. Lactase is the chemical responsible for breaking down lactose, the main sugar found in dairy. While it does have a high concentration of calcium, almond milk is relatively low in protein, offering less than one gram of protein per cup. Soy milk is one of the most common dairy-free alternatives. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Oat milk also tends to have a more pleasant taste and consistency than other plant-based milks. Calcium is one of the most prominent minerals in milk, and it is vital to healthy bones and teeth. (Visited 20,167 times, 5 visits today) Both physicians with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) The biggest obstacle tends to be the taste. Get into the habit of checking the labels for any packaged foods that you buy. Milk contains the natural sugar lactose. degree as well as a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Soy and oat milk produce slightly more CO2 but use substantially less water. Almond Milk’s Impact on the Environment For the U.S. and the world, California is crucial to maintaining the almond supply. Hemp milk is high in iron, zinc, and magnesium, and hemp itself is a highly sustainable plant. Milk is also a good source of vitamin D, which plays a role in the metabolism and absorption of calcium, ensuring healthy bones. The two main proteins responsible for milk allergies are casein and whey. About 65 percent of the global human population is lactose intolerant, while others suffer from milk allergies. Some brands add a great deal of sugar. Immediate signs and symptoms may include: Unlike lactose intolerance, milk allergies can potentially be life-threatening as they may cause anaphylaxis, which can cause your airways to constrict and inhibit your breathing.2, Many people who choose to avoid dairy in their diets don’t have any health reason. It takes about 1.1 gallons of water to produce a single almond.11 However, almond milk is only made up of about 2% almonds.12 Because of this, the amount of water used in the production of 200 mL of almond milk is about half of the amount of water used to produce 200 mL of cow's milk. Whether you have an allergy or just want to live a more environmentally conscious, you can give up on dairy without giving up on milk. However, producing almond milk uses roughly 17 times more water than cow’s milk per litre, but cow’s milk emits nearly 10 times more greenhouse gases per litre (14). Almond milk is bad for the environment, which is bad for your health. For example, milk is best known for having a high calcium content combined with a healthy amount of protein. The Truth Behind the Decline in Bees. Some estimates suggest that it takes up to 920 gallons of water to produce just one gallon of almond milk, which can be comparable to the amount of water used for cow’s milk.9. Dairy cows produce a great deal of methane, which stays in the atmosphere up to 23 times more effectively than carbon dioxide. Emily Cassidy writing for PlanetVision also noted the strain almond milk can have on our water, and mentioned that packaging can still leave a footprint on the environment even if the milk … Flaxseed is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids. "People should buy organic where they can, whenever they can… Almonds are a great place to go organic, even if you eat less almonds overall, because that's how we'll solve the problem in the long run. As flax is not within the top eight allergens, flax milk makes a good option for those unable to consume lactose, soy, or nuts. ... Almond milk is the most expensive of the three, at around HK$35 for a 950ml carton. According to Inhabitat, coconut milk, hemp milk, pea protein milk, and oat milk are generally low-impact, because they either require less water to grow or produce less emissions than other plant milks. Overall, almond milk appears to be better for the environment than cow's milk. However, for all its health benefits, its impact on the environment has been hefty. According to recent data, billions of bees are dying at the hands of the almond industry. More than 80% of … Almond milk has become more popular than soy milk in the U.S. (even though some store-bought almond milk may contain only about 2% almonds). I switched to unsweetened almond milk a few years ago because I wanted to cut calories, and because dairy tends to make me feel a bit nauseous. Thanks to the dairy industry’s massive PR machine, cow’s milk has long been touted as the go-to source for calcium. There have been a few viral articles getting a lot of attention that berate almond milk for being very unsustainable and as bad as cows milk for the environment. Dietary fiber refers to plant material that has been found to be good for the heart, blood sugar, and general digestive health. 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