Almond Milk Benefits for Women

Healthy Recipes and Nutrition, Nutrition
on August 15, 2012
AlmondMilkDrinkHealthBenefitWomenSpry.jpg
Thinkstock
https://i0.wp.com/spryliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/thinkstock140787908.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1

Almond milk offers many benefits for women. Almond milk contains several essential vitamins and minerals women need to maintain optimum health. Its main ingredients are filtered water and almonds, giving women, as well as men and kids who are lactose-intolerant or suffer from milk and/or soy allergies, an alternative to soy and cow’s milk.

RELATED: The Benefits of Milk

Almond milk ingredients. In addition to almonds and filtered water, almond milk may contain ingredients such as calcium carbonate, sea salt, sunflower lecithin, locust bean gum and gellan gum. Flavored almond milk may contain ingredients such as natural vanilla flavoring, cocoa and all-natural evaporated can juice. Some varieties of almond milk include vanilla and chocolate.

Almond milk nutrients. One cup, or 240 milliliters, of unsweetened almond milk contains vitamins A, E, D and B12 plus riboflavin, magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc and iron. It has zero saturated fat, zero trans fat, zero cholesterol and only 30 calories. The 1 cup serving size also has 1 gram dietary fiber, 1 gram carbohydrates with zero sugars, 2.5 grams of fat and 150 milligrams of sodium.

Less can be more for women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading cause of death for women is heart disease. Reducing the amount of fat, cholesterol and sodium in your diet is one way to help reduce the risk of heart disease. Adding almond milk to your cereal or drinking it by the glass allows you a cholesterol-free drink that has no saturated fat but is packed with nutrients.

Importance of almond milk’s vitamins and minerals. Calcium and vitamins such as vitamins A and E play important roles in women’s health and are abundant in almond milk. Calcium is essential for bone health, while vitamin A is important for vision as well as skin, soft tissue and mucous membranes. Maintaining adequate calcium intake throughout life is important for women as it can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life. Adequate amounts of vitamin E, an antioxidant, may help women maintain younger, healthier-looking skin. It is also an important vitamin to help maintain the immune system.

Drinking almond milk can be a healthy alternative for women who can’t or may not enjoy the taste of soy or cow’s milk. It can be used and consumed in the same manner as most other milks. Pour it over a bowl of cereal, substitute it for creamer in coffee or tea, or mix it in pancake batter or when making boxed pudding desserts. It can also be used when making creamy fruit smoothies.