Almond milk is even more of a scam than we thought
Almond Breeze hardly contains any almonds, a class action lawsuit claims
- By Lindsay Abrams - Salon.com - July 22, 2015
. . . because it barely contains any almonds. Just two percent almonds, to be exact. The rest is just carton filler. . . .
. . . Blue Diamond doesn’t make that information publicly available in the U.S., but the plaintiffs found the information they were looking for on the company’s U.K. website. . . .
Well, here's the UK website and they must have hidden it after all that.
Even under the "nutrition" link, ingredients are no where to be found, just empty and deceptive buzz words.
Many of their varieties are loaded with sugar. Found an unsweetened list below but no clue as to percentage, so they really hide it.
Years ago, I tried this several times and always would wind up with seizures from it (3 tries was my max willingness to try to make it work for me). After finally reading the label (what took me so long was I trusted them), connection to gluten and/or the MSG from "natural flavors" - kryptonite for my tender brain.
Blue Diamond Natural Almond Breeze Almond Milk Unsweetened Vanilla -- 32 fl oz
Other Ingredients:
Almondmilk (filtered water, almonds),
calcium carbonate, tapioca starch,
natural vanilla flavor with other natural flavors,
sea salt, potassium citrate,
carrageenan, sunflower lecithin,
vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D2 and d-alpha-tocopherol (natural vitamin E).
(end list)
Vitamin E can contain gluten, as often it's from wheat germ.
And Natural Flavors are often MSG, very neuro-exciatory, even neuro-toxic to those with neurological issues that go with lyme.
carrageenan is also highly suspect.
[ 08-15-2015, 02:25 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
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Keebler
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- It's pretty easy to make some nut milks even just in a good blender for walnut or pecan, or softer nuts. No soaking required (but do rinse).
A stronger blender is best for almonds, as they are harder. But when they soak overnight in water, in fridge, they soften up a bit. -
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Tincup
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Oh NUTS! Or is that NO NUTS?
Wasted my money, but not no nuts no more! Thanks Keebler.
But honestly, I wouldn't say you've wasted your money Tincup. Nor try to demonize some of the ingredients hiker53, looking at this from a different perspective, this is still a healthier alternative to real milk or pop any day of the week. The preservatives and ingredients in most of those drinks is 10x worse and is going to lead this country to be 1 in 3 people diabetic by 2050...
Milk, probably not as bad, but considering how many hormones, steroids, and not to mention the garbage(GMO corn) the cows are fed on whole scale.
Next time you're at the store, look at the sugar content in milk, considering the lactose too, then using this with cereal that is already doused with sugar. You're asking for trouble...
Coca cola, pepsi, and other pop companies dont get me started. Their list of ingredients are completely toxic and are killing people longterm, as well as shorterm, if you consider the union leader killings from Coca Cola... http://killercoke.org/
I could also get into topics on how pop is leading to the changing of fish hormones in our lakes, rivers, and oceans as well... With more people becoming diabetic due to poor diets due to the consumption of pop and other drinks high in sugar, well this is causing them to take a drug called metformin, which is pissed back into the water supply that your local sewage plants can't completely filter out.... 80 percent of the smallmouth bass in the Potomac right now are hermaphrodites.... Can't wait to see what happens by 2050....
All in all, food for profit isn't working(capitalism), just as well as the healthcare side of things....
I'll take lesser of two evils any day of the week... And really, looking at the big picture, you should too... Most of you could list your diet and I could probably pick out food that is a lot worse than Diamond or Silk Almond milk...
I'll still keep drinking my unsweetened almond milk with 0 grams of sugar... Even if it just flavored vitamin water
[ 07-28-2015, 09:06 PM: Message edited by: Muscle Car55 ]
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LisaK
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posted
o great. of course. GGRrrrrrrrrrrrrr
now what?
-------------------- Be thankful in all things- even difficult times and sickness and trials - because there is something GOOD to be seen Posts: 3592 | From Eastern USA | Registered: Jul 2013
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Keebler
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- It still has a lot of chemicals in it with the "natural flavors" (MSG in disguise so as to excite the addictive part of our brain to want more) that can be very toxic to our nerve cells.
And the plastic lining in cartons and cans, an endocrine disruptor adding all kinds of medical risks.
We don't have to consume ANY processed beverage in cartons, plastic bottles, cans, etc. We can make our own, be that nut milks or various kinds of delicious teas, and also use lemons, lime, with a little good quality stevia.
A few low sugar berries or other fruits can be so well blended with neutral veggies, like celery or zucchini so they are a good glycemic balance, too.
There's even sassafras tincture for our own root beer concoctions. -
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WPinVA
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I never could find any almond milks that didn't have carageenan, so I haven't had any in ages.
I like the idea of making my own...anyone have an easy recipe?
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Keebler
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- WP,
What kind of blender do you have?
Softer nuts are easier on most blenders unless you have a VitaMix or BlendTec or heavy motor.
Still, for hard nuts like almonds, they must be soaked overnight. Soak a few hours on countertop then rinse and give a fresh bath water before putting in fridge overnight. When you are ready, rinse again.
If you have just a typical blender, I would not use almonds but others.
Softer nuts do not need soaking. Walnuts. Pecans.
Hazelnuts tend to fall somewhere in between so I would soak.
About 2 cups water to about 1/2 cup nuts (more as you go if needed to keep it going tornado fashion).
After they have there whirlwind of a blender adventure, you can add a touch of sea salt, stevia (or honey), vanilla, even spice such as nutmeg if you wish. Nutmeg can irritate the mouth and stomach, so start with just a mere hint.
While still in blender, as you taste, add more water to your liking. Four cups of water to a half cups nuts is about as dilute as I'd like.
You can strain it or just enjoy it a bit thicker. Put in fridge and gently stir before serving.
Some juicers will make a very nice nut milk, too. Just explore YouTube and Google.
Soak nuts in glass, store nut milk in glass. Never plastic.
Also think ahead about washing whatever glass item you put the nut milk in. It will need to be scrubbed on the inside, just shaking soapy water is not quite enough. So wide mouth glass jars or pitcher can work well. Or be sure you have a good bottle brush. -
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Keebler
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One style of a nut milk strainer bag. I suggest nylon - some thicker fabrics can be more prone to residue and is harder to clean - so keep that in mind.
Still, just much easier, less messy and nice to have a little "body" to the nut milk, I think, so I just never strain it.
My preference is blend of pecans and walnuts. Rinse very well first, even if they do not require soaking, though. -
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WPinVA
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Thank you! Yes - I do have a Vitamix!
Good idea on the not straining. That part sounded like too much effort and always deterred me.
I'm excited to try this...one more thing I can make with my beloved Vitamix.
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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Keebler
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- Be sure to wear decibel rated ear muffs with that VitaMix, okay? You can likely find all kinds of nut milk and VitaMix tutorials online.
Keep in mind that as you make this, it will get warm so it's best enjoyed after chilling.
Do not start with your total water, it will froth too much. Start with just enough so that the nuts have enough water to really move, though. If it gets frothy, stop for a minute, let it settle down. Look at your VitaMix instruction book for the correct setting.
When nearly finished and you taste it for adjustments, you can then slowly add water to desired consistency.
If you add vanilla, be sure it is the real deal: EXTRACT not "flavor" as "flavor" that is not real. -
[ 08-09-2015, 03:37 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
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sixgoofykids
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If I use cashews or hemp seed, I do not strain. But if I use almonds, it is best strained, then you can dehydrate what's leftover and use as almond flour.
When I think of how many almonds I use and how much I strain out, it does not surprise me how few almonds were found in commercial almond milk. It simply does not take that many nuts to make milk.
I use about a quarter cup of nuts to a cup of water, and just increase based on how much I'm making. I add honey or maple syrup to sweeten.
Nuts are best soaked, not just to soften them, but because it removes the phytates so more nutrition is available in them.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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WPinVA
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ha, ha, yes that vitamix is SO loud.
I've actually been using Greek yogurt in my smoothies lately and it's been great. I know all can't handle dairy, but I seem to be ok with it lately.
Maybe when the kids are back in school I'll be able to handle making my own almond milk.
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