Almond is one of the healthiest foods you can have. The nuts are packed full of vitamins, minerals as well as protein, healthy fats and fiber, and eating almonds is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and Alzheimer's, among other conditions. Almond milk is a half lower in calories than cow's milk making it a beneficial for people trying to lose weight.
Coconut milk and almond milk are basic buys at the health food store by individuals with dairy allergies, gluten sensitivities, heart disease, diabetes or those aiming to cut back on animal products. Almond milk, with its sweetened and unsweetened varieties, has turned into an appealing substitute for cow's milk or soy milk.
It makes sense to consider almond milk is packed with healthy properties. But critics are raising concerns about the hefty environmental impact of almond milk consumption.
As cited in The Sydney Morning Herald, almond milk packed in cartons can still be an adequate source of Vitamin E, a key for strong immunity and glowing skin. In addition, Vitamin E is vital in regulating body processes such blood pressure, reproduction and muscle contraction.
Unlike your homemade almond milk, those that are packed in cartons contain almonds that only make up two percent of the total drink and 98 percent is water along with some emulsifiers, and sometimes the odd sweetener and nutrients such as vitamin A and D that have been artificially added.
Now let's take a look at the cons regarding the rise of popularity of almond milk.
Almost 80 percent of the world's almonds is produced in California for commercial use. It takes 1.1 gallons of water to grow one almond. California is in its fourth year of worst drought. The U.S. is the leading consumer of almonds by far followed by United Kingdom.
Farmers have been drilling into the ground to tap into aquifers in order to handle the rising demand for almond.
"Overpumping of aquifers threatens infrastructure like roads, which stand to collapse into sunken ground," said The Atlantic. It could also trigger earthquakes, explained a seminal piece by Mother Jones last year.
Growing almonds doesn't just require massive amount of water. It also brings severe damage to colonies of honeybees. Thousands of bees are dying from the pesticides sprayed on almond trees, almost 25% of the total population.
As usual, at the center of the issue is big industry blinded by profit-driven sacrifice of our environment.
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