Author: lifehealth foods

lifehealth foods
How to boost the protein in your almond milkshakes

If you are someone who absolutely loves sipping on a good substantial almond milkshake early in the evening, then you are probably well aware of all the benefits of almond milk. You probably also know that almond milk protein can sometimes not be sufficient for certain people’s needs. Especially if there’s nothing else in that shake that’s increasing the amount of protein in your drink. You need to at least meet your requirement of daily protein intake to live a healthy life. And such shakes can be a great way to ensure you do. 

It isn’t all that difficult to ensure your almond shakes contain sufficient protein. You can start by evaluating what all goes into your shake, if it’s a chocolate shake then you can easily boost the amount of protein with the help of cocoa powder, peanut butter, or oatmeal. Organic and unsweetened cocoa powder can help add protein and make your drink way more delicious than adding a chocolate mix. Peanut butter not only adds protein but can also help make your drink that much richer and thicker. And oatmeal can help add heft to your shake along with protein, helping keep you fuller for longer. The benefits of almond milk can be boosted by whipping up green smoothies as well. So do give green almond smoothies a shot too. You can boost the levels of protein in green almond smoothies by adding chia or flax seeds to the mix. These ingredients also add other nutrients to your shakes, just make sure that you blend these shakes and smoothies well for a nice and smooth consistency.

The addition of these simple ingredients, that most of us actually have lying around the house can so easily help boost the amount of protein you consume, as well as add even more flavor to your yummy shakes and smoothies. 

Easy ways to consume almond milk for breakfast

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Starting the day with a healthy yet tasty breakfast should be on everyone’s agenda. Whether you already live a pretty health-conscious lifestyle and are constantly on the hunt for products or ingredients to up your healthy food game or you want to start by making small changes to your lifestyle like eating healthy, buy almond milk! Why? Because it is a much cleaner and healthier alternative to your regular animal milk options. Not just that, since it is a plant-based milk, it is suitable to have if you are following a plant-based diet. If you are new to this wondrous product then read on to know how to use it for your breakfast options.

The easiest way to incorporate it into your family or your own breakfast is to use it to make tea or coffee or your kid’s chocolate drink. Since the taste of almond milk is pretty much mild and understated you won’t have a tough time adjusting to it, in fact, you might end up enjoying the subtle nuttiness of it. Another great way to reap its health benefits and put it to use is to add it to your cereal. This is a great option, especially for days when you are in an absolute hurry and need to rush out the door. Just grab a bowl thrown in your cereal and pour some chilled almond milk. You can do this because almond milk doesn’t need to be boiled. But if you do like your cereal with warm milk, then you can ahead and heat it in the microwave or over the stove. 

The best part is these days you won’t have to search high and low for almond milk India has quite a few decent options out there. Just make sure you go with ones that are minimally processed and are unsweetened. 

Are almond milk shakes and smoothies a good idea?

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We all know how beneficial eating a handful of soaked almonds every single day is. Most of us learned it from our mothers and grandmothers who without fail gave us a handful of almonds before we headed to school in our childhood. If not, they would end up in our tiffin’s. Almonds are full of antioxidants, protein, minerals, vitamins, fiber, and healthy fats. They are known to reduce the risk of heart diseases and certain cancers, protect against oxidative stress by reducing the damage caused to your cells, help improve your cholesterol levels, and even regularize blood sugar. This is exactly why we need to consume this healthy nut every single day. 

The best way to consume almonds is to have a handful of them every morning or as a snack in between meals. But if you want to up the number of almonds you consume every day to reap its health benefits, try almond milk. Badam milk benefits are the same as regular almonds (sometimes it is fortified with even more nutrients). The easiest way to consume badam milk is to add it to whatever you would otherwise add regular milk to. From your morning cuppa coffee or tea or your post-workout protein shakes and chocolate smoothies. If you prefer eating clean and don’t like adding or consuming too many processed ingredients in your daily diet, there’s no need to worry. Simply opt for a clean almond milk brand that offers unsweetened and organic almond milk. You can then add it to your green smoothies, ice creams, desserts, etc. Almond milk also boasts of a nice subtle nutty flavor that brings character to whatever dish or drinks you add it to. 

To sum it up, yes almond milk smoothies and shakes are a great option for everyone, whether you live a healthy lifestyle or want to make small healthy changes to your daily diet and up your nutritional intake. 

Breakfast cereal with almond milk

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Healthy cereal options are really a lifesaver – they help you begin your day with a healthy meal, and they fill you up till your next meal. But more importantly, healthy cereal is a no-stress breakfast option. It saves us the hassle of deciding what to have for breakfast and also saves a ton of time and effort that goes into making omelets, sandwiches, poha, etc. That’s exactly the reason why so many of us rely on it, if not every single day, then most days at least. 

Although there is one issue with having cereal for breakfast – having it with regular animal milk. Regular milk can have a high fat content, calories, and is also linked to certain cancers and bone health issues. This is why you need to switch over to plant-based milk that’s nutritious and doesn’t contain anything harmful, like organic almond milk. If you haven’t tried almond milk as yet or have tried it but aren’t sure how it’ll taste with something like cereal there’s no need to be scared. Almond milk actually has a much palatable and milder taste as compared to any animal-derived milk. What’s more, it is much easier to digest and is easy on the stomach. And since it doesn’t contain lactose, it is the best alternative for any of you who suffer from lactose intolerance or digestive issues. For variety, you could also pick up flavored almond milk packs. You get plenty of interesting flavors like chocolate, strawberry, etc. They can be quite the game-changer to your daily cereal breakfast. Another great thing is that you do not need to heat or boil almond milk, you can have it as it is. 

Pick up unsweetened almond milk, it’s a much healthier option. Since most cereals are already sweet you won’t notice the difference. If you feel your cereal isn’t sweet enough add some maple syrup or bananas to it. 

Try these yummy almond milk flavors

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Are you planning on making positive life changes like eating healthy and whole foods? Or maybe you have a strong intolerance and develop digestive issues when you consume animal milk? Either way, you are probably on the lookout for a healthy milk alternative. Animal milk has some pretty terrible health effects on people. This is why you need to make a switch to a healthier, plant-based option like almond milk. Not only is animal safe to consume by people suffering from lactose intolerance, but the benefits of almond milk are also pretty impressive too. 

If you are new to the world of almond milk, the best way to include it in your diet is to have fun with all the yummy almond milk flavors out there. While almond milk can be a great alternative to animal milk in your daily tea, coffee, and cereal, it can also be a fun “anytime drink” to sip on thanks to the myriad of enticing almond milk flavors available these days. If you like fruity drinks, then you’ll find quite a few brands selling strawberry almond milk. For those of you who love tropical fruits, you’ll easily find mango almond milk as well. Store these almond milk packs in the refrigerator and pull one out to have on a hot day for the perfect pick me up. Unlike dairy milk almond milk doesn’t have an overpowering taste, so it goes pretty well with most fruit flavors. No need to fret all you chocolate fiends, there’s always chocolate almond milk packs for you. For those of you who rather stick to a classic flavor, try out vanilla almond milk. It’s perfect on its own or you can mix it into other flavors as well.

The great thing about these readymade flavored almond milk packs is that you can easily freeze them into popsicle molds for fun almond milk pops. Alternatively, you can also make quick shakes and smoothies with this flavored almond milk. 

Healthy breakfast smoothies to try

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Figuring out what to eat for breakfast can be such a task, that goes for any meal though really. And when you are in a rush and don’t have many options, you tend to just leave with an empty stomach. People who leave their houses on an empty stomach either push through till lunch like this, while some make unhealthy choices by consuming fast-food breakfasts or fried snacks. Going about your day without breakfast and eating unhealthy snacks at the start of your day are both unhealthy choices. So, what’s an easy and healthy way out? Whipping up a tall glass of tasty and healthy shakes. And if you don’t have the time or don’t want to put in the effort the first thing in the morning, you can prep all the ingredients the previous night and dunking them in the fridge or even better the freezer for a glass of cold healthy shake. You can chop up all your fruits and throw them together in a freezer bag or box and just dunk all of them into your grinder in the morning, there’s no need to add ice and dilute you shake either this way. If you are new to the healthy smoothie and shake game, there’s no need to stress about what kind of ingredients can you add that are healthy. We’ve got you covered on that front, simply read on. 

Green berry smoothie – A green smoothie is usually packed with leafy veggies and some fruits (to make it appetize). Start your day by fueling yourself with the help of antioxidant-rich berries and vitamin and mineral-rich greens. Opt for greens like kale, celery, baby spinach, parsley, Swiss chard, etc. When it comes to berries, you can opt for whatever you like best – be it strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries. Or you could add a little bit of mixed berries too. You can actually add whatever your favorite fruit is, although it is best to avoid fruits that are high in sugar. Because that beats the purpose of aiming for a healthy drink. Berries are plenty sweet as it is. This means you won’t need to use any artificial sweetener either. You can use chia seeds in this smoothie too.

Chocolate almond milkshake – This one is for all your chocolate fiends out there. You’re probably thinking that a chocolate badam shake means it’s going to be unhealthy – wrong! You don’t actually need to add sugar-loaded chocolate to this shake. To make it a lush chocolate shake all you need is a tablespoon of organic unsweetened cocoa powder. Cocoa powder is rich in protein, polyphenols, and is said to reduce inflammation, improve nitric oxide levels, lower risks of heart diseases, and improve blood flow. You can either choose to use almond milk or almond butter. Almonds contain a slew of essential vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. A well-balanced chocolate badam milk shake can prove to be beneficial to your health while being tasty.

Give these interesting smoothie ingredients a try

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A dry fruit shake or smoothie doesn’t have to be just any other drink that you have. Smoothies and shakes that are filled with healthy ingredients are so much more – they are a great way to keep yourself full through the morning or afternoon. A healthy and tasty smoothie can also be a substantial pick-me-up and can replace unhealthy snacks. When made the right way using fresh ingredients, they can be quite nutritious and great alternatives to readymade and store-bought drinks. If you’re wondering how, you can add more flavor and nutrition to your smoothie, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few tasty and nutritious ingredients that can take your homemade smoothies to a whole new level.

Bananas – This tasty superfood is packed with potassium, vitamin B-6, magnesium, vitamin C, iron, and fiber. All of which are important minerals and nutrients to stay healthy. Adding a chopped-up banana to your favorite can help sweeten it without the need for any white sugar as well. Just make sure that you dunk in a ripe banana. It can also help and creaminess and thicken your smoothie. 

Nut butters – Flavorful and healthy nut butters are a great way to add creaminess to your smoothies. If you’re using low-fat milk or plant-based milks without adding any heavy cream, there’s a good chance that your smoothie’s texture will be a bit thin and diluted. Instead, add a dollop of your favorite nut butter to bring in heft and creaminess. You can use anything from peanut, almond, and cashew to hazelnut butter. Choose unsweetened, unsalted, and organic butters to ensure the best taste. 

Cocoa powder – You don’t necessarily need chocolate to make a chocolatey smoothie, all you need is high-quality cocoa powder. You can add it to most smoothies to enhance their taste. Although, if you do want something a little extravagant, then use melted chocolate and cocoa powder together. These types of milkshakes are best kept for days when you want to indulge yourself in some comfort drink since they’re pretty loaded and rich. 

Berries – Whether you like green smoothies or simpler smoothies, a great way to enhance their taste without over-indulging is to add a handful or more of berries. They can be any of your favorite berries – blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, blackberries, or raspberries. Along with bringing in tartiness and sweetness, they’ll also add a whole bunch of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to your smoothie.

Leafy veggies – If you are someone who has never been able to eat leafy veggies in food, there’s a good chance that you probably don’t like the taste of the greens cooked. When raw, veggies like baby spinach, celery, kale, and parsley taste green and fresh. Green smoothies contain yummy fruits that help mask and enhance the taste of the greens, so you need not worry about it tasting like a shot of grass. 

The ingredients mentioned above are all packed with vitamins and minerals. This is why, if you want to up your daily nutrition shakes are a great way to do so.

Add more protein to your almond shakes

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Whether you love sipping on unsweetened almond milk shakes to refresh yourself or you have them pre or post your workouts to help support and boost your workouts, adding a little extra protein to your smoothies and shakes will aid your overall health. Instead of relying on unregulated or unhealthy protein powders to up your daily intake of proteins why not try ingredients that aren’t just natural, but plenty healthy as well. Here are two such ingredients that you can dunk into your next glass. 

Let’s start off with something that not only is a good source of protein but will also turn any boring shake into a glass of chocolate milk. You guessed right – cocoa powder. This heavenly powder is extracted from cocoa fruits. It adds a strong chocolate flavor to any shake, and you’ll need is one tablespoon. This makes it a great ingredient to add to children’s shakes to ensure they get their daily fill of protein. If you’re wondering just how much protein this chocolatey powder contains – each tablespoon (5.4gms) has roughly 1.1g of protein (varies from brand to brand). The next ingredient is the creamy peanut butter. The rich, nutty, and creamy taste of peanut butter not only enhances the flavor of your shakes but also adds an exceptional amount of protein to it as well. Roughly 4gms of protein can be found in one tablespoon (16gms) of peanut butter. That is quite a good amount of protein a single ingredient can add. While you might be making your shakes with almond milk protein in it is simply not enough. This is why you need an extra helping of protein-rich ingredients in your shakes.

With both the ingredients, just make sure that you opt for brands that ensure organic, free of harsh preservatives, and unsweetened products. This way you can guarantee that your drink is a healthy and wholesome one.

Making the perfect chocolate shake with almond milk

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A good chocolate milk shake is hard to turn down. Who can resist the rich, creamy, chocolaty goodness of a good chocolate milkshake? If only there was a way to make it healthier and safer to consume. Thanks to almond milk, there is! As we know, regular dairy products do more harm than good to your body, and you would be better off replacing them with plant-based alternatives. For a long time, people couldn’t quite perfect the recipe for a good almond milk, but it looks like we have finally gotten there. All you need to do is prepare a solid chocolate shake out of almond milk instead. To get you started, we have this fairly simple and scrumptious recipe for you.

To start with, make sure you pick the right kind of almond milk. Some of them are too thin and runny and wouldn’t help you create a thick, creamy chocolate shake. If you are weight conscious, make sure you choose an unsweetened almond milk. Opting for an organic variety is also a great idea. Next, grab some sugar-free chocolate. You could always go for regular chocolate, but we are trying to make your entire chocolate shake experience as guilt-free as possible. Whip it together well. Since almond milks have fewer proteins and lack in a few vitamins, you can add some more nutritional punch to your shake by including bananas, chikoos, and other such fruits. Even adding dry fruits can be a good idea. Finally, top it all with a few drops of stevia or a similar natural sweetener to ensure you have a delicious shake. Blend it all together in a blender and your delicious and healthy chocolate almond milkshake will be ready.

Try to mix it up with the ingredients a bit whenever possible to keep things fresh. This chocolate shake recipe is perfect for anyone on a specialized diet like keto or simply someone who is looking to cut calories and carbs. 

Almond vs coconut milk – the best plant-based dairy alternative

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We are well past the stage of discussing the merits and demerits of dairy. One thing that most people can agree on these days is the fact that dairy has some adverse effects on the human body. While many are busy following a diet that needs them to cut out dairy completely, for others it is a lifestyle choice too. Whatever the reason may be, there is a massive demand for plant-based dairy alternatives in the market. Because no matter how much we may hate milk, we cannot get enough of our teas, coffees, smoothies, and milkshakes that all require a dairy alternative. Two very common alternatives are coconut milk and sweetened or unsweetened almond milk. Let’s understand both in detail and see which one works the best for a healthy, clean lifestyle.

First, let’s understand both of these dairy alternatives. Organic almond milk is made from roasting almonds and then later crushing them to get their pulp. This is then blended with filtered water. The amount of water added depends on manufacturer to manufacturer, so make sure you pick one that doesn’t have too much water content.  It goes without saying that excess water can dilute both the taste and the flavor of almond milk. In some instances, extra nutrients are also added during the process to give your almond milk that extra kick of nutrition. On the other hand, coconut milk is made from the flesh of brown coconuts. The flesh is grated and boiled extensively. The whole thing is then drained and filtered repeatedly till only the milk remains. As you can see, both of these are made in extremely natural and organic ways without adding any artificial elements or preservatives of any kind. This is to ensure that the goodness of these milks stays intact. However, there are differences in the taste and consistency of both this milk. Almond milk is the closest to regular milk and hence can be easily used to replace normal dairy milk. Coconut milk tends to be thicker and creamier, making it a better option for cooking and baking. Coconut milk also retains its flavor to a great extent, which isn’t bad if you don’t mind a hint of coconut in your shakes and smoothies. Almond milk is comparatively tasteless and is a better alternative to use with teas and coffees. They are also fairly high in nutritive values, giving you more reasons to pick them over dairy. However, they tend to fall short in the protein category. Almond milk still has some protein in it, coconut milk contains none. One of the biggest distinguishing factors between the two is the calorie values. Almond milk is comparatively lighter and contains fewer calories. Coconut milk retains a lot more fats and hence racks up a higher calorie count.

If you are switching over to plant-based dairy alternatives for health reasons, the benefits of almond milk are immediately apparent. And while coconut milk may offer a good amount of nutrition too, the higher calorie count may prove to be a deal-breaker. Even when it comes to cooking with these milks, coconut milk gets a little unpredictable and may not offer you quite the consistency you were expecting. On the other hand, almond milk works exceedingly well and is justifiably considered to be one of the best dairy alternatives out there. You can either choose to purchase pure almond milk or opt for a flavored almond milk. However, while purchasing make sure you check the nutrition label thoroughly and ensure that it is to your satisfaction. This is because manufacturers have slightly different recipes for almond milks and often certain nutrition values can change significantly.