You can find many dairy-free milk alternatives, like almond milk, at grocery stores that cater to specific dietary needs and taste preferences. If you are trying to avoid sugar, it might be best to choose an almond milk that is either low in added sugar or devoid of added sugar all together. Sometimes, stomach upsets may be a concern when dealing with commercial thickeners, so avoiding a dairy-free milk that contains guar gum or other food grade thickeners may be a wise choice. Milk made from almonds might also need to be lower in calories if attempting to lose weight, so choosing a light version of this milk may be best for these purposes.
Almond milk beverages often contain added vitamins and minerals to compensate for the natural vitamins missing compared to dairy milk beverages. Since these vitamins are considered safe for most individuals, try to choose a dairy-free milk that contains a slightly higher amount of nutrients. By looking at the nutrition panel located on the back of most commercially sold almond milks, it is easy to compare the amount of nutrients in any given drink. If a commercial almond milk turns out to be a poor option due to allergies or other health concerns, it is possible to make almond milk at home by blending together almonds and water and straining the milk through a fine mesh sieve.
It might also be a good idea to avoid commercial almond milk that contains food grade thickeners if you suffer from a delicate digestive system. These thickeners give the milk a creamy texture, like whole milk or heavy cream, and are identified by the names of guar gum, xanthan gum and sunflower seed lecithin. Although these can upset some people who experience poor digestion, these thickeners can be consumed safely by a wide majority of the population. If you suffer from any other allergies, like to chocolate or vanilla, it is best to avoid flavored almond milk, as well.
Many milk alternatives contain added sugar to make the drink more palatable and to mimic the natural sugar found in traditional dairy products. If you suffer from any blood sugar imbalances, from pre-diabetes or diabetes, then choosing an almond milk without sugar might be the best choice. This ensures that blood sugar will not release dramatically after consumption, a problem very common to many store bought beverages. Choosing a sugar-free version might also help with calorie control, as unnecessary calories are eliminated when sugar is taken out of the beverage.
