Commercial Non-Dairy 'Milk' Substitutes

People who chose to eliminate milk derived from animals for whatever reason, now have a wide array of commercially made 'milk' alternatives to choose from. 

Their choices include:-

❥ Nut Milk e.g. Almond milk, Cashew Milk, Hazelnut Milk

❥ Fruit Milk e.g. Coconut Milk

❥ Legume Milk e.g. Soy Milk
❥ Seed Milk e.g. Quinoa blend, Hemp Milk

❥ Grain Milks e.g. White Rice Milk, Brown Rice Milk and Oat Milk (Oat Drink)

Whether these options can be used and applied in the same way as traditional milk is debatable.  Nevertheless from a nutrition standpoint, the nutritional content of many non-dairy milk substitutes outrank the nutritional content of many commercial animal derived milks, in many aspects.

TABLE ABOVE SHOWS THE NUTRITIONAL CONTENTS OF MILK AND  NON-DAIRY MILK ALTERNATIVES
(Click image for a larger view)

Examining the table above, the following nutritional variations are apparent:

❣ Coconut Milk contains the most calories per 8 fluid ounce (fl. oz.) serving, with 80% of its calories coming from fat; mainly saturated fat (or easily digested short-medium chain fatty acids).
❣ Almond and Skimmed milk contain the least calories per 8 fl. oz. serving, with the majority of their calories coming from carbohydrates.
❣ Rice Milk is carbohydrate rich, with 80% of its calories coming from carbohydrates.
❣ Coconut Milk contains the most fibre and most saturated fat per 8 fl. oz. serving.
❣ Soy Milk contains the most sodium while the sodium content of coconut milk per 8 fl. oz. serving is the lowest.
❣ Coconut Milk and Soy milk have protein contents comparable to dairy milk.
❣  The carbohydrate content of milk is lower than most non-diary milks but unlike the non-dairy milks, the carbohydrate present is primarily natural sugars and not added sugar/sweetener. 

Gathering standardised nutrition information for the milk alternatives is rather challenging for two reasons. One, the USDA’s Online Nutrient Database does not have a standard nutrition reference for any of the milk alternatives, except for coconut milk. Two, the nutritional content of 'milk' alternatives varies drastically among brands due to each company having their own formula for making and flavouring the ‘milks’. For instance, some ‘milks’ contain thickening agents, evaporated cane juice, added vitamins and minerals, along with controversial ingredients such as carrageen and natural flavours.

In all, compared with traditional milk, non-dairy milks hold their own nutrition-wise. Many ‘milk’ substitutes come fortified and flavoured thus improving their micro-nutrient and flavour profiles. It is suggested to do a taste test among the brands until you find one with a flavour, texture (mouth-feel) and nutritional profile that is to your liking.   

SUGGESTION: "Using coconut milk in your morning coffee as a non-dairy creamer works seemingly well.  The high fat content of the coconut gives a similar, rich & creamy taste/mouth-feel to that of the dairy creamer," says Lauren O'Connor, MS, RD of Nutri-Savvy. In addition, it provides a healthy dose of easily digested short-medium chain fatty acids.

NOTE: Using non-dairy ‘milks’ as a replacement for dairy milk in your favourite recipe may require some trial and error, at first to see which type works best. (E.g. Almond vs. Soy milk in your Bran Flakes cereal or Soy milk vs Rice Milk in a vegan roux)
For a listing of some familiar brands of dairy 'milk' alternatives visit tumblr

Thank you for reading! 

Leave a ⓒⓞⓜⓜⓔⓝⓣ below.

Got Bugs ? ...Eradicate them The Envirnomentally Safe way

Answer these questions to know whether you need a non-toxic method of pest removal.
1) Are there people under 13 years and or domestic animals in your household?  Yes ◘  No ◘
2) Are you or persons in your household sensitive to harsh chemicals?     Yes ◘  No ◘
3) Are you trying to leave a green footprint?   Yes ◘  No ◘                                      
4) Are you in need of cost effective alternatives to pest-/insect-icides?   Yes ◘  No ◘ 
If yes to any, then here goes.

It's a given, commercial insecticides/pesticides (sprays, coils & powder etc.) generally have overly powerful odours, where by you have to quit what you are doing, leave the area and return after the odour has died down.  To forgo this inconvenience, here is one ozone-friendly solution that targets a number of creatures such as 
☑ Mosquitoes
☑ Cockroaches 
☑ Ants
DIATOMACEOUS EARTH (die-uh-toe-may-shus) also known as diatomite or kieselgur. This is an odourless, talcum powder-like, natural mineralised compound, that effectively works against a wide range of insects. It can be applied indoors as well as outdoors. It is most effective against:
1) Bed Bugs - place in the cracks of and spread a thin layer on the mattress, as well as the corners of the bed frame
2) Flies, fleas, carpet beetles, cockroaches - dust the walls, windows, doors thoroughly with the powder or line the base of the walls with the powder or dust thoroughly onto the carpet so as to reduce the visibility of the white residue; this is a must if your carpet is not white.

Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic substance that does not harm warm blooded animals and can even be applied to your pets fur/hair to prevent or reduce the instance of contracting fleas.
For more information on other natural methods of pest/insect removal check out the video below. You might want a pen and pencil handy.

                              

What Yoghurt Should We Eat?

According to Kitchen Daily's Contributor Joseph Erdos in  "The Hidden Dangers Of Yoghurt" article, the answer to this question is plain, plain, plain yoghurt.

Ideally, yoghurt should have a few ingredients preferably milk and live yoghurt cultures. If you were to make your own yoghurt or witness the yoghurt process you would agree with this.

Erdos rightfully claims plain yoghurt is packed with protein and is richer in calcium than milk. (see Image.1.) He goes on to suggest that one should stay away from fruit-flavoured yoghurt and instead add the flavourings of your choice to plain yoghurt.  For instance, a number of items such as
① A spoonful of preserves/dried fruit/fresh fruit chunks
② Honey or
③ Apple-sauce (unsweetened)

 can be stirred into plain yoghurt, if you like the sweet flavour. 

On the upside, he says many brands offer plain yoghurt in a number of textures, therefore making it a versatile product.

⌦ The runny textured plain yoghurt could be used as a liquid base for granola, muesli or a breakfast cereal.

⌦  A naturally creamy, super-thick plain yoghurt can be used for custom made dips or a replacement for mayonnaise or butter in some recipes. E.g.  Greek yoghurt.

 Note: Yoghurt becomes super thick due to it being strained. Erdos claims straining doubles the protein content and decreases the sugar content, which is drained away in the whey (the resultant liquid)

TIP:
Because Greek yoghurt is generally more expensive than non-Greek yoghurt you can make your own by straining  plain yoghurt for a thicker consistency. 

Pour the plain yoghurt into a cheesecloth, tie the ends of the cheesecloth on the kitchen sink's  tap/faucet, place a bowl under neat to collect the resultant liquid. Leave for about 10 minutes. Open the cheesecloth and use thick yoghurt as desired.

SHOPPING ADVICE: Joseph Erdos further states, once armed with the right knowledge; you would be able to dodge the minefield of artificial additives commonly found in yoghurt. (Modified food starch, corn starch, sugar, gelatine, potassium sorbate, aspartame, high fructose corn syrup, tricalcium phosphate, food dyes etc.)

He highly recommends, taking the time to read all labels before committing to a brand, since yoghurt has many great health benefits relating to the prevention and treatment of different gastrointestinal diseases and allergies. There is no reason to be afraid of all the brands out there. Find the one you like and you would be on your way to better health.

Reference & Original Article: 

Kitchen Daily, The Hidden Danger of Youghurt by Joseph Erdos
<http://www.kitchendaily.com/2011/06/07/the-hidden-dangers-of-yogurt/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl7|sec1_lnk2|68950>

Related Article:
Choosing the BEST Yoghurt
Dannon Light n Fit Yoghurt Series....Query?

2012 Marks Major Changes to Sunscreen Labels

Given that school is out until September, the amount of time spent outdoors will automatically increase and for many wearing sunscreen lotion may be taboo. However, in Trinidad and Tobago as with other parts of the Tropics one can safely say, applying sunscreen before heading out the house is slowly becoming a booming trend. More and more people can be seen applying and re-applying sunscreen while out and about. Nevertheless, whether you are new to sunscreen or a frequent user please be aware that as of last month (June 2012), non-prescriptive/over the counter sunscreens have undergone a number of changes, especially the ones marketed in the United States of America (USA/US).  Commissioning these changes is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for reasons relating to consumer safety,  SPF (Sun Protection Factor) protection and other labelling/misleading claims. 
Before you apply your sunscreen or purchase a new bottle of sunscreen take a look at some of the key changes made: 
① The type of protection offered must be clearly identified on the bottle/product. The sunscreen should state whether it protects against skin cancer (UVA rays) or simply guards against sunburn (UVB rays) or does both.   Alternatively, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, consumers can determine whether their sunscreen offers minimal protection by reading the label and looking for a general warning such as:
 "This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin ageing” for example. As manufacturers are required by law to place a warning similar to that on the sunscreens label or be fined.
② Manufacturers are required to state clearly how much SPF protection their product offers. This should be expressed as an SPF valve or a Broad Spectrum value no more than 50.  The FDA states very strongly, there is not sufficient data to show that products with SPF values higher than 50 provide greater protection for users than products with SPF values of 50 or lower. In other words, it is best to purchase a sunscreen that has an SPF value of 50 or less or a Broad Spectrum value of 50 or less. For the latter, simply re-apply the sunscreen more often if the SPF or Broad Spectrum value is less than 50. 
③ Manufactures should refrain from overstating the effectiveness of their sunscreen through labelling claims such as "water-proof" or "sweat-proof" and/or "a sunblock." The term "water-resistant" is suggested as an appropriate labelling claim over "water-proof", once the sunscreen remains effective for 40 minutes or 80 minutes when swimming or sweating. The FDA declares "water-proof" or "sweat-proof" to be misleading claims because all sunscreens eventually wash off.  Therefore, consumers should ignore sunscreens labelled water-proof, sweat-proof or sunblock, in favour for those with water-resistant claims. Please note sunscreens also cannot claim to provide sun protection for more than 2 hours without re-application or claim to provide immediate protection after being applied (for example- "instant protection") without submitting data to support these claims and obtaining FDA approval.
④ Manufactures are required to list a standard "Drug Facts" panel on the side or back of the container. This ensures that the consumer has a guide to the active & inactive ingredients, uses and directions on how to use the sunscreen appropriately. Here is an example:

 

In essence, as a consumer you can never have too much information although these changes are formatted for the US market, consumers outside of the USA should take these changes under consideration before purchasing a brand of sunscreen.

 Links for the information mentioned in the article can be found:

1) American Academy of Dermatology

2) Facts About Sunscreen 

3) Food and Drug Administration- Sunscreen FAQ

4) Sunscreen Labelling

5) Good Housekeeping