Milk Substitutes - Which Work for You?

catarific · Joined: 21 Dec 2010 Posts: 25 Location: Florida, USA

I have tried using different brands of Vanilla Almond Milk - and successfully seem to use it okay with cereal since I do not use very much. But I made the mistake of having a glass of Silk Almond milk yesterday and have had diarrhea from yesterday until this A.M.

Would rice milk be easier to digest? Soy I know I have a sensitivity to. Or is it the Silk brand which is a problem?

Do you use a milk substitute, and if so - which one works for you?

Deb · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 7:32 pm Post subject:

I make my own almond milk, then there are no additives to deal with. I have been happy with it since I started making it. I use 1 cups almonds to 4 cups water, I add a little stevia, sometimes vanilla and or cinnamon. There are many recipes online for it.
_________________
You can't discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore!

smalltownslackermom · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 7:31 am Post subject:

hmmm, I can't drink the Silk Almond Milk either. I get mild digestive upset. I can't remember if I suspected an ingredient, is there guar gum in that one? But I eat lots of almonds and almond flour with no issue. I haven't tried other almond milks either.

edit: I use "Better Than Milk" milk substitute. It's actually made from tofu not just raw soybeans. I try to avoid the regular soymilk anymore since it hasn't been fermented in the traditional way. The only downside I find is that it doesn't dissolve altogether but I do use it as creamer in my tea and as the powdered milk in my bread recipes, etc... I also use coconut milk out of the can for a lot of things. My husband loves to chill a can then dump it in the blender and whip it. GREAT whip cream substitute!
_________________
son - high ttg - 4/09, pos. biopsy 5/09
self - negative bloodwork 5/09, pos. biopsy 11/09
sister - gf for ~3 years and is a new person
niece - positive ttg 2/10, foregoing biopsy

nancw · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 1478 Location: Denver, CO

Blue Diamond almond milk
So Delicious coconut milk beverage

I never drink milk subs by the glass, even though I used to drink a gallon/week of 2%.
_________________
Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, yeast and 99% grain-free

joy · Joined: 24 Dec 2010 Posts: 92

It depends on the reason you are avoiding milk, but have you considered milk kefir? If you ferment it at least 24 hours the lactose will all be converted to galactose.

We make our own. You could also make it with coconut milk.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kefir

catarific · Joined: 21 Dec 2010 Posts: 25 Location: Florida, USA

I am not lactose intolerant. But when I had issues with diarrhea which have been ongoing for months now, it was suggested to give up a lot of the foods which could cause it - so I no longer eat dairy foods, foods with too much sugar or fructose, fried foods, etc. I am not sure if it is the milk itself, or the high sugar content that might be in the milk substitutes. I have had a colonoscopy and endoscopy and everything looked normal. He did do a few biopsies and am awaiting those results. I somehow think I may have SIBO because when taking a broad spectrum antibiotic during a sinus infection - there was no diarrhea, malabsorbtion, or digestive issues. When the antiobiotics wore off, I am back to where I started.

I am seeing my doctor next week to see where we go from here. I know that somehow the sugar and fructose are a problem and am wondering if this is contributing to the lack of tolerance for milk substitutes.

Deb · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 6:50 am Post subject:

There are almond milks that are unsweetened..did you try any of them? There is a coconut milk that is unsweetened too, SoDelicious brand.
_________________
You can't discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore!

catarific · Joined: 21 Dec 2010 Posts: 25 Location: Florida, USA

Actually when I have looked in the store, I have never seen any brands that are unsweetened. Of course, I buy mine at Publix and not at the health food stores. I should try Whole Foods and see if they carry that. I was told though, to stay away from coconut - because many coconut products are not good if you are suffering from diarrhea. But, if I go on a broad sprectrum antibiotic - I can ingest anything - strange as that seems.

joy · Joined: 24 Dec 2010 Posts: 92

The whole antibiotic thing is a bummer! The prob with using them as a cure is that they just start the whole mess all over again Sad

Have you tried a diet aimed at restoring balance of the gut flora? I don't know much about SIBO and GAPS, but restoring the flora balance is on of the main goals of the diet.

It's about a) not feeding the bad bugs - especially candida - by eliminating sugar and b) introducing the good bugs through probiotics AND a variety of home fermented foods.

The only sugars in this diet in the very beginning come from the vegetables you cook in your broth (no starchy veg). Then you get a bit of honey in your ginger tea. It's not until stage 5 that you even try fruit.

You also start out with adding the juice from homemade sauerkraut (super easy to make!!!), then eating the kraut, then homemade yogurt (also easy), milk kefir, water kefir (I like water kefir way better - even easier to make than the kraut), beet kvass, and other ferments. Also, you supplement with strong probiotics (We use GutPro Organic Probiotic Powder)

Establishing the good bacteria before the bad ones get a chance to take over is the idea. I know it's easier said than done and I haven't had to deal with SIBO, but if you haven't tried loading up on the probiotic foods it might be worth a try if it might help you get off the antibiotic roller coaster.

catarific · Joined: 21 Dec 2010 Posts: 25 Location: Florida, USA

I have been taking probiotics - and have stopped most foods with sugar and fructose. I guess when I finally get to see the doctor - he can prescribe the correct medication that might help Sad

For days I can be doing good and then one thing starts it - like that glass of almond milk Sad