Why Major Side Effect of Drinking Almond Milk

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Almond milk has swiftly become a household staple, especially as people shift away from traditional cow's milk and toward dairy-free, plant-based alternatives.

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Almond milk is, in fact, the most popular non-dairy milk, owing to its nice texture and subtle nutty flavor. That's hardly surprising, given how flexible and pleasant it is, as well as how low in calories, carbohydrates, and fat it is.

Despite all of the beverage's health benefits, it did have some disadvantages. One of the most prevalent negative effects of drinking almond milk, according to experts, is stomach discomfort, which is likely due to an ingredient called carrageenan.

According to Gina Keatley, CDN, a certified dietitian nutritionist at Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy in New York City, "many commercial almond milk contain additives such as sugar, salt, gum, lecithin, and flavors." "As an addition, carrageenan can induce GI distress," 

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So, what exactly is carrageenan? It's a thickening substance produced from red seaweed that's found in a variety of processed meals. Even though carrageenan sounds natural and is technically produced from a plant, that doesn't mean it's good for you to eat on a regular basis. Unfortunately, this form of carbohydrate is also difficult to digest.

Carrageenan is generally considered safe by the FDA, which is why it is an allowed additive in the United States. However, according to a 2017 study published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, carrageenan can harm gut health by inducing intestinal inflammation, among other undesirable side effects.

Any items containing carrageenan should be avoided if you have IBS, Chrohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis. Those with a sensitive stomach may have trouble tolerating the addition as well.

That involves reading the ingredients list on any foods you purchase or seeking a "carrageenan-free" label. Fun fact: In 2016, the Organic Standards Board agreed to ban carrageenan from all goods, thus any almond milk with the USDA Organic label is free of the problematic addition.

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