Should you mix almond milk with protein powder?

Should you mix almond milk with protein powder? I do not mix our protein powder with almond milk. Keep reading to learn why.

I do not mix almond milk with our protein powder.

What is almond milk? 

Almond milk is a plant milk made from ground almonds and filtered water. It is naturally dairy- and lactose-free.

Can you mix almond milk with protein powder? 

You can mix protein powder with almond milk. In fact, you can mix protein powder with just about anything. Some people like to mix protein powder with water. Others add it to their morning coffee. What you choose to mix it with will depend on your preferences and nutrition goals. Almond milk is a popular choice because it cheaper and has fewer calories than other plant milks.  

Is almond milk good with protein powder? 

The answer to this question depends on what you mean by “good.” If you are wondering if almond milk tastes good mixed with protein powder, the answer is yes. Protein powder mixed with almond milk tastes good, or at least better than protein powder mixed with water. If you are wondering if almond milk is good for you, the answer is not really.

First of all, almond milk is not really made with almonds. Although there is no way of knowing exactly what percentage of almond milk is almonds, it is safe to assume that it is low. For instance, a class-action lawsuit against Blue Diamond (Almond Breeze) claims that their branding is misleading because their almond milk contains only 2% almonds. Almond milk therefore does not offer nearly the same nutritional value as almonds. Moreover, most almond milks are full of food additives. 

Almond milk is full of food additives.

Food additives are added to plant milks to replicate the creamy mouthfeel of dairy. Although not necessarily bad for you in small quantities, additives can add up quickly (especially if you drink a protein shake every day) and cause gastrointestinal (GI) side effects like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and stomach pain. This is because food additives are, generally speaking, hard to digest. They sit in your gut for longer than food should, which gives your gut bacteria more time to eat. As they eat, these bacteria produce gas, which causes bloating and stomach pain. Gas also slows colonic transit (the amount of time it takes food to travel through the colon), which can lead to constipation.

In the long term, food additives can disrupt regulatory pathways in the intestine, which can result in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and systemic inflammatory disorders. Artificial sweeteners are among the most harmful additives in the long term as they alter the composition of your gut microbiota (the collection of microorganisms that help you digest food). This can lead to serious, chronic GI problems and widespread inflammation. Some sweeteners, especially sugar alcohols like xylitol, are also poorly absorbed by the gut (meaning they feed those hungry gut bacteria) and cause diarrhea because they draw water into your intestine. Now you finally have something to blame for those post-protein shake trips to the bathroom!

A few of the most common food additives used in almond milk are highlighted below. 

Almond Milk (Filtered Water, Almonds), Calcium Carbonate, Sea Salt, Potassium Citrate, Sunflower Lecithin, Gellan Gum, Natural Flavors, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D2, D-Alpha-Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E). 

Should I mix protein powder with almond milk or water? 

Protein powder mixed with almond milk tastes better than protein powder mixed with water. It has a creamier texture and richer flavor. That said, mixing protein powder with almond milk will change the nutritional profile of your protein shake.

A cup of unsweetened almond milk contains 30 to 60 calories, which means that your protein shake will have 30 to 60 more calories than it would if it were mixed with water alone. Depending on your nutritional goals, this may or may not be a good thing. If you are looking to gain weight, then you could use the added calories. If you are looking to lose weight, you might want to stick with water. That said, it is only 30 to 60 calories, and if it makes your protein shake palpable, it is probably worth it. 

If not almond milk, then what should I use? 

Our protein powder is additive-free. I have mixed it with almond milk before, but I feel silly adding food additives to an additive-free protein powder. This is why I prefer using other plant milks with fewer food additives. My go-tos are coconut and oat milk. Regardless of which plant milk you choose, however, you should still read the ingredient label.

In summary, almond milk and protein powder make for a tasty, relatively low calorie protein shake. That said, I still recommend that you choose another plant milk, like oat milk, with fewer additives. Food additives are no joke, and sneak their way into most of the packaged foods that we eat. 

★★★★★

“I just finished my first bag and ordered 2 more! I Iove this stuff! I have IBS and every protein powder hurts my stomach…except drink wholesome!”

-Julio

Again, I do not mix drink wholesome with almond milk because it is additive-free and most almond milks are full of food additives. Instead, I mix it with coconut or oat milk. 

I make protein shakes with coconut milk!

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