Guide to the Best Almond Milk (2024)

Best Almond Milk

1. Three Trees / 2. Malk / 3. New Barn

Many of you have requested that we research plant-based milks. Because this category is now so broad, I’m starting with the most popular plant-based milk–almond milk. Market research indicates that almond milk has the greatest share of the alternative-milk market.

If you’re interested in finding the healthiest non-dairy milk, check out our other plant-based milk guide! I’ve covered the best oat milk to drink, including my opinions on which is better between almond and oat milk.

The Benefits of Plant-Based Milks

Lighter footprint: Any plant-based milk has a lighter impact than dairy with greenhouse gas emissions.

Dairy Free : Plant-based milks are a dairy alternative for people with sensitivities to dairy or a vegan diet.

Taste: Some people simply prefer the taste of milk alternatives, and there is something for everyone.

Is Almond Milk More Healthy Than Dairy Milk?

Not necessarily! As you’ll see below, there is a lot of Sneaky Stuff and Bad Stuff among almond milk products on the market. Apart from veganism or dairy sensitivities, people may be better off drinking the best dairy milks (local, organic, and from pasture-raised animals) over poor-quality almond milks.

Almond Milk: Healthy and Unhealthy Ingredients

What is Almond Milk Made of?

All almond milks include at least almonds and water. Many also have sweeteners, thickening agents, emulsifiers and stabilizers, flavorings, preservatives, added protein, and added vitamins and minerals.

Do I Need to Choose a Fortified Almond Milk?

Some almond milk brands fortify their drinks with calcium and vitamins A, D, and E. This is in order to better mirror the nutritional profile of commercial dairy milk.

You may prefer fortified almond milk if you’re seeking a nutritional replacement for dairy. However, it is possible for children to consume too much of nutrients such as Vitamin A, zinc, and niacin. This is a good thing to bring up with your health provider.

What About Added Sugar in Almond Milk?

Thanks to lactose, cow’s milk is naturally sweet. Some almond milks contain added sugars to mimic the taste profile of cow’s milk.

However, lactose in dairy doesn’t impact blood sugar responses as much as added sugars do. Some sweetened almond milk can have as much as 20 grams of sugar per serving. We do not consider almond milk with added sugar to be Good Stuff.

Why You Should Choose Almond Milk With No Additional Stabilizers and Emulsifiers

Many commercial almond milks have ingredients that act as thickening agents, emulsifiers, stabilizers, flavorings, and preservatives. The most problematic tend to be some of the stabilizers and emulsifiers. They are usually listed as gums, lecithins, and carrageenan.

Some research suggests that these ingredients may cause inflammation, leading to mild discomfort or gas. In the case of carrageenan, symptoms include potential colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and colon cancer. I definitely recommend avoiding carrageenan. If you want to skip all of these questionable ingredients, choose an almond milk from our Good Stuff category.

Almond milk with added thickeners usually contains the fewest almonds. Another hack for discerning the almond content in your milk is to look at the fat, protein, and calorie numbers. The higher those are, the more almonds are likely to be in the milk.

Scary Stuff in Almonds

After a few salmonella outbreaks were traced to California-grown almonds in the early 2000’s, the USDA implemented a rule requiring the pasteurization of California almonds. This rule applies to both conventional and organic almonds. Unfortunately, some of the methods used to pasteurize non-organic almonds involve toxic chemicals. Carcinogenic herbicides like glyphosate also frequently contaminate almonds.

Unfortunately, due to cross-contamination, even organic stuff isn’t necessarily glyphosate free. Therefore, organic almond milk is the only Good Stuff. The Best Stuff is certified glyphosate-residue free by The Detox Project.

Almond Milk’s Controversial Environmental Impact

Almond production is much more environmentally friendly than dairy production. However, growing almonds uses a lot of water. Some estimates suggest that each single almond represents 1.1 gallons of water!

Although this is a lot of water, data suggests that almond production is still better than dairy production. Growing almonds uses significantly less land and freshwater than dairy does. Almond crops produce less than a third of the greenhouse gas emissions of the dairy industry.

Homemade Almond Milk Recipe

For the healthiest, most transparent, best almond milk, make it yourself! Although you have to soak the almonds overnight, the milk comes together very quickly. See our favorite recipe here. We’ve also recently become obsessed with the Nutr Machine for the easiest possible way to make plant milk.

Read more about our choices for the safest products for your family here.

Be well,

Suzanne, Certified Holistic Health Coach