Whether you're lactose-intolerant, vegan, or simply don’t care for the taste of pasteurized milk, almond milk may be your best friend. With only 60 calories a cup, many people switch to almond milk, simply for the weight-loss benefits. There’s no cholesterol or saturated fats in almond milk, it’s low in sodium, and high in healthy fats. These healthy fats help to reduce and prevent high blood pressure and lower your risk of heart disease. Almond milk contains 50% percent of your daily recommended amount of Vitamin E. Vitamin E has antioxidants that keep the skin healthy and lower your risk of sun damage. Almond milk contains plenty of fiber to keep the digestive system healthy, and although it doesn’t contain as much calcium as cow’s milk, it still contains 30% percent of the daily recommended intake. However, you can find fortified types of almond milk that have a higher concentration of calcium.

If you don’t want to buy your almond milk at the store, it’s easy to make at home. Simply grind up your almonds into a fine, “grainy” texture. Place the ground almonds into a blender with water and blend. Strain the pulp with cheesecloth or another type of strainer. Different recipes call for different amounts of almonds and other ingredients; you can even add maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, or nutmeg to add flavor.