People with allergies know how difficult it can be to make healthy dietary choices. Individuals that are lactose intolerant, for example, have a tough time consuming dairy and milk products. However, it is not only due to allergic reactions that people struggle in making dietary choices. Over the years, we have developed a strong love for certain foods that are not entirely beneficial for our overall health. Salt is one of the most common examples of such an ingredient. Too much salt can result in a number of serious diseases overtime, such as hypertension.
So, how does one find healthy cooking substitutions to all these foods? Here is a list of some of the common no-no foods for which you must switch to a substitute.
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Milk
Milk is used in a wide variety of ways and some of the most delicious desserts have milk as the main ingredient. This is why the quest for milk substitutes has given everyone access to some great replacements. These include Soy Milk, Almond Milk, Oat Milk, Rice Milk, Cashew Milk, Coconut Milk, Hemp Milk, and Flaxseed Milk. The nutritional snapshot of all these different options is not the same, however, the amount of fat found in cow’s milk is considered to be the greatest.
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Butter
Substitutes for butter are generally made up of coconut or vegetable oils. There is also nut butter that is richer in protein and has a greater amount of carbs in their nutritional content. Substitutes made out of vegetable oils are able to mimic butter very well and have a close nutritional profile.
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Salt
The salt content in what we eat is hard to believe. What most of us do not realize is that this single ingredient has the capability to increase our risk of suffering major diseases, such as hypertension. Luckily, the substitutes for salt are easy to find. All you have to do is switch to spices and herbs or sprinkle some citrus juice to get that extra kick. Garlic and onion are also considered to have the same effect as that of salt.
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Yogurt
You can eat yogurt is in a number of ways and can be added to any meal of the day. However, for people that experience a hard time digesting dairy products, some substitutes of yogurt are also rich in protein. These substitutes include Yogurt made out of Almond Milk, Coconut Milk, or Soy Milk. Moreover, Hemp Yogurt is also a substitute that is equally rich in protein content and offers fiber as well.
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Cheese
While soft cheese is easy replicated by its substitutes, hard cheese is much more challenging. For soft cheese, elements such as macadamia nuts, almonds, and cashews can be used. However, if you want the same texture, you could add tofu to your replacement of cheese. In case of hard cheese substitutes, the base can be made form a number of different elements such as soy protein, vegetable oils, or nuts. Nutritional yeast is another common substitute that is commonly referred to as a parmesan-like ingredient.
So, starting today, add all these nutritional substitutes of some of the most desired foods known to us. Here’s to eating guilt-free!