Is almond milk safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about almond milk during pregnancy?

1. Almond drinks average about 10.2 g of protein per kilogram against 32.6 g for cow's milk, and most plant milks other than soy contain 1 percent protein or less. 1
2. Plant-based milk substitutes such as soy and almond beverages appear on the list of lower-iodine options, while pregnancy raises iodine needs to 220 mcg a day and dairy products are named among the good sources. 2
3. The body needs thyroid hormones for proper bone and brain development during pregnancy and infancy, and severe iodine deficiency can permanently harm a fetus. 2
4. Switching from cow's milk to plant-based drinks was modelled to increase the share of women aged 14 and older with inadequate vitamin B12 intake, from 5 to 8 percent up to 11 to 17 percent. 3
5. People following vegetarian or vegan diets in pregnancy are advised to check with a healthcare provider about iodine, choline, omega-3, and iron, since several of these are harder to obtain without animal foods. 4

Is almond milk safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Almond milk is an easy swap when dairy stops appealing, and it raises no safety question in early pregnancy. The catch is that it is mostly water and almonds, so it brings very little protein. If aversions have narrowed your diet generally, that is worth mentioning at your first prenatal visit rather than waiting.
• Second trimester. Iodine needs rise to 220 mcg a day in pregnancy, and dairy is one of the main dietary sources most people rely on. Almond beverages are specifically listed among low-iodine options. If you have swapped out dairy entirely, ask whether your prenatal covers iodine, since not all of them do.
• Third trimester. Homemade or raw almond milk is a different product from the carton on the shelf. Commercial versions are pasteurized; unpasteurized fresh nut milks sold loose are not, and that is the one version worth avoiding late in pregnancy when foodborne illness risk carries more weight.