The Dairy Alternative That Everyone Is Raving About
— Oat, Almond, and Soy, Oh My!
Plant-based milk has become the ‘moove’ these days as cow’s milk goes out of style. In addition to its great taste and health benefits, it can be easily swapped with dairy products we eat in our everyday. Do you put calorie-heavy creamers in your daily coffee? Try using low-calorie and creamy oat milk instead of dairy creamer. Eat a bowl of Wheaties in the morning? Try replacing cow’s milk with some unsweetened almond milk – the cereal will act as a natural sweetener to the milk. Pro-tip: add a splash of plant-based milk when cooking scrambled eggs for a more creamy and fluffy texture. And the best part? There is something for everyone. With an endless list of options, you’re certain to find one that you enjoy. Whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, allergic to nuts, or simply a picky eater, there are countless plant-based milk options that are sure to check off your boxes.
There are a number of reasons, health and morality related, that people are making the switch from dairy milk to options like oat, almond, soy, rice, coconut, and even pea milk. Recent scandals involving dairy farms exposed an ugly side to dairy production. Some farms mistreat cows, and even allow them to suffer in inhumane conditions. To support the betterment of farm animals, many people are choosing cow’s milk alternatives.
Cow’s milk, despite what they told you in first grade, is actually not great for your health. Instead of improving bone health, it does the opposite by depleting our bones of the calcium it needs. Additionally, a single serving of dairy milk contains as much as 24 milligrams of cholesterol and more than 20 percent of the daily-recommended dose of saturated fat, which is harmful to the heart. Plant-based milk, however, contains no cholesterol and little to no fat.
Looking for an extra boost of protein in your diet? Soy milk provides the highest amount of protein of plant-based milk alternatives, while having fewer calories. It can contain up to eight grams of protein per cup, which is equivalent to the amount of protein in a cup of cow’s milk. Soy milk is also considered the most nutritionally similar to cow’s milk, allowing you to reap many of the nourishing benefits of cow’s milk without the detriments. It’s also filled with antioxidants and fiber, which are added bonuses. Oat milk, while also containing protein, has closer to four grams of protein per cup, but its high fiber content makes it richer and more filling than other plant-based milk alternatives.
Next time you’re browsing the dairy section at the grocery store, remember that making the switch to plant-based milk is easy. Buying a pint of almond milk this week is a small price to pay in exchange for saving your future self, the planet, and the cows.
