Should I Drink Milk?

I remember staying up late as a kid, sitting on the coach with a cold glass of milk in hand, ready to enjoy a warm cookie my dad pulled out of the oven! :) Fast forward several years, people have become more aware of health issues connected to milk, which means more research has been completed on drinking and eating milk products. 

Milk includes 2 kinds of protein: Whey and Casein. While milk has the potential to be great because of its protein, calcium and potassium content, but there are some people who are allergic to the protein in milk or intolerant of the sugars in milk. And non-organic diary is treated with antibiotics and hormones, which can cause inflammation, acne, mood swings and other health issues. If someone is Lactose intolerant, that means their body does not have enzymes to break down dairy sugar or lactose, which can cause your stomach to hurt.  As the intolerance for milk has grown, so has the number of non-dairy options.

Still craving that creamy deliciousness without the lactose/dairy included in the ingredient list?

Below are 6 milk alternatives I have come to love! <3

1.     Coconut Milk:

Coconut milk is rich in Healthy fats, Potassium, Vitamin B12 and can be anti-inflammatory and great for your skin and hair. Coconut milk is made from ground coconut meat. It is a very creamy milk alternative that is rich, like whole milk, with a mild coconut flavor. 

Tidbit: Watch how much you consume because Coconut milk is more calorie-dense and has saturated fat. 

2.     Almond Milk:

Almond milk is a great source of Vitamin E, Manganese, Magnesium and Calcium. It is low calorie and rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. This milk has a nutty flavor, but it is still creamy. Almond milk is low in protein, so make sure to get your protein in other sources of food.

Tidbit: You can easily make Almond milk at home!  Combine 1-part raw soaked almonds to 2-parts water in a blender. Then strain the mix to get out any of the small pieces that were not blended to a liquid.

3.     Flaxseed Milk:

Flaxseed milk is a low-calorie drink that includes Vitamin A, D and B12 and can be a great anti-inflammatory. Just like Almond milk, you can make your own flaxseed milk at home. 

Tidbit: Mix ½ cup of flaxseed with 3 cups of filtered water and then strain the liquid afterwards.

4.     Cashew Milk:

Cashew milk is a healthy, Unsaturated fat with Magnesium, Copper (which helps produce and store iron) and cholesterol blocking, Phytosterols. Cashew milk is lower in protein in comparison to milk. Like cow’s milk, this milk alternative has a creamy texture that tastes great in smoothies, coffee and even in cheese-like sauces ;).

Tidbit: Make your own Cashew milk with 1-part Cashews and 2-parts water. Once you blend together the water and cashews, strain the mix.

5.     Hemp Milk:

Hemp milk is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids, 10 essential amino acids, Vitamin D2 and Vitamin B12. It is a great source of vegan protein, as well. And if you are wondering, you will not get high from this milk - haha!! Hemp milk is made with water and cannabis seed, but it does not include the psychoactive component.

6.     Oat Milk:

Oat milk is all the rage right now, but it is more of a carbohydrate than a fat. Be cautious when you drink Oat milk. There is a large chance that there can be cross contamination of oats and gluten in the milk. Also, Oat milk is much higher in calories. Personally, I do not choose to drink this milk, but it does taste delicious. 

Tidbit: Buy organic non-GMO brands of milk and milk alternatives.

More Helpful Tidbits:

Tidbit 1:

If you are going to still drink dairy milk often, get Grass-fed Cow Milk, if possible. This has the least amount of antibiotics and pesticides and will, most likely, have more minerals and omega-3 healthy fats.  

Tidbit 2:

Read the ingredients and look for additives you may want to avoid in your milk alternatives, like Carrageenan, lactose, dairy and soy. The goal is to know what is going in your body. You do not want to have lots of extra ingredients or GMO ingredients in your milk alternative. 

Tidbit 3:

As a general rule, avoid unfermented soy, unless know you are not intolerant and not prone to certain cancers, such as breast or prostate.  Also, choose non-GMO soy products.

*Disclaimer: these are just some of the benefits of the above food items. You can find other examples of milk alternatives and their benefits when doing research!  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical conditions or disease. Always consult with a medical professional when significantly changing your diet!

XOXO

JB!