Are plant based "milks" really the healthy option?

 

 

So, the question we’d like to ask today, is whether they really are the healthy option? 

 

Sadly, the simple answer is “no”. While they may look very similar to cows’ milk, they’re a very different product both in terms of how they’re produced AND their nutritional content. 

 

Interestingly, we’ve noticed that while people tend to focus on them being “plant based”, they rarely stop to consider what processing the raw material – such as almonds, rice, oats or soy – goes through to produce the “milk.” Of those that do, most imagine it being squeezed in some way – rather like juicing an orange – to produce the end result. If only it were that simple! 

 

Instead, they go through different stages of processing to produce the “milk.” Not only is water added to produce the necessary volume, but preservatives to ensure a good shelf life and colours to make it look more like milk. They may also be “fortified” with added Vitamins or Minerals too. All this means that the end product is a highly processed one, very different in nature to both the raw materials used to produce it and cows’ milk. 

 

Nutritionally, plants based “milks” have much lower levels of protein than cows’ milk, as well as different nutritional profiles. So, however similar they may appear, it’s not a case of swopping like for like. 

 

Added to this, their main ingredient is water – and this is easy to see from the ingredients list, with water coming first. Put another way, you’re paying a premium price for a diluted product. For example, it’s been found that many almond milks contain less than 2% of almonds… 

 

They also contain Linoleic Acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) found in seeds, nuts and plant oils. In recent years, it’s been linked to many health problems with its health impact said to be similar to that of sugar. 

 

Finally, many are sweetened, whether with sugar or sweetener to make them more palatable. 

 

All this means that, while at first sight plant based “milks” may look very similar to cows’ milk, they’re very different products in every way. 

 

Sadly, exactly the same comments apply to the plethora of other “plant based” products which have hit the supermarket shelves over the past few years. However similar they appear – and feel to eat – they’re very different products. 

 

So, where are we going with this? 

 

Well, it’s all about not falling for the latest hype. Doing your own research, making up your own mind. And, if it sounds like a quick fix or too good to be true, then it probably is. Time and again, the traditional “cook it from scratch at home using fresh ingredients” has been shown to be the way to go. It’s what our bodies were designed to thrive on and has served us well for centuries. 

 

And what does that mean for cows’ milk? 

 

Well, it’s all about a little commonsense and moderation. If you enjoy cows’ milk or other dairy products, have them occasionally in small amounts in their natural form, ie, as a whole organic milk. Alternatively, if you find them difficult to digest, go for sheep’s or goat’s milk. 

 

If you do want to keep using plant based “milk”, then make your own at home, so you know exactly what you’re getting. Almond milk is the easiest to do and recipes can easily be found online. 

 

As always, the choice is yours.