Milk Alternatives: What Are the Health Benefits of Plant-Based Options?
Written by Zalfa Imani
When you're at the grocery store, strolling down the dairy aisle, you'll come across a bunch of non-dairy milk options. Or, when you order your coffee at your favorite coffee shop, they might ask if you want to swap out your regular cow's milk for a non-dairy alternative. Chances are, they're talking about plant-based milk.
Just like it sounds, plant-based milk is a dairy substitute created from plant sources. According to WebMD, this kind of milk is a choice for people who can't or choose not to have the usual milk from cows, sheep, or goats.
Some people switch to plant-based milk because they have an allergy or intolerance to cow's milk, such lactose intolerance. This dairy alternative is also part of the vegan lifestyle, given that it's devoid of animal-derived ingredients.
Plant-based milks come in many flavors and types available and can be categorized based on their plant origin. Here are the categories:
3 Benefits of Plant-Based Milk for Your Health
With rising public interest in health, the environment, and animal well-being, the demand for plant-based milks keeps on rising. Opting for plant-based milk over dairy milk comes with numerous health perks. Here are a few instances as per UCLA Health.
Less Fat and Calories
Plant-based milk shares quite a few nutritional aspects with cow's milk, like sodium and potassium. But when it comes to fat and calories, plant-based milk takes the lead because it contains fewer of those.
When you compare most plant-based milks to a cup of whole-fat cow's milk, they're about 37% to 75% lower in fat. According to NHS UK, having loads of saturated fat can jack up LDL cholesterol in your blood, which increases the chances of heart conditions and stroke. So, if you're aiming to cut down on saturated fat, going for plant milk is a smart move.
Less sugar
It's no secret that high sugar consumption can increase excess calorie intake, potentially leading to weight gain. Quoted from NHS UK, being overweight will increase the risk of various health problems, including heart problems, several types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
Regular cow's milk usually has about 12 grams of carbohydrates from lactose. But unsweetened plant-based milk? Only about 1 gram of carbs. With the selection of unsweetened plant-based milks out there, you can dial back on the sugar compared to cow's milk, which could help prevent a number of diseases.
No presence of estrogen hormone
Cows generate milk during pregnancy and lactation when there's a natural surge in the hormone estrogen. About 70% of dairy cows are raised on industrial farms, which leads to them having continuous pregnancies. This results in notably high hormone levels in cows. Consequently, this inherent estrogen hormone gets mixed into the cow's milk that you consume.
According to Dr. Dr. Hunnes, a senior dietitian at UCLA Health, numerous studies indicate that adding estrogen is tied to the likelihood of breast, uterine, and prostate cancer. That's why plant-based milk, derived from plants, doesn't have the estrogen hormone that could increase those health risks.
If you're curious to learn more about the advantages of non-dairy milk options, don’t hesitate to consult with Prixa for more information!
Prixa is a pioneer in digital healthcare that helps companies and patients manage their health in more targeted and effective ways. Various health services, from teleconsultation, arranging doctor's appointments, pharmacy delivery, lab tests, and health content, to inpatient services and direct medical procedures, are available in one platform.
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