Soy milk. Almond Milk. Hemp Milk. Coconut Milk. Oat Milk.
It’s a no brainer that consuming cow’s milk, for most people doesn’t come without consequence. 30 million to 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant, including 75 percent of African Americans and American Indians and 90 percent of Asian Americans. (1)
On top of that, most readily available milk products are sourced from what is referred to as a CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation.) An investigation by The Washington Post revealed that even some milks from organic-labeled dairies are nothing more than CAFOs in disguise; selling higher-priced milk that is scarcely different from conventional CAFO dairy (2).
Furthermore, with the growing trend away from whole and even 2%, to skim milk which contains 12 grams of sugar, drinking a cup or more per day adds to the insidious amount of this addictive substance consumed en masse, often unintentionally due to its tendency to be hidden in a vast array of processed food-products.
Cow’s milk is also acidic; the pH of milk is 6.7 to 6.9, making it slightly below neutral and therefore acid-forming. What does the body do in an attempt to bring the body’s pH to alkaline? It draws calcium from bones to buffer excess acidity which, over time, can weaken bones and increase the risk of osteoporosis (3).
For all of these reasons, it’s not surprising that we sought other options to take the place of the drink that arguable might have best been left for the population it was truly meant for: calves.
Enter the nut, seed and grain based ‘milks’.
Whether you call them milk, milked or mylk, which of these plant-derived liquids are truly the best options for us in terms of nutrient density, flavor, texture and most importantly, least potential negative impact on gut health?
Certainly Not Soy Milk
With 93 percent of the soy products we have in the US being GMO (4), milks rendered from this inflammatory legume aren’t consumed without consequence. Soy is inflammatory with its high levels of Omega-6s Most Americans are getting 20 times the amount of omega-6s they need which is extremely problematic, considering omega-6s are inflammation-causing, fat-storing, and weight-gain-inducing (5). In addition, with its high concentration of phyto estrogens, soy is the one of the most prolific offenders when it comes to hormonal imbalances in both men and women. Last but not least, soybeans contains anti-nutrients, including phytic acid (from phytates), which binds and prevents mineral absorption, especially zinc, calcium, and magnesium, leading to malnutrition as well as contributing to leaky gut.
Are Nut And Seed Milks Any Better?
Perhaps, but sourcing and preparation is key. In this category we see almond and hemp milk most often, with a growing occurrence of coconut milk.
While this group doesn’t contain the harmful plant estrogens, it can still be problematic in terms of creating inflammation as almonds are also high in Omega-6s and low in Omega-3s. Additionally, there is a growing awareness about the amount of water required to grow almonds, which in large scale can contribute to drought conditions globally. (6)
Another thing to keep in mind if purchasing commercially prepared almond or hemp milks is the addition of unfavorable ingredients. Be on the lookout for added sugars, stabilizers such as the gums (xanthan, carrageenan and guar), all of which contain anti-nutrients of their own, as well as anything you cannot identify as a food.
How About Milked Oats?
Environmentally more friendly compared to almonds, but still grain-based and thus still with anti-nutrient properties from phytates (7), thereby contributing to inflammation and leaky gut. Less than wheat, undoubtedly, but not without potential harm.
And the winner is… Coconut!
It’s my personal favorite as well. When sourced properly; as in not in a can or tetra pack. You can make your own if you happen to live in a tropical area; simply blend fresh coconut water right out of the coconut with fresh coconut meat from the same nut / seed / fruit (coconut is actually all of the above! (8). Plus, coconut has anti-inflammatory properties as well as vitamin E, vitamin K, and the essential fatty acids. If you’re not in Hawaii, a good option is to buy a fair trade coconut butter, place the glass jar in a pan of simmering water until it melts, then mix with filtered water in your blender to create the desired thickness for whatever you’re preparing.
Worried about how you’re getting calcium without drinking milk? Fear not as all you need to do is get your greens in. A cup of collard greens has 357 mg of calcium versus 306 mg of calcium in dairy milk, per the Harvard School of Public Health. And that’s without any of the acid forming, bone-leeching properties!
Once again, everything we need is available to us if we go straight to the source: in season, local, plants in abundance (mostly veggies) paired with ample natural fats and a touch of mindfully sourced protein.
It’s. Just. Food.