There are so many types of plant-based milk on the market today, it is hard to know which kind to buy! Plant-based milk can be a great option for those who are lactose intolerant. Even if you aren't, there are many benefits to drinking plant-based milk!
Avoid buying if the beverage:
- Contains natural flavors
- Contains sugars
- Contains too many emulsifiers, oils, and gums
- Contains carrageenan (a known gut toxin in many non-dairy products!!)
Buy:
- Unsweetened or vanilla unless natural flavors
- Organic
- Doesn’t have too many oils, gums, emulsifiers
Q&A
I am worried if I switch to dairy milk I won't get enough protein. Which types of plant-based milk contain the most protein?
Pea milk and soy milk contain the most amount of protein compared to other plant-based milk. For an 8oz serving, both pea and hemp milk contains 8g of protein which is the same amount of protein as dairy milk!
Is plant-based milk safe for toddlers?
Yes, absolutely! Specifically, pea and hemp milk are great for toddlers. Just be sure there are no natural flavors added.
I am currently on a keto diet. Which plant-based milk is "keto-approved"?
The best type of plant-based milk for keto diets are almond, pea, and hemp milk. Be sure they are unsweetened always! Oat milk for example is not keto-approved as one 8 oz serving contains 24g of carbohydrates
Is chocolate milk healthy for me even though it is plant-based?
Chocolate milk, even plant-based, contain a lot of sugar. It is best to avoid the consumption of added sugars to avoid insulin spikes and gut microbiome dysbiosis.
Which plant-based milk is best for cooking/baking?
Almond milk has the best texture (in my opinion) for cooking and baking!
Nutrients Per 8oz
Almond milk – 1g protein, 1g carbohydrates
Coconut milk- 0g protein, 1g carbohydrates
Oat milk- 4g protein, 24g carbohydrates
Pea milk- 8g protein, 0g carbohydrates
Rice milk – 1g protein, 23g carbohydrates
Soy milk 7g protein, 4g carbohydrates
Non Harmful Ingredients
You may see these ingredients on your nut milk ingredient list. They are NOT harmful ingredients, however, we should not consume these in excess! Chose nut milk with as few fillers, preservatives, and emulsifiers as possible!
Xantham gum
Sunflower lecithin
Acacia gum
Calcium carbonate
Dicalcium phosphate
Dipotassium phosphate
Gellan gum
Locust bean gum
Harmful Ingredients
Avoid nut milk with these ingredients!
Natural flavors
Artificial flavors
Carrageenan
Here are a couple of my favorite brands of plant based milk:
Malk* (The BEST!)
Lava Plant Milk
365 Whole Foods Unsweetened Almond Milk (WF's)
Pacific Hemp Milk
Ripple Pea Milk Unsweetened
Forager Organic Coconut Cashew Milk
Harmless Harvest Coconut Kefir
Forager Organic Dairy Free Probiotic Cashew Milk
Oatley
Kalifa Cashew Milk
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