Nut milks - are they actually healthy?

[twosoups1972]

Confused by the huge range of nut milks available these days. We're not veggie/vegan so don't need to drink nut milk instead of cows' but I was wondering about the health benefits.

I read something that says most nut milks contain very little of the actual nut and are mainly just water, is that right?

Assuming no allergies or intolerances, what's better in terms of protein and nutrients - cows or nut milk?

It depends on what matters to you for health (not trying to be silly with that response!). For some people they want low cal, others want all plant based etc.

Compared to cows milk, generally speaking nut milks will usually lower cal, lower fat, and lower in carbs and sugar (sugars are naturally occurring in cows milk). Also, lower in protein.

They do typically only have a small proportion of nut, but that’s because if it had a high proportion it would be more of a nut butter than nut milk. However the main thing to consider IMO is the additives. A lot of brands in the supermarket add all sorts to nut milks (sugar, stabilisers etc). Pip & Nut milk is the only brand I’ve found so far that is just nut and some salt (and water), there may be others, the most common additive is a stabiliser.

So if you're not worried about calories, it sounds like cows is better...?

Btw we mainly drink whole cows milk, as we want the fat and don’t care about the calories, the protein and calcium is also welcome, and we buy organic as we notice the difference (and one of the items where organic doesn’t make it horrendously more expensive).

However I do like almond milk for a change, usually for making things like a smoothie or chia pudding.

I literally don’t know know when I became this person

X-post!

Pretty much, and if you’re not bothered about being plant based/not allergic or any other reason beyond calories (I’m sure there might be some people who just prefer it).

That’s my take on it anyway!

I’m vegan. Nut milk has very little nutritional value- hardly any proteinetc. Soya is the best out of the non dairy milk as it has protein with the full range of amino acids and if it is fortified has just about everything milk has. Cows milk is argued to have more nutrition in it, but it’s designed for calves, not humans, so it doesn’t agree with a lot of people. The idea that the calcium is good for humans is questionable when Japanese people don’t really do dairy, and have much lower incidences of osteoporosis than milk drinking countries. And what with tales of livestock being given antibiotics and this leading to antibiotic resistance in humans milk doesn’t really seem that healthy for humans.

People seem quite knowledgeable, so can I ask a question?

For someone with a dairy, peanut, egg allergies, which "milk" would you say is a better alternative?
Soya is out.

There is no antibiotic in cows’ milk in the UK. Milk from cows treated with antibiotics (for mastitis, for example) have their milk separated from the tank and samples are tested daily until the milk is safe to be collected for human consumption. Dairy farmers have insurance against accidental contamination as the whole tank will have to be pitched if a mistake is made. Testing is daily and rigorous.

Also, you can’t milk a nut. It’s nut juice, not milk.

Most nut milks are around 98% water aren't they?
Pretty expensive water.....

Not technically a nut...but coconut milk is better for u than skimmed cows milk...and is yummy on cereal....not so much in tea, etc.

Oat milks are good.

To be fair, milk is mostly water as well, especially if you drink skimmed.

@invisibletoeveryone Oatly Barista is the absolute best non dairy milk

I buy full fat cows milk, I like the fat in our diets and I think milk is good for us

DS has to have dairy and soya-free ‘milk’ and I definitely prefer oat over any others but I’m fully aware that it does sod all for his nutrient intake unfortunately and it costs a fortune.

BTW, not why you are asking but in case you are interested, I find that oat has the most neutral taste IMO so is really adaptable for breakfast, cooking sauces and baking. The day I used coconut milk to make fish pie sauce will stay with me for a while...

Make your own and there's no additives (it's a piece of the proverbial). Homemade oat milk is really good

I personally wouldn't touch dairy with a barge pole as too squeamish; but whether it is "healthy" or not depends quite a lot on what else is in your diet.

Porridge I love your description of oat milk tasting neutral. I prefer it for the same reason because it doesn't taste of anything. I don't like the taste of cow's milk (and hate the taste of soy milk).

Too ruddy sugar & no fat. Terrible tasting.

Yes, you have to be careful of the sugar content and read the labels.

From memory I think Hemp milk (not nut) was the best not dairy alternative in terms of sugar content and some nutritional benefit.

I read somewhere (unsure where!) that almond milk is really unsustainable as it is generally produced from Californian almonds, grown using gallons of water from an area that has been in drought for 10 years - it takes 100 litres of water to produce 100ml of almond milk. It put me off it and had previously been using in smoothies.

Oat milk is the next best after soya. There is still often antibiotic residue in dairy milk, maybe not all farmers are practising as they should...

I was always a bit squeamish about milk having seen the male calves ready to be taken away.

I like Oatly Barista and Oatly semi skimmed. And Alpro soya light. My DM didn't notice it in her tea!

Oh here

www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=undefined&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjNtZvHy-bfAhVxShUIHa-_CasQzPwBCAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Flifeandstyle%2Fshortcuts%2F2015%2Foct%2F21%2Falmond-milk-quite-good-for-you-very-bad-for-the-planet&psig=AOvVaw3bPn9sJJuCobeqTVUIZLXZ&ust=1547325701142994

Can't do links

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2015/oct/21/almond-milk-quite-good-for-you-very-bad-for-the-planet?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

Yeah, I’ve just moved to oat milk from dairy - husband loves almond but I think it’s not very eco. I mean at least oats are easily grown in uk although obvs now one of you will tell me they are actually grown in a mine in China and then flown here.

so this just pinged up on the bbc environmental impact of milks