Milk alternatives such as oat milk: are the plant-based drinks healthier than cow's milk?
A nutrient comparison
Created: 03/18/2022, 12:42 p.m
By: Johanna Werning
The choice of plant-based milk is huge.
Many people turn to milk alternatives like oat milk.
But consumers should be aware of one thing.
Whether
oat, almond or soy milk
.
The
plant-based milk alternatives*
are becoming more and more popular - not only among vegans and people who have a lactose intolerance.
After all, the manufacturers advertise that the
plant-based milk
is not only more sustainable, but also much
healthier
than cow's milk.
But, is this really the truth?
Alternatives to milk: is plant-based milk really better than cow's milk?
How healthy are plant-based milk alternatives really?
© Sergio Monti/dpa
The vegan milk selection in the supermarket is huge: Plant-based milk alternatives such as oat milk bags are now filling the shelves.
But the
milk types differ
not only in colour, consistency and taste.
There are also big differences in the nutrients.
However, it is difficult to determine to
what extent milk alternatives are healthier
compared to cow's milk .
Despite countless studies.
The sticking point: people who consume plant-based milk frequently generally lead a healthier lifestyle.
They eat more consciously and often exercise more.
In a direct
comparison of the nutritional values
, there are advantages and disadvantages for both cow's milk and plant milk.
For example, while oat milk is low in cholesterol, cow's milk "offers a greater number of macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals," according to
Quarks
.
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The study "Nutritional and health attributes of milk and milk imitations" from 2020 also warns
of
this
. B12, D and A
as well as
essential amino acids
.”
That's why plant-based milk alternatives are often called "drinks"
Although people talk about "plant-based milk" or "milk alternative" in everyday life, the products usually only say "drink" - and there is a reason for this: in Europe,
plant-based drinks cannot be marketed as milk
.
Because the term is legally protected.
According to the regulation, a product is only considered milk if it is “the unaltered milk of one or more cows, sheep, goats or buffalo”.
There is only one exception: coconut milk.
Plant-based milk alternatives
include
: oat milk, soy milk, almond milk, hemp milk, rice milk, pea milk, nut milk, coconut milk and lupine milk.
However , you do not have to be
afraid of
malnutrition due to the consumption of milk alternatives .
Many manufacturers
add vitamins or calcium
to their milk alternatives during production.
And the study also shows that the risk of deficiency symptoms only applies to infants or small children.
For
adults
, the
plant-based alternative
"can represent a
change on the menu
," the study goes on to say.
(jw) *Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
