So you’re ready to make the switch to plant-based milk. Great. Maybe you’ve got a lactose intolerance, or a condition that makes it hard for you to absorb the vitamins and minerals that cow’s milk delivers in high doses. Maybe you’ve been put off by the conditions of the dairy industry. (Don’t Google it unless you have a strong stomach.) Or maybe you are attracted by the ethical and environmental virtues of a plant-based diet, and are trying to reconfigure your life to have less of an impact on the planet.
In general, plant-based milks have a lot less fat, and a lot less of every other nutritional element, than dairy milk. Makes sense, since plant-based milks are predominantly water. The fat they do have, though, is mono-unsaturated (with some exceptions, as you’ll see), the kind that promotes cardiovascular health as well as great skin. They also bring more fiber to the party than dairy milk.
It should go without saying that if you have an allergy to tree nuts, you’ll be limited to just a few of these plant milk options. But the good news is that in today’s market, there are so many options that you’re guaranteed to find a plant milk that perfectly suits your taste as well as nutritional demands.
It’s worth noting that not all plant milks are created equal. Choosing which one is healthiest isn’t just about the milk base — it’s also about what kind of additives it includes. Depending on which brand you choose, you may find a large helping of added sugar, flavoring, and thickeners such as carrageenan, guar gum, or vegetable oil. Many also have their naturally occurring vitamin quotients boosted with added isolates of vitamin D or E so they can compete better with dairy milk.
But don’t worry — we’ve done our due diligence on your behalf. We’ve curated the most popular plant milks on the market today and compared them based on their naturally occurring nutritional benefits. We’ve even included recommendations for the plant milks with the least amount of extra stuff, and even a few hints about the best ways to enjoy them.
Drink up!
Soy Milk
Soy milk was the darling of the 1990s for good reason — it’s a plant-based milk that contains as much protein as cow’s milk, very little fat, and is a good source of vitamin A, potassium and the elusive vitamin B-12 (hard to find outside of animal sources). If you suffer from high blood pressure, it’s a good idea to look for probiotic or fermented soy milk varieties.
In recent years soy milk has fallen out of favor, though, largely because most U.S.-grown soybeans come from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). While that’s much less true today, it’s also worth noting that a 2008 Harvard study Trusted Source showed that higher intakes of soy-based foods caused fertility problems and lower sperm counts. So if you’re a big milk drinker, you might be better off with a different type of plant milk.
Our recommendation: Silk is one of the OGs of the plant milk world. If you’ve seen soy milk out and about, chances are you’ve seen this bottle before.
Pea Milk
This relative newcomer to the plant milk scene surprisingly has about the same amount of protein as cow’s milk, as well as 50% more calcium. It’s high in potassium and provides a good source of omega-3s, vitamin D, and iron. We also appreciate the low environmental impact that pea milk involves. Why isn’t it green, you ask? Because pea milk is usually made from yellow peas.
Our recommendation: Ripple pea milk has a mild sweetness and a nice thick texture that we love for blending into smoothies (or milkshakes).
Coconut Milk
Health benefits of coconut milk? How much time do you have?
Naturally sweet and creamy, this milk is a nutritional powerhouse. For one thing, coconut is one of the best dietary sources of or medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), miracle fats that help you achieve a healthy weight by increasing metabolism, regulating appetite hormones, and increasing fat oxidation.
One perceived drawback of coconut milk is that it contains saturated fat. However, not all saturated fats are equal. The ones in coconut milk have been shown to significantly improve good cholesterol, reduce oxidative stress and blood pressure, and boost immune function. While coconut milk doesn’t have a lot of protein, it does have heaping helpings of manganese, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium — all important electrolytes that support athletic performance, post-workout recovery, and longevity.
Did we get everything? Probably not.
Our recommendation: So Delicious Coconut Milk is a great alternative for coffee creamer, or really anything where you’re looking for a hint of tropical without being too much.
Almond Milk
It’s commonly believed that almond milk is high in protein. In fact, the chief virtue of almond milk is its high dose of vitamin E, an antioxidant that combats inflammation and stress, helps protect against heart disease and cancer, and improves bone, eye, and brain health. It also has a lot of the mineral zinc, which keeps your skin glowing and prevents hair loss.
The main drawback of almond milk is its environmental impact. Not only does almond cultivation require more than the average volume of water, but it’s typically done in places that can ill afford to consume that much water.
Our recommendation: Califia Almond Milk’s light flavor and rich density make for a deliriously refreshing mouthful; it’s also the perfect partner for warm chocolate chip cookies.
Cashew Milk
Like almond milk, cashew milk contains healthy fats, protein, and a variety of vitamins, and minerals. It’s particularly rich in magnesium and iron, as well as the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which prevent cataracts and macular degeneration to your eyes. Other unique benefits of cashew milk include extra vitamin K, which is vital for blood clotting; zinc, which boosts immunity; and copper, which plays a large role in keeping your skin healthy and youthful.
Our recommendation: Sweetened with dates and thickened with oats, Forager Project‘s cashewmilk is as natural and wholesome as it gets. Oddly enough, it was by far the best of the non-dairy option for making a plant-based White Russian.
Macadamia Milk
This fancy newcomer to the plant-based milk scene is packed with rich, delicious mono-unsaturated fat, the same type of fat as olive oil. But what olive oil doesn’t have as much of is a rare heart-healthy omega-7 called palmitoleic acid. (The only other sources are cold water fish and sea buckthorn berries. Macadamia nuts contain 14 to 22% palmitoleic acid.
Our recommendation: Milkadamia boasts a buttery richness and natural sweetness that elevates everything from your morning latte to your midnight bowl of Lucky Charms.
Hemp Milk
Believe it or not, hemp seeds are naturally higher in protein than beef, contain more calcium than milk, and have even less saturated fat than olive oil. Along with being a good source of magnesium, iron, zinc, and vitamin B1, hemp boasts omega 3 and 6 fats in the ideal 1:3 ratio that promotes brain and heart health and is anti-inflammatory in the body. The protein in hemp seed is easy to digest and can even help repair DNA. Hemp is also one of the least processed types of plant proteins out there—it’s about as clean as you can get without chewing on a leaf.
Hemp milk isn’t just good for your body — it’s good for the earth. We’ve extolled hemp’s sustainability in the past, how it requires way less water than other crops (cough almonds cough), doesn’t require chemical fertilizer or soil additives to grow in abundance, and nourishes the soil rather than depleting it.
Our recommendation: Tempt Hemp Milk is a great place to start if you’re curious about diving into the product. It’s great on its own or used in place of regular milk.
Flax Milk
Flaxseed milk is filled with omega-3 fatty acids that are shown to prevent cancer, diabetes, heart diseases and strokes. and offers vitamins A, D, and even B12, it offers both soluble and insoluble fiber. It’s also a great option for those who are allergic to nuts.
Our recommendation: Good Karma flax milk has a thick and creamy texture unusual for plant milk, and a taste that isn’t obviously “seedy.”
Rice Milk
The great virtue of rice milk is that it’s the least likely of all of the plant-based milks to cause allergies. It’s naturally sweet, too, which means rice milk brands are a lot less likely to contain added sugar. On the downside, that natural sweetness comes from a big heaping helping of simple carbohydrates, which is pretty much the only nutritional element rice contains.
Our recommendation: Rice Dream is made from brown rice, giving it a slightly sweet flavor. Add to that a light body and you’re in for a treat.
Oat Milk
This plant milk is enjoying a spike in popularity, possibly thanks to America’s current obsession with all things Scandinavian. Oat milk deserves its hype. It has less protein than dairy or soy milk, but a lot more than other plant milks such as almond, cashew, coconut, and rice. It also contains the B vitamins thiamin and folate, and the minerals magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, and copper. Its higher carb quotient is offset by the presence of beta-glucans — a soluble fiber that binds to cholesterol and reduces its absorption. One study in men found that drinking about 3 cups (750 ml) of oat milk daily over 5 weeks reduced total blood cholesterol by 3% and “bad” LDL by 5%.
Also, because oats absorb water more easily than nuts, more of the actual oats wind up in the milk, giving the milk a creamier texture without added thickeners required.
While oats themselves are gluten-free, they can sometimes be “contaminated” by other gluten-containing crops. If you have an issue with gluten, it’s best to purchase oat milk labeled as certified gluten-free.
Our recommendation: Oatly oat milk is a solid dairy substitute, and is great with PB & J. Another great option is Rise Brewing oat milk, which has a toasted caramelly flavor perfect for your morning cup of coffee. (Incidentally, they also make a canned nitro oat milk latte that is delicious.)
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