Healthy alternatives for milk

If you take a look at the favourite recipes on our blog, you'll see that we use different kinds of milk all the time. We sometimes use almond milk, rice milk or regular cow milk. But which one is suitable for who? Today I am going to tell you all about the differences among these healthy alternatives. 

Low fat quark is one of my favourite snacks - I eat a bowl of it at least once a day. And that's one of the reasons why I've decided to replace my regular cow milk. Every now and then, I do drink a glass of cow milk, but I use almond milk for my brekkies everyday. Almost every day, blogs and newspapers will write about the dangers of milk, but personally, I don't see milk as an unhealthy product. As long as you don't overdo it, it will provide you with a lot of essential nutrients. I must admit though that I have noticed that my skin looks a bit blemished when I overdo my dairy intake. That is why I have decided to investigate about the healthiest alternatives for milk.

Almond milk

The #FITGIRLCODE gals often use almond milk for their recipes; nowadays you will find it in almost every supermarket. Almond milk is often used by vegans since it is a vegetable based milk. It is filled with healthy vitamins (B & E) and minerals and doesn't contain cholesterol and saturated fats, like regular cow milk does. Because of how low carb it is, it is the perfect alternative for milk when you are trying to lose some weight. The downside? Unfortunately, it contains a lot less protein than regular cow milk.

Oat milk

Officially, oat milk doesn't belong to the milk family because it's made of mainly oats and water. This provides it with a creamy and sweet taste. That's what also makes it perfect to use in combination with your oatmeal. Oat milk contains a lot of nutrients which are important to take in, and it's also very easy to make yourself. This product is especially good to use when you're not a big fan of regular oat products, but unfortunately, oat milk isn't suitable for people who have a gluten allergy.

Soy milk

Soy milk is especially used by people who have a lactose intolerance. You can find many different kinds of soy milk in almost every supermarket. It's a bit creamier and sweeter than cow's milk, which is why not everyone enjoys to drink it that much. It unfortunately also contains a lot of added sugar. Biologic, unsweetened soy milk doesn't contain as much added sugars so it's the healthiest alternative in this category. Always make sure to check the nutritional values before you buy it!

Rice milk

Recently, rice milk  has started to pop up more and more in the supermarkets. It is a vegan product that contains a lot of fibers, but it's still quite controversial since one glass contains almost 10 grams of sugar, so it might create a big spike in your blood sugar level. Still, it is a healthy alternative for people who are allergic to cow milk and want to enjoy a glass of milk every now and then. Just make sure to switch it up with other variants like almond milk or soy milk.

Hemp milk

Organic hemp milk is made by the seeds of the hemp plant; a well-known superfood. It is rich in proteins and that's why it's especially suitable for people who workout a lot. It makes your bones healthy and strong. Next to that, hemp milk is very good for you skin and it will help with controlling your weight. Unfortunately, hemp milk is not as easy to find in the stores as the other variations of milk detailed above, you're more likely to find it at organic food markets.

As you can see, each of the alternatives for milk comes with both pros and cons. Some contain more protein, while others contain more sugar. You choice should depend on the nutrients you're going for. Make sure to check the nutritional values of each kind to find the alternative which suits you the best!