Everything You Ever Needed To Know About What To Drink Instead Of Cow’s Milk

Today, milk is probably the second most recognized drink after water. Most of us drink it; even those of us who are lactose intolerant have options too. But with so many different types on the market, it can be hard to know which is best for you.

Dairy milk is the oldest and most popular, but alternatives include almond, rice and coconut milk. A lot of people are switching to dairy-free as well because of its inherent benefits. So let’s find out which one you should be drinking more of.

Dairy vs. Dairy-Free Milk

We’ve all heard that milk is good for your bones, but dairy milk is packed with nutrients like calcium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, vitamin A, D, and B-12. It has no added sugar, with 12 grams of it coming from naturally-occurring lactose. It’s also loaded with beneficial saturated fats.

The positives for dairy-free milk include lactose intolerant people being able to drink it. Dairy-free is also unpasteurized. Pasteurized milk is when you heat it to a specific temperature for a set time to kill harmful bacteria. The problem is this also kills healthy bacteria known as probiotics.

So while each of these has their positives, they’re also not the only options out there anymore. And the best part is there is an easy way you can make these at home too!

Alternative Milks

1. Almond Milk

Pros:

Good source of vitamins D, E and A
Tastes very similar to dairy
Low in calories when unsweetened

No cholesterol
Naturally lactose-free

Cons:

Sugar from the original and sweetened version is added cane sugar

Contains almost no protein
Not a good source of calcium naturally, often brands are supplemented with some

Make your own Organic Homemade Almond Milk with this recipe!

2. Rice Milk

Pros:

Good for people with multiple food allergies as it’s the least allergenic milk
Can be fortified with calcium and vitamin D
Vegan friendly

Cons:

Have more calories than the other milk alternatives (not including whole milk)
High amount of natural sugar
Rich in carbohydrates

Low in protein

Make your own Rice Milk with this recipe!

3. Coconut Milk

Pros:

Low in calories

High in good saturated fats

Cons:

Least amount of calcium compared to other milk
No protein whatsoever

Make your own Coconut Milk with this recipe!

With such an abundance of options, it can be hard to figure out which is best for you. Each has their own pros and cons, so it comes down to personal taste and whether the good outweighs the bad. Either way, they’re certainly healthier than most drinks out there!

Here are a few more great milk recipes to give a try!