Vegetable Drinks, An Alternative To Milk Of Animal Origin
Whether due to allergies, lactose intolerance or for ethical reasons, more and more consumers are choosing plant-based drinks instead of traditional cow’s milk.
Below, we explain what types of herbal drinks the market currently offers, and what their benefits are.
4 vegetable drinks that replace cow’s milk
1. Soy milk
The plant-based soy drink, or soy milk, is made from soybean extract and water. Thanks to the essential amino acids present in this plant, it is digested very easily and is a type of milk suitable for all those who have an irritable stomach.
On the market we can find it with and without added sugars or with different flavors, such as vanilla, coconut or chocolate.
This is one of the most nutritious vegetable drinks, as it contains lecithin, which helps prevent arteriosclerosis, B vitamins, calcium and phosphorus.
The proteins present in soy also help to fix calcium in the bones, thus preventing osteoporosis.
2. Almond milk, creamy and delicate
This type of plant milk is made with whole almonds, water and, in many cases, some type of sweetener.
This alternative to traditional cow’s milk provides 50% of our daily vitamin E requirement. A glass of this drink has 1/3 the calories contained in a glass of semi-skimmed cow’s milk.
Its only drawback is its low protein level, which puts it below other options, such as soy milk or animal milk.
3. The rice-based vegetable drink
To make rice milk, boiled rice, brown rice syrup and starch are used. It is a favorite drink for allergy sufferers, since it does not contain soy, nuts or gluten.
Compared to soy milk or milk of animal origin, rice milk is rich in carbohydrates and low in calcium and protein.
Plus, it’s too watery a drink to be a good milk substitute, especially when it comes to cooking.
4. Coconut milk, more and more popular
This is one of the vegetable drinks that most closely resemble milk of animal origin, especially for its consistency.
Its flavor makes it the ideal substitute for recipes that require cooking, as in addition to being soy and gluten-free, it has a high potassium content.
Coconut milk is high in calories (which is why it is not recommended for dieters), although it is not as nutritious as animal milk.
In a glass of coconut milk we find 1 gram of protein and 100 milligrams of calcium, while in a glass of cow’s milk we find 8 grams of protein and 300 milligrams of calcium.
Did you know all these properties and the many plant alternatives to cow’s milk? Maybe now you are heartbroken to try them too!
