Milk is probably the thing I feel most strongly about when it comes to the vegan movement. Now I’m not saying I’m perfect as I follow a 90% approach, so I don’t freak out of my crackers have a smidgen of milk powder and I still can’t resist the odd bit of cheese every now and again (these damn addictive casomorphins 😅). But I think what shocks me the most is just the marketing behind it and the actual concept of drinking something designed to grow a large mammal as rapidly as possible, when we have very different needs in the protein and hormone levels as small humans.
So how did milk come about? This video from Earthling Ed breaks down the history very well. Have you ever wondered how the first man ever decided to breastfeed from another animal? 😆
But now you’ll see why it became a staple back in the olden days, and why it is still being shoved down our throats in every advertisement and nutrition recommendation we see throughout our lives.
As I was going plant-based and started diving into the documentaries, I’ll never forget this clip which always runs through my mind when I see people buying straight milk to drink..
So, is it good for us?
When I studied nutrition, we focused on The Blue Zones and read books such as The China Study. It is clear that the countries around the world who drink the most cows milk, suffer from the highest rates of bone fractures and osteoporosis. This is the OPPOSITE of what we’re taught growing up.
When dairy is consumed, our bodies actually pull calcium OUT of our bones to neutralise the acid.
I used to live in a little happy bubble and didn’t really understand what truly happened in the world until the pandemic hit, and I saw first hand everything go down with Google only showing us what the leaders of the world want us to see. Opposing data or conversations were immediately taken down from any site and classed as ‘misinformation’ if it went against the narrative, even if it was true.
Seeing how this happens with the recommendations for eating meat and animal products despite research showing otherwise, I’ve come to learn you’ve got to look in the right places for real information. Not studies funded by the dairy industry, as there’s obviously a conflict of interest and agenda.
I’ll link a few sources below that are interesting to read if you’d like to dive into this further.
It’s not necessary to cut out all dairy 100% if you haven’t already, but keep it to moderation and please don’t view it as a ‘health’ food.
Further Reading
Scientists link drinking milk with Osteoporosis
White Lies? Five Milk Myths Debunked
Milk consumption during teenage years and risk of hip fractures in older adults
Vitamin d, calcium, and dairy intakes and stress fractures among female adolescents
Which Plant-Based Milks To Choose
Some brands are higher quality than others. You’ll find the ‘barista’ style milks have more added oil to make it more frothy which isn’t necessary if it’s just for cereal and smoothies. But that’s usually what cafe’s use if you’re getting coffee on the go. I wouldn’t worry about smidgens of oil though as not every single thing in our diet has to be PERFECT!
The only milk with the same protein as cow’s is soy. Great for trying to hit your daily targets especially if you’re on lower calories. It’s more thick and sweet.
Almond is excellent for smoothies as it’s thinner and oat is yummy for cereal or iced coffee. You can also get coconut, macadamia, cashew, hemp. It all comes down to personal preference!
You can get milk paste’s which you blend up at home which the most natural option without additives and sugar, but it may have a more powdery taste and not blend as well. This is great to reduce your waste and the impact on the environment, but these also don’t come fortified with calcium unlike the store cartons so be sure to supplement accordingly or get from other sources.
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