Are Dairy Alternatives Good For You?
Dairy alternatives are becoming more popular these days, and there is no shortage of options on store shelves. But how do these products stack up to the real thing?
The following article will explain everything you need to know about dairy alternatives and explore how they differ from real dairy products.
Dairy alternatives lack the same nutrients as real dairy.
Dairy alternatives like soy, almond, and rice milk contain less nutritional value than real milk. They're made from legumes, nuts, or grains but lack the protein in cow's milk, which is essential for building and maintaining muscle. The other ingredients used to make these products are often refined sugars or artificial sweeteners, which should not be consumed regularly.
While some brands market themselves as "healthy" alternatives, this isn't always true: many products still contain added sugar and other ingredients that aren't good for you. They can include gluten-free flour or artificial sweeteners, like stevia or monk fruit extract.
Real dairy is highly regulated, and the cows are raised on a healthy diet.
Compared to dairy alternatives, real dairy is highly regulated. From farm to store, the milk is tested, monitored, and pasteurized to ensure it is safe to drink. Plus, there are no artificial ingredients!
When you pick up a gallon of real milk at the grocery store, you can be sure that all it contains is farm-fresh cow's milk. On the other hand, dairy alternatives like soy or almond milk often have long lists of ingredients, many of which are artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't regulate dairy alternatives.
The FDA regulates real dairy products, as well as the ingredients in them and the quality of those ingredients. It also regulates how safe those foods are to consume — from making sure that your cheese doesn't contain dangerous bacteria like listeria or E. coli to ensuring that your ice cream won't make you sick from salmonella contamination.
But what about those plant-based alternatives? Do they get any oversight from any government agency? Not really! The FDA can only make suggestions about how they label their products, like this recent encouragement for companies to explain how their beverage differs nutritionally from natural milk on the label.
Your body processes them differently than real milk.
When you drink dairy alternatives, your body processes them differently than real milk, which can cause an upset stomach and make you feel bloated. This is because the body doesn't easily digest the proteins in almond or soy milk.
Some people even experience allergic reactions when consuming these products; if this happens to you, it may be because of an ingredient used during manufacturing, such as carrageenan (a thickener).
The truth about dairy alternatives.
When it comes down to it, real dairy beats dairy alternatives in every category. It's more regulated, more nutritious, and lower in sugar and other added ingredients.
While some of the ingredients in dairy alternatives may be healthy, the cons outweigh the pros. If you want a trustworthy, healthy beverage option, support your local dairy farm and pick up a gallon of real milk today!
