Top Five Healthy Substitutes to Cow’s Milk

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The milk scandal in mainland China which affected more than 53,000 children and killed at least 13 infants shocked the world and led to the total ban of China-made milk products in all countries around the globe. Milk products from China which contains large traces of melamine also affected the sales of chocolates, yogurts, and other dairy-based food and drink products. Under this circumstance, milk lovers are now searching for milk alternatives that are safe and contain the same nutritional contents with that of cow’s milk. Listed below are other types of milk that you might consider as a substitute to cow’s milk.

1. Soy Milk

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   Is made from soy beans. It has the same amount of protein as cow’s milk but it has little saturated fat and no cholesterol. Soy milk is safe for people with milk allergy or lactose intolerance. It is also a good source of vitamin E and lecithin.

2. Rice Milk

   Milk from rice is a great alternative especially for vegetarians. Since rice milk does not contain lactose, it is suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals. Rice milk is a good source of carbohydrate but its protein and calcium components are not as competitive as compared to cow’s milk and soy milk.

3. Almond Milk

   Among the milk alternatives, almond milk is the most flavorful. It can be prepared at home by simply grounding the almonds with water in a blender. Unsweetened almond milk has fewer calories as compared to cow’s milk and soy milk. On the other hand, almond milk as compared to rice milk has more protein content.

4. Coconut Milk

   This milk is popular in tropical and Asian countries but not as a beverage but as an ingredient for cooking. However, there is a growing population in Asia that is now considering coconut milk as a beverage. Coconut milk is high in saturated fat, but since this is a plant-based milk, its fat content is easily burned by our body. Coconut milk is believed to have anti-microbial, anti-carcinogenic, anti-viral and anti-bacterial qualities.

5. Human Milk or Breast Milk

   This kind of milk is only applicable for babies since human milk production is only stimulated during and after pregnancy. Human milk contains valuable anti-bodies from the mother that may help the baby fight infections. Mothers should avoid giving cow’s milk to infants less than 1 year old. Introducing cow’s milk at an early age may result to development of milk allergy (lactose intolerance).