Vegan Milk And Dairy Milk

Introduction To Dairy Milk

All species of mammals secret a nutrient-rich liquid through their mammary glands. This liquid food is called ‘Milk.’ It consists of carbohydrates, lipids(fats), salts, caseins, cholesterol, water, proteins, milk hormones, vitamins, and other miscellaneous constituents. However, milk doesn’t contain high cholesterol and high fat as animal meat products.

Humans generally consume the milk produced by the female humans themselves, cows, goats, water buffaloes, sheep, and camels. Consumption of milk depends on the availability of the animals in various regions. For example, the humans in desert regions consume camel’s milk while the humans in mountainous regions consume yak’s milk.

Introduction To Vegan Milk

It is a plant-based juice also called ‘Plant Milk,’ ‘Nut Milk,’ or ‘Alternative Milk.’ Its creamy texture, taste, quality, and color resemble animal milk.

Some reasons to accept the plant milk are:

1. A person who has an allergy of the lactose or conventional milk may prefer plant milk.
2. A person may find the plant milk more nutritional than dairy milk.
3. The animals(mostly cows) are treated cruelly and kept under miserable conditions in small places.

Some popular options for vegan milk are:

Coconut milk, Soy milk, Almond milk, Cashew milk, Banana milk, Peanut milk, Oat milk, Flax milk, Rice milk, Hemp milk.

Image : Almond Milk

Dairy Milk Vs. Vegan Milk

They both are not equivalent nutritionally. When it comes to a sustainable and healthy diet, Dairy plays a key role. Though Vegan Milk lacks the nutritional matrix provided by Cow’s milk, efforts are being made to overcome it.

• On one hand, people can be allergic to dairy milk. Whereas, on the other hand, people can also be allergic to peanuts or soy-derived products.
• Cow’s milk provides the immunity required by the newborn calves. This is not provided by Vegan milk. It doesn’t even contain immunoglobulins(Ig) that provide passive immunity, especially to newborn infants.
• The particle size in plant milk has to be made homogenous. This is obtained naturally in dairy milk.
• Short and MediumChain Fatty Acids (MCT) are highly present in goat milk but not present in Plant-based milk. MCTs are also present in Coconut milk that help in maintaining the elasticity of the blood vessels and improve the immune system.
• Vegan milk acts as a cheaper option in areas having an insufficient supply of cow’s milk.
• People allergic to Lactose can consume cultured or lactase-treated milk products such as yogurts.

Conclusion

There are varieties in the flavors, nutritional values, vitamins, and minerals of milk belonging to different plants. Thus, experts advise buyers to look at the values on the labels and choose the product accordingly.