[Alternative] Milk Does a Body Good!

Cow's milk seems to be losing popularity in the last several years (totally my opinion-smile). It's like dairy has become a 'dirty' word - lol. And it's interesting that this is the new climate because all of us can remember growing up and being told to 'Drink your milk!' by parents, educators and of course TV.

These days you hear and read about how cow's milk may not be all that good for you or rather there are some con's to drinking cow's milk. While studying to be a health coach, we learned that everyone is completely different; while it may be good for one person, another may have issues with drinking regular milk. If you are like me, then regular milk is a no-no. I am lactose intolerant and have been since I was a kid. I remember times when I'd have ice cream and it would give me the worse stomach cramps and pains. There were times, my good people, it felt like I had the actual cow growing inside, desperately wanting to come out! Can we say ALIEN cow? Seriously, many people are lactose intolerant, may experience allergic reactions and may not even realize it. Symptoms can vary from one person to the next. It's also said that cow's milk may cause phlegm/mucus to increase. The jury seems to be still out on that so the question is what are the options if I do have issues? Here are a few:

ALMOND MILK
Has become my favorite. It is made from ground almonds and contains no cholesterol or lactose (lactose is a sugar that is found most notably in milk). Commercial almond milk comes in plain, vanilla and chocolate and are enriched with vitamins. It is a good alternative for those who are lactose intolerant, have soy allergies or are concerned about how soy MAY increase estrogen levels (another widely debated topic; it's said that increased estrogen levels can lead to certain cancers). My favorite brand is Blue Diamond-Almond Breeze vanilla.

RICE MILK
Is made by streaming brown rice through a mill stream and filtering out the pressed grain. It has about the same calorie count as 2% milk; with about 120 calories per cup, it has the highest caloric count amongst all the milk alternatives. And it also has a lot of carbs...about 33 grams, nearly 3x the amount in cow's milk. So if you are diabetic, it's probably not a good alternative. However, rice milk is a heart healthy alternative; only contains about 2 grams of fat. Rice milk doesn't have a lot of protein. Popular brand: Rice Dream

SOY MILK
Is made as the result of soaking and grinding soybeans with water. The bean water is strained and the remaining mixture is the soy milk. It provides a healthy balance of high-quality protein and carbs, low in fat with no cholesterol and very low in saturated fat. Soybeans contain rich protein, vitamins A, B1, B2, and other mineral elements. They also contain the highest concentration of protein among all the legumes: 40 percent protein by volume compared to 20 percent for other beans. The FDA determined that 25 grams of soy protein per day may reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing cholesterol. Soy less likely to overstimulate blood sugar levels, which makes it a good choice in a diabetic diet. The fat content in soy milk is highly unsaturated and contains omega-3 fatty acid, which studies show, lowers the risk of heart disease and some cancers. However, in the past couple of years, there has been conflicting information saying that soy milk contains estrogen-like substances (isoflavones which convert to phytoestrogen once in the body) that increase estrogen in the body. This increase in the body is said (hasn't been thoroughly proven) to POSSIBLY contribute to breast cancer, irritability, fat gain around hips, thighs and hips, fibrocystic breast disease and uterine fibroids. Again, this information has not been proven so I would recommend discussing with your doctor and using your own judgment.

So try out these alternatives and choose the one you enjoy. The best thing is that for people who cannot consume cow's milk, we have other options. Now DRINK YOUR MILK!

Be well!