You've probably seen nut and soy milks taking social media by storm the last few years, but now regular milk is making a comeback.
We wanted to find out if this is a good thing, so we talked with dietician and nutritionist Gisela Bouvier to find out.
“Plant-based milks got really trendy and people started to drink them. They taste good, but they're not providing the nutrition. I think people are realizing that,” said Bouvier.
Bouvier said nut and soy milks grew in popularity because people thought they were healthier.
“There was a lot of misconceptions that dairy was proinflammatory and it wasn't good for our guts and that it was making people not feel great. But that's not true,” said Bouvier.
Bouvier said cow milk has a lot of nutrients we need.
“Dairy milk is rich in iodine, and that's really hard to combine with plant-based milks, and iodine is fundamental for brain growth and development and, like, IQ,” said Bouvier.
Those beneficial ingredients are missing from other plant-based milks.
“In an 8-ounce glass of real dairy milk, not only are you gaining 8 grams of protein, but you're getting 12 essential nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, B vitamins, selenium, zinc, iodine. I mean, there's just so much, and you're not getting that with plant-based milks,” said Bouvier.
Dairy milk is also good for your wallet.
“It's about $0.29, and you're getting those essential nutrients. Meanwhile, something like an oat milk you're getting it's about $0.68 in a serving. It does not compare, especially with the protein is about only 2 grams. You're not getting the calcium. You're not getting that vitamin D,” said Bouvier.
While there are a lot of plant and soy milks to choose from, you also need to make the choice between whole milk, 2% and skim.
“It just depends on your age. For example, children that are 1 year old that we recommend dairy milk, full-fat milk because that whole fat is really going to support their growth and development. After the age of 2, perhaps a low-fat version. This is like a 2% milk fat,” said Bouvier.
If you’re lactose intolerant, nut and soy milks aren’t your only option.
“Lactose-free milk still provides the same quality nutrition, just it has less lactose. People are also realizing that just because you're lactose intolerant doesn't mean that you can't enjoy things like cheeses or yogurts or kefir, which have a lot less lactose in it,” said Bouvier.