Is Cow’s Milk Harmful?
Oat milk, almond milk, pea milk, and other plant-based drinks are all over the place, so it might seem like people are suddenly giving up on cow’s milk. But there’s nothing to worry about: dairy milk is fine too if you like it!
Not everyone likes cow’s milk
Nearly everyone at birth produces a digestive enzyme called lactase. This is what helps humans and other mammalian babies to digest milk sugar (lactose) from breast milk.
As we age, most of the world’s population stops producing this enzyme. If you are “lactose intolerant,” I’m talking about you. Some of us can drink milk normally as adults, but over time we develop lactose intolerance as we age or due to other digestive problems.
It is also possible to be allergic to milk or simply not enjoy drinking it. Bottom line: If you feel like you don’t like milk, you don’t need to drink it, and you may like plant-based alternatives. But if you drink milk and feel good, go ahead.
Cow’s milk has more calories and more protein than plant milk.
Some people choose plant-based milk for nutritional reasons. They all contain fewer calories per cup than whole milk and less fat.
Compare this to skim milk, and the diet is more similar: skim milk contains 85 calories per cup (compared to 45-115 for various types of plant-based milk) and contains almost no fat.
However, cow’s milk contains more protein than plant milk. And some other types of milk have more sugar, although this depends on the recipe and whether the milk is plant-based. Regular skim milk contains no sugar, although if you’re looking for chocolate or flavored milk of any sort, check the label.
Cow’s milk contains saturated fat, while some plant-based milk does not, but whether this is a problem is still controversial. Patients at risk of heart disease are often advised to avoid saturated fat, but people who eat fatty dairy products are not necessarily less healthy . (It’s tricky.) Skim or skim milk is a good choice if you’re avoiding saturated fat, but plant-based milk is also.