Reader Request: Milk

Milk is a great drink. We've been over this. High protein, high vitamins, high minerals. If chosen correctly, it can also be low in saturated fat. But what about the other "milks?" To be honest, I didn't know a lot about these guys, so I decided to do some research.

There are a ton of different alternative milks: almond, soy, rice, coconut, and more. For the most part, these milks are made by mixing water with grounded up ingredient. For the most part, these milks can replace cow's milk in recipes and in diet. The thing that you need to look out for with these special milks is the added benefits. Milk is an amazing provider of calcium, B12, and riboflavin, all crucial for strength and energy usage. When looking at which milk to buy, look for these fortifications. The easiest thing you could do is compare the alternative milk to cow's milk.

The thing to consider with these milks is 2 fold. First, these milks are going to be expensive. You might have to really hunt to get a good deal on some milk. Second, alternative milk is going to lose a lot of its protein value. If you are looking solely at protein availability, you cannot beat cow's milk. If that is not an option for you, then choose soy milk. Its nutrient profile is closest to cow's milk because soy is a complete protein.

For the most part, choosing these alternative milks means you cannot drink lactose containing beverages easily or have another allergy. Keep this in mind. If you have no problem with cow's milk, I wouldn't look elsewhere unless you cannot stand the flavor. From my experience with these milks, the alternative ones lack a lot of flavor, are too expensive, and feel less filling (more like water).

I hope this post helps some of you out there. Your best bet is to just buy smaller versions of these milks and try them to see if you like them. Make sure you look at that nutrition label too, it will tell you if what you are drinking is worth it. And remember, if you don't know what the label should look like, compare it to regular milk! Easy.

Speaking of milk, it is not the same over here in Italy! It's one of my favorites, as you all know, and I am struggling to find the real good stuff here! Any input would gladly be appreciated.