MILK ALTERNATIVES

To put it simply, a lot of "alternative" foods and beverages are not what you should be eating or drinking.  Today it is almost faddish to say you are intolerant of this, that, or the other.  And let me state up front there are people who truly are lactose intolerant, allergic to glutin, etc.  And for that handful of people, the numbers are much less than the advertising community would have us believe, alternatives are very important.  In fact they can be a matter of life or death.  So this is not directed to those people who have serious health concerns with certain foods.  That said, for the average person, milk from a cow (or even a goat), is better for you than the alternatives.  To back me up on this point, I am posting this from the people at Rodale who produce medical-type books about health.  I quote,

"Non-dairy milks are growing in popularity and oftentimes are seen as a healthier alternative to good 'ol moo juice-but upon closer examination, it is hard to decipher what makes them healthier for the average person. If you have a whey or casein allergy, then milk alternatives are a must-have, and if you are lactose-intolerant then they can be useful. Outside of those situations (which are rarer than most people think), cow's milk is better for you than any flavored almond, soy, coconut, or other dairy-free milk.

With the exception of soy milk, this class of beverages is seriously lacking in the protein department, a place where milk excels. Then there's the fact that additives are needed in order to enhance the flavor, texture, and appeal of these milk alternatives-and unfortunately sugar is one of these major ingredients in addition to fibers, binding agents, and added vitamins and minerals. The levels of additives needed to mimic the flavor, taste, and nutritional profile of milk varies from alternative to alternative, but if you don't have issues with lactose or dairy proteins, then you are probably better off reaching for real milk."

If you notice in the above paragraph, sugar - as mentioned on this blog's post yesterday - is one of the added ingredients in these milk alternatives.  Remember, as mentioned in yesterday's post, the naturally occurring sugar in cow's milk is a natural, not added, sugar.

Again, I want to remind you that natural substances are almost always preferable to manufactured ones.

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