Milk: almond or oat milk or regular?

[PandaBear]

I hear ya, sometimes I like to pop in the mouth and chew roasted coffee bean coated in melted Carob chips

My roommate used to have a mini gumball machine for peanut M&Ms, I frequently mixed in chocolate coated coffee beans to trick our guests and once in a while see them winning the lottery is fun.

 

[PandaBear]

I agree that growing almonds in the desert (CA) is non-economic and wouldn't happen but for byzantine water rights and ag subsidies.
Yet along those lines, there's an even stronger argument to be made that cows are something humankind has no business wasting food, water and carbon emissions on.

Everything in farming is political.

Almond use a lot of water, almost to a point of using all the ground water in central valley.

Dairy is not much better, alfalfa needs ton of water and cows need to eat. Then you add in all the dairy farmers try to get big and push each other into bankruptcy and out of business with negative milk profit, they are dumping the excess milk to prop up the price. This isn't any less wasteful than almond.

At least we know soy is a cover crop and we do well with soy protein in soy milk. Oat milk should be a lot cheaper it is pure profit there for $3 / half gal.

 

[Speedy3861]

Grew up drinking whole milk, now drink 1 or 2% mostly, once in a while there's no substitute for a cold glass of Hi-Test. Coffee? Any full bodied brewed dark roast, doesn't taste right without real half-and-half or whole cream, with real sugar. I drink 1-2 cups a day so it's a small indulgence. Lowfat or Nonfat half and half is an oxymoron. I'm 74 and there's a few things I won't compromise on at this stage of life, hasn't killed me yet.Tried almond and soy milk, don't need to try them again. To each they're own.

 

[MRC01]

Better and healthier depends on your definition. Oat and Almond milk has no protein, basically just colored water for flavors. Do you consider being on a diet with low calorie food healthy? or do you need protein to be healthy?

We all need calories & protein, but sometimes the only difference between medicine & poison is dosage. Here in the USA and in most other developed countries, more people suffer from eating too much protein and calories, than not enough. So sure, most of us would be healthier if we ate fewer calories and a smaller % of those calories came from protein. I'm not saying everyone should be vegan or even vegetarian, just dial back the meat a bit, eat more plant foods and fiber. It would be better for the environment, too.

 

[PandaBear]

We all need calories & protein, but sometimes the only difference between medicine & poison is dosage. Here in the USA and in most other developed countries, more people suffer from eating too much protein and calories, than not enough. So sure, most of us would be healthier if we ate fewer calories and a smaller % of those calories came from protein. I'm not saying everyone should be vegan or even vegetarian, just dial back the meat a bit, eat more plant foods and fiber. It would be better for the environment, too.

True, but to be fair on a scale of 1 being water to 10 being full milk, almond milk is like 2-3 where soy milk is like 6-7 and 2% milk is like 8.

Why should we pay that much if we are in it for health (flavor if you like it make sense but it is a luxury not a nutrition). Almond and Oat milk for calories and protein contents per dollar is pretty poor. Personally if I want to be healthy and cheap I would just get diluted skim milk + cheerios instead, or eat whole wheat bread with coffee.

 

[CharlesInCharge]

I absolutely love organic cows milk and it's one of my favorite drinks. I generally do somewhere between fat free and 2%, whatever I happen to get. I also mix in about 50/50 with some quality chocolate milk, cutting it down with milk so it's not so rich and creamy. It is an absolute treat. I also grab some good icecream and make milk shakes as a summer treat. Cows milk is packed with protein, vitamin D, calcium. Milk is literally the lifeblood for mammals and we truly must have it - at least in formative years. And I just kept drinking it.

I used to put cream in my coffee, but I don't put anything in my coffee now other than a small amount of sugar.

I've tried various milk substitutes from nuts, soy, plant base. They are okay. I prefer regular organic cows milk.

 

[vavavroom]

Personally if I want to be healthy and cheap I would just get diluted skim milk + cheerios instead, or eat whole wheat bread with coffee.

 

[MRC01]

... Milk is literally the lifeblood for mammals and we truly must have it - at least in formative years. And I just kept drinking it. ...

It's true that milk is the healthiest food/drink during our first year of life. It's literally all we need. Human milk, that is. But no other mammal on Earth naturally drinks milk outside of infancy. And no other mammal naturally drinks the milk of another species. Sure, your cat will drink cow's milk if you give it to her, but it's not actually good for her and she doesn't chase down cows for their milk.

During our first year of life, we humans roughly triple our body mass. Even body builders and weight lifters are not building body mass that fast. It's the highest protein need we have for our entire lives. And the healthiest food/drink during this time is milk -- human milk. Protein makes up about 6% of the calories in human milk.

About 25% of the calories in cow milk are protein. Higher for 2% or skim. Cow milk has more than 4 times the protein humans need as infants, let alone as adults.

 

[CharlesInCharge]

It's true that milk is the healthiest food/drink during our first year of life. It's literally all we need. Human milk, that is. But no other mammal on Earth naturally drinks milk outside of infancy. And no other mammal naturally drinks the milk of another species. Sure, your cat will drink cow's milk if you give it to her, but it's not actually good for her and she doesn't chase down cows for their milk.

During our first year of life, we humans roughly triple our body mass. Even body builders and weight lifters are not building body mass that fast. It's the highest protein need we have for our entire lives. And the healthiest food/drink during this time is milk -- human milk. Protein makes up about 6% of the calories in human milk.

About 25% of the calories in cow milk are protein. Higher for 2% or skim. Cow milk has more than 4 times the protein humans need as infants, let alone as adults.

I'm no nutritionist, but I disagree.

As adults, most people cut drastically back on protein, and milk. Yet adults lose massive amounts of muscle and bone mass. We shrink in size from our shrinking skeletons and bone density, and get fragile. Old people easily break bones. I suspect there's probably a correlation or causation relationship there. IMO people need to keep drinking milk for the protein, vitamins, and calcium. I drink at least a gallon per week.

As for animals in the wild, where would adult mammals procure milk, or milk from other animals? I know they do drink it if given to them, and they enjoy it. It's packed with deliciousness and nourishment. Every creature likes things that tastes good and packed with nourishment!
I have powdered goats milk that is rehydrated with water, for dogs. My dogs LOVE IT. My cats have always loved milk. So I'm not buying the "not good for them" argument. PS - cats eat live mice, and dogs eat dead carrion and the droppings of other animals. So they're pretty hearty when it comes to "what's good for them." I'm confident milk is just fine.

 

[NitroM3]

It's true that milk is the healthiest food/drink during our first year of life. It's literally all we need. Human milk, that is. But no other mammal on Earth naturally drinks milk outside of infancy. And no other mammal naturally drinks the milk of another species. Sure, your cat will drink cow's milk if you give it to her, but it's not actually good for her and she doesn't chase down cows for their milk.

During our first year of life, we humans roughly triple our body mass. Even body builders and weight lifters are not building body mass that fast. It's the highest protein need we have for our entire lives. And the healthiest food/drink during this time is milk -- human milk. Protein makes up about 6% of the calories in human milk.

About 25% of the calories in cow milk are protein. Higher for 2% or skim. Cow milk has more than 4 times the protein humans need as infants, let alone as adults.

Not to start a debate about milk mainly because I am a vegan and stopped drinking MILK in 1982 and I do not use any dairy products. Milk is regulated by the FDA and as such all milk must meet the requirements to be sold which is mainly the pasteurization of that milk.. The simple way to explain any food that is cooked you kill most all nutritional value. But the FDA seems to allow food to be labeled before the processing? A human if exposed to 10 minutes in 140-degree heat would suffer hyperthermia, heat stroke and most likely die. No nutritional value left and doubt even a jackel would eat you at that point? LOL
So why would anyone want to drink a product like MILK which apparently is completely destroyed nutritionally speaking before you get to use it.


For the record I do not drink Almond milk but the wife uses it for many food items she prepares us. My drink of choice is carrot juice!

 

[CharlesInCharge]

Not to start a debate about milk mainly because I am a vegan and stopped drinking MILK in 1982 and I do not use any dairy products. Milk is regulated by the FDA and as such all milk must meet the requirements to be sold which is mainly the pasteurization of that milk.. The simple way to explain any food that is cooked you kill most all nutritional value. But the FDA seems to allow food to be labeled before the processing? A human if exposed to 10 minutes in 140-degree heat would suffer hyperthermia, heat stroke and most likely die. No nutritional value left and doubt even a jackel would eat you at that point? LOL
So why would anyone want to drink a product like MILK which apparently is completely destroyed nutritionally speaking before you get to use it.


For the record I do not drink Almond milk but the wife uses it for many food items she prepares us. My drink of choice is carrot juice!

Well, that's not really correct. By that standard, water or boiled water would be of "little value." No calories, no protein, no vitamins. Yet without it, you die in a few days.

Similarly, the pasteurization cooks out the harmful substances that can kill you, such as E Coli. In 1996 there was a widespread E. Coli outbreak from Odwalla unpasteurized fruit juices. Harmed 66 people and killed a boy. So, unpasteurized can literally kill you. I'm no doctor but that's not healthy.

Pasteurized milk has ~8 grams protein per serving, a whopping amounts of vitamin D and calcium among other things. Those are not removed thru pasteurization.

 

[MRC01]

I'm no nutritionist, but I disagree.

As adults, most people cut drastically back on protein, and milk. Yet adults lose massive amounts of muscle and bone mass. We shrink in size from our shrinking skeletons and bone density, and get fragile. Old people easily break bones. I suspect there's probably a correlation or causation relationship there. IMO people need to keep drinking milk for the protein, vitamins, and calcium. I drink at least a gallon per week.
... I'm confident milk is just fine.

The empirical data doesn't show a clear correlation between dairy consumption and bone health or fracture risk. Some studies show negative, as if milk harms bone density, others show positive, as if it helps. When one can find studies supporting either side, it suggests that whatever the relationship (if any), it's not strong enough to rise above the statistical noise, or confounded by other factors.

Humans are omnivores and we tolerate a wide range of different diets. But what we do know is that very high protein diets have long term negative impacts on health. Your body can't use all that protein, and getting rid of it can be hard on the kidneys and other organs.

There are complex interactions in the effect of diet on health. For example osteoporosis is often thought of as a lack of calcium in the diet. Yet native Eskimos eat more calcium than any other people, and have one of the highest rates of osteoporosis. On the other hand, Bantus eat very little calcium yet have low rates of osteoporosis and fractures. Clearly, there are other confounding factors at work.

I didn't say milk is harmful to health. My point is that there is no compelling medical evidence to show that it is necessary or beneficial in normal healthy adults.

 

[atikovi]

Have had the opinion that milk is for babies and only because of the dairy lobby has milk been so aggressively fostered onto the national school lunch program in every state. If the Florida citrus growers association had a more powerful lobby, kids would be drinking OJ with their school lunch, not that it's any healthier than milk. Always thought it tasted like liquid chalk or white Pepto Bismol, but to each his own.

 

[NitroM3]

Well, that's not really correct. By that standard, water or boiled water would be of "little value." No calories, no protein, no vitamins. Yet without it, you die in a few days.

Similarly, the pasteurization cooks out the harmful substances that can kill you, such as E Coli. In 1996 there was a widespread E. Coli outbreak from Odwalla unpasteurized fruit juices. Harmed 66 people and killed a boy. So, unpasteurized can literally kill you. I'm no doctor but that's not healthy.

Pasteurized milk has ~8 grams protein per serving, a whopping amounts of vitamin D and calcium among other things. Those are not removed thru pasteurization.

Ok so you did not read what I said.
Your water comment is just funny I wont touch on that but maybe it explains why he rest of your response? HA!
And I know exactly what pasteurization does. You think it only kills harmful thing... seriously think again

The last part of your information can you please show by documentation that your pasteurized milk has what you posted AFTER the processing. Because the food labeling guidelines on the FDA website does not indicate before or after any food processed.

 

[PandaBear]

There are various diet in the world in different region based on what is available there. Milk is NOT the major diet for a huge part of world population and human get on just fine, live to the long age without it in many part of the world (i.e. Japan, China, Korea, Malaysia, Sub Sahara Africa). It is a good food item but it is not absolutely necessary, and human calcium intake can be from many sources and the main limitation is the amount of vitamin D (can be obtained in mushroom as well), and calcium can be obtained from green leave vegetables, limestone added to corn / soy milk -> tofu, seafood / shellfish, etc. Protein can be obtain from many other sources as well.

Think of it this way, where do cows get their calcium from if they don't drink milk? what about other non mammals? they grew their bones just fine without milk, and you know calcium is an element you cannot just use carbon and water to create, so it has to be in the food somewhere.

Pasteurization do not destroy all the nutrient, protein can withstand the heat and so could the vitamin D. Minor nutrient and sugar yes they can be altered but if milk is not a must in human diet pasteurization is not going to destroy your life. On the other hand it is what prevents you from dying of food poisoning, it is a good thing and statistically it will save your life rather than killing you.

I'm going back to my soy milk for the taste, nothing against dairy other than we overproduce and dumping them into the ditch to prop up the price, cheers.