In search of a milk alternative

Low-fat milk is a great source of calcium, protein, and other essential nutrients, and it tastes great on a breakfast cereal. But not everyone wants to drink cow's milk, and some people have trouble digesting a natural sugar in milk called lactose. People complain that it causes gastrointestinal distress. They may be lactose-intolerant, or just lactose-sensitive. Milk doesn't settle well with them, so they're looking for alternatives that don't cause diarrhea or bloating or gas.

The good news is that there are milk alternatives. However, you'll need to pay attention to their ingredient lists. Remember, too, that you should avoid milks with added sweeteners, such as most chocolate- or vanilla-flavored milk alternatives. Consider the following options to keep milk in your diet.

Lactose-free milk

Many people who have problems with regular milk often try this first. Lactose-free milk has an enzyme added to it (lactase) that helps break down lactose into more easily digested sugars. You'll still need to buy low-fat lactose-free milk, though. Full-fat milk, with or without lactose, is rich in saturated fats, which increase LDL or "bad" cholesterol. One caveat: if you're allergic to milk, lactose-free milk may not be an option for you.

Ultra-filtered milk

You may have seen “ultra-filtered” milk on grocery store shelves recently, but did you know that it’s also a good option for those who are sensitive to lactose? Ultra-filtered milk is cow’s milk that has been passed through a thin, pressurized membrane that separates the water and lactose from the other components of the milk. The filtration process increases the amount of protein and calcium, while reducing the amount of sugar in the milk and eliminating the lactose.

You can find ultra-filtered milk in numerous varieties, such as whole, low-fat, and organic. There’s even ice cream made with ultra-filtered milk available. If you’re looking for the healthiest options, however, look for ones that don’t contain added sugar or artificial ingredients.

Soy milk

Soy milk is the fluid strained from a mixture of ground soybeans and water. Its nutritional content is similar to dairy milk, including moderate amounts of fat that make it comparable to 1% cow's milk. It's also high in protein like real milk, with about 8 grams in one cup of soy milk. But soy also contains oligosaccharides, another type of sugar that some people have trouble digesting. Soy also is a weak estrogen. Since estrogen is linked to hormonally sensitive cancers, some women wonder if they can drink soy milk. The verdict is still out on that, but it may be prudent for high-risk women to limit soy milk to one serving per day and consult with their doctors.

Nut milk

Nut milks — the fluids from a mixture of water and ground almonds, walnuts, pistachios, or hazelnuts — are free of lactose, soy, and even gluten (a protein some people have trouble digesting). They are low in calories and fat, and the types of fat they do contain are unsaturated, which are good for you. For example, one cup of almond milk has 2.5 grams of unsaturated fat. But nut milks are very low in calcium and protein, so you'll have to look for fortified versions. But even then, a cup of almond milk might only have 5 grams of protein compared to 8 grams in soy or cow's milk. Nut milks often contain carrageenan, a seaweed extract that's used as a thickening agent. Carrageenan is FDA-approved, but there is a suggestion that it can aggravate intestinal problems, so you may want to avoid this if it upsets your stomach.

Grain and seed milks

Grain and seed milks — the fluids from a mixture of water and ground rice, oats, quinoa, or hemp — are about twice as high in carbohydrates and sugar than other milk alternatives. For example, one cup of rice milk contains 23 grams of carbohydrates and 10 grams of sugar, as opposed to 9 grams of carbohydrates and 6 grams of sugar in one cup of soy milk. For people with diabetes and prediabetes, too many carbs and sugars can raise blood sugar levels, which over time can lead to damaging inflammation. Grain and seed milks are also very low in protein and calcium, so you must look for fortified versions of them.

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