Which Plant Based Milk is the Best?

Many people are trading in their traditional cow’s milk for alternative dairy sources these days, whether it’s for health reasons or for environmental reasons. And while this is generally a positive thing it leaves many of us wondering, which plant based milk is the best? But, the answer is not exactly simple. Which plant based milk is best for you depends on what you prioritise or what your body needs.

If your priority is getting the most protein you could try soy milk. Soy milk tends to have the most protein out of the plant based milks and even rivals cow’s milk. However, some soy milks are high in health disrupting chemicals like glyphosate, which is known to cause cancer and gut issues. So, it is important to read the ingredients on the particular milk you’re buying. As a general rule, the less ingredients the better!

However, if your priority is lessening your environmental impact you may want to try oat milk. Oat milk uses the fewest resources and produces the least pollution. It takes almost 4² Km to produce just one glass of cow's milk, land use that drives deforestation and habitat destruction. While for oat milk it only takes about 0.25² Km per glass. Furthermore, in terms of water usage cow’s milk uses approximately 120 litres per glass while oat milk requires only 5-10 litres.

I hope this helps you when considering what plant based milk to try. Of course, all these factors vary for different brands so the most important thing is to read the ingredient lists and research specific companies. Personally, I recommend the oat milk by Minor Figures - as I think it is the tastiest and creamiest one I have tried - and the almond milk by Malk, as it has super clean ingredients. Another good way to make sure that you're getting the best plant based milk is to make it yourself. Recipes to come!!