Start your day with a glass of milk, we’re often told. It’s good for you. Or we might be advised to have a warm glass of milk before going to bed because it’s supposed to help us sleep better.
These are pieces of age-old wisdom that we’d do well to interrogate.
The truth is that dairy isn’t for everyone. Many people are lactose intolerant. Their bodies lack the enzyme that’s needed to digest lactose, a form of sugar that’s present in milk and milk-based products. For such people, consuming dairy products can lead to bloating, diarrhoea, and a build-up of gas.
Additionally, dairy-based milk products are known to contain significant amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease.
Another reason why dairy-based milk products might not be such a good idea has to do with environmental impact. A 2018 study conducted by the University of Oxford showed that producing a glass of dairy milk results in three times more greenhouse emissions than plant-based milk. That’s a significant carbon footprint! It also uses up ten times as much land and up to twenty times as much freshwater. It puts a huge strain on resources.
So, does that mean we stop consuming dairy milk and milk-based products? After all, they are a source of important nutrients like calcium and protein.
Thankfully we have the option to switch to plant-based alternatives, such as Originz soy and oat beverages. Made from 100% organic ingredients sourced from the world’s finest family-owned farms, they are entirely chemicals-free. Best of all, they offer the same nutritional benefits as dairy milk, but without any of the accompanying health or environmental implications.
Time then, to let go of the old ways. Time to embrace the new!
Further Read,
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