Plant-based alternatives to cow's milk are very popular, and they offer many benefits for everyone, whether vegan, lactose intolerant, or allergic. You can easily find many kinds made with nuts, seeds, and legumes. Most are low in calories, but be cautious of added sugars and salt.
There are many choices of alternative milks; below is some information on the most popular:
Soy
Arguably the first milk substitute (and the most nutritionally similar to dairy milk). Unsweetened soy milk has about 80 calories per cup with protein, antioxidants, and fiber.
Ayurvedic Qualities: It is sweet, cold, and heavy. It is nutritive, uterine tonic, alkalizing, and sattvic. It balances Vata and Pitta and increases Kapha.
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is made from water and coconut cream. It is higher in fat (saturated) and lower in carbohydrates than nut- or grain-based milk.
Ayurvedic Qualities: Sweet, Cold, Heavy, and oily. It is a nutritive, refrigerant, alkalizing, grounding, and a brain tonic. It balances Vata and Pitta and increases Kapha.
Oat Milk
It is trendy these days and is loved in coffee drinks because it is creamy and formable. However, it is higher in calories and fiber, contains gluten, and has lower protein.
Ayurvedic Qualities: Sweet, warm, gooey, and heavy. Nutritive, demulcent, nervine, soothing, and grounding. Balances Vata and Pitta and increases Kapha.
Almond Milk
It is mainly made from almonds, water, emulsifiers, and fortifying nutrients.
Ayurvedic Qualities: Sweet, cold, and heavy. Nutritive, livotonic, demulcent, alkalizing, builds bones and promotes vitality. Pacifies Vata and Pitta and increases Kapha.
Cashew Milk
It is made by soaking and blending with water. It is highly nutritious, with zinc, copper, and magnesium.
Ayurvedic Qualities: It is sweet, cold, dry, and heavy. It is a nutritious, sattvic, and immune-builder. It balances Vata and Pitta and increases Kapha.
Flax Milk
Most flax milk contains more than meets the eye. It is made with flax seeds, oil, and pea protein. Its natural alpha-linolenic acid supports immunity and is linked to reducing the risk of heart disease.
Ayurvedic Qualities: It is warm, gooey, and oily, with omega-3, fiber, and protein. Demulcent, laxative, and nutritive. It balances Vata and Pitta and increases Kapha.
Rice Milk
Rice milk is made by blending rice with water, and sugar is sometimes added for flavor.
Ayurvedic Qualities: Sweet, cold, high carbohydrates. Balances Vata and Pitta and increases Kapha.
Hemp Milk
It benefits the heart and circulation and is very nutritious, with a lot of protein.
Ayurvedic Qualities: Heavy, oily, and sweet, which build tissue and create groundedness.
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