Have you heard of oat milk? It’s not as common as other dairy-alternatives—soy (which we don’t recommend), almond, and coconut milk are offered at most coffee shops and grocery stores these days. Even hemp and cashew milk seem to be making names for themselves at the hipster cafes. But what’s the deal with oat milk?
Oat milk is, well it’s made from oats—or oat groats, which are hulled grains broken into fragments. It’s perfect for vegans, those who are lactose and tolerant (it is lactose-free, like Vukoo bars), anyone with nut allergies, and people who just really don’t like the taste of cow’s milk. It’s also incredibly cheap in comparison to other dairy-free milk substitutes. Add it to your coffee, pancakes, oatmeal, baking recipes…oat milk is legit. Here are the health benefits:
Calcium.
We’ve all heard it, right? Drink milk for strong bones. Drink milk to get your calcium. It’s one of the biggest concerns for plant-based diet skeptics. Calcium is in a lot of food though—including oats. One serving of oat milk has 36 percent of the recommended daily intake for calcium. One serving of cow’s milk has only 28 percent. Need we say more?
Low Fat, No Saturated Fat.
Oat milk takes the win for low-fat milk substitutes. There is no saturated fat in oat milk and one serving only has 2.5g of fat. Comparatively, one serving of whole milk has 8g (as well as 5g of saturated fat), almond milk has 3g, soy milk has 4g, and coconut milk has 5g. (Source)
Vitamin A, B, C, D, E
Oat milk is loaded with vitamins—15 to be exact—including vitamins A, B, C, D, and E. It has more vitamin A than cow’s milk; vitamin A is an antioxidant that helps your vision, skin, neurological function, inflammation, bones, immune system, and more.
Beta Glucan.
Beta Glucan is a soluble fiber that strengthens your immune system. Consuming foods with beta glucan (on a regular basis) can prevent your body against infection. It’s also been said to help reduce your risk of diabetes by regulating blood sugar. Can you guess what has beta glucan? That’s right: oat milk.
Have you tried oat milk before? What did you think? Let us know on Facebook and Instagram!
