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HEALTH & WELLNESS

The 5 Best Alternatives to Cow’s Milk

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More and more people are deciding to give up dairy products. There are plenty of reasons to do it, ranging from milk allergies and lactose intolerance to ethical principles. But what does science say about drinking cow’s milk? What are the non-dairy alternatives?

What is cow’s milk composed of?

Milk is an extremely complex food:

100 g of cow’s milk contains…

    • 87 g water
    • 3 g protein
    • 4 g fat (approx. 50% of which is made up of saturated fatty acids like palmitic acid, about 25% is unsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid, and the rest is polyunsaturated fatty acids like linoleic acid)
    • 5 g carbohydrate (primarily lactose)
    • Vitamins like A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6; biotin, folic acid, B12, C, D, E, and K.
    • Minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, and chloride.
  • Trace elements like iron, copper, zinc, manganese, fluoride, and iodine.

Good to know:

The hormones contained in dairy milk have led to a lot of discussions about milk how and how much we consume. Two hormones found in milk are estrogen and progesterone, which our body produces as sex hormones. Others include bioactive hormones, such as insulin and prostaglandin.(1)

What causes dairy allergies and sensitivities?

There is a difference between an allergy to milk or dairy products and lactose intolerance. If someone is intolerant, the problems are caused by lactose. An allergy, on the other hand, is a reaction to certain proteins in the milk. Allergens in milk include casein, beta-lactoglobulin, and alpha-lactalbumin. The body reacts by fighting harmless proteins, which then creates allergic symptoms.(2)

How much cow’s milk and dairy products can I consume per day?

According to the Harvard University’s “Healthy Eating Plate,” one to two servings of dairy products are recommended per day. An example would be: ¼ liter of low-fat milk or 250 g of low-fat yogurt/buttermilk and 2 to 3 slices of cheese (= 50 to 60 g) with 45% fat in dry matter (FDM).

What does the research say about drinking cow’s milk? What are the risks?

Drinking too much milk can be bad for our health:

    • Several studies have proven that the consumption of milk plays a role in the formation of acne.(3,4,5)
    • Drinking too much milk has also been shown to increase the risk of ovarian and prostate cancer.(6)
  • There is no scientific evidence that women who drink more milk have higher bone density.(7)

Plant-based milk substitutes: What ingredients should I avoid?

Many plant-based milk alternatives provide similar nutrients and can be just as nutritious as conventional cow’s milk when consumed in moderation. It is important to stay away from alternatives with hidden ingredients that can have a negative impact on your health. These include:

  • Sugar: Sugar is disguised by many names (e.g. sucrose, dextrose, glucose, fructose, fructose syrup, glucose syrup, maltodextrin, lactose, maltose, etc.) Sugar addiction is a real problem, which it why it is advisable to avoid added sugar as much as possible. You should completely stay away from artificial sweeteners.
  • Natural flavors: These include flavor constituents derived from plant or animal products. However, they no longer have anything in common with the food they come from, aside from the same chemical components.
  • Stabilizers like gellan gum: Gellan gum is a polysaccharide produced by the bacterium Sphingomonas elodea. It has the E-number 418 and is frequently combined with the thickening agent xanthan gum, which can have a laxative effect when consumed in large amounts.
  • Acid regulators: Acid regulators, such as phosphates, are added to milk alternatives to maintain the pH during storage. However, here is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of high concentrations of phosphates as a food additive, which is why they should only be consumed in small amounts.

Remember to always read the list of ingredients before you purchase milk alternatives.

What are the best plant-based alternatives to dairy milk?

1. Coconut milk

Coconut milk is a good dairy-free option available in your supermarket. It’s made by blending coconut meat and is a good source of nutrients, including magnesium, iron, and potassium. Coconut milk also contains lauric acid, a rare medium-chain fatty acid that is easily absorbed by the body and used for energy.

It should be noted that full-fat coconut milk is high in calories, and although it comes with many health benefits, you should stick to smaller portions.(8) When buying coconut milk, look for pure, organic coconut milk, which is commonly sold in a can.

Good to know:

Even though the coconut is not directly related to the walnut, people with a walnut allergy may experience allergic symptoms.

2. Almond milk

Almond milk – a mixture of finely ground almonds and water – is a particularly good alternative to cow’s milk for those with a dairy allergy. It is almost free of allergens and contains neither lactose, soy proteins, nor gluten. Almond milk has anti-inflammatory properties and may be easier to digest than dairy milk.(9) The downsides of almond milk are that it is often sweetened with added sugar and fortified with many additional nutrients. Your best bet is to buy plain, organic almond milk, or even better, make your own. You can find step-by-step instructions online.

3. Goat’s milk

While goat’s milk is technically considered dairy, it may still be a good option for those who avoid milk products. These can be difficult to digest, affect your skin, or make you feel bloated. Goat’s milk is not a vegan option, but it is known to cause less inflammation and digestive issues than cow’s milk.(10) Goat’s milk contains more short- and medium-chain fatty acids and is rich in unsaturated fatty acids.

Important:

Goat and sheep’s milk have almost the same amount of lactose as cow’s milk. People who are lactose intolerant should be careful with this milk alternative.

4. Oat milk

Oat milk is another good milk alternative, as it has neither lactose nor milk protein. Since the cereal grain is high in fiber, it also fills you up relatively quickly. Oat milk is often said to contain gluten, but is this true?

Check the facts:

The following cereals contain gluten: wheat, rye, spelt, barley, and einkorn wheat. Sometimes oats are also included on this list, because oats are often contaminated by grains that have gluten and thus contain another protein called avenin. This can induce symptoms similar to those caused by gluten intolerance. People with a gluten sensitivity need to be cautious with oat milk.

5. Soy Milk

Soy milk is a popular vegan milk alternative and is suitable for people with a lactose, milk protein, or gluten intolerance. This milk substitute is also a good source of protein and essential fatty acids. Nevertheless, soy milk faces plenty of criticism. It contains isoflavones, which have a chemical structure similar to that of the hormone estrogen, which our body produces. As a result, drinking soy milk can influence the effect of estrogen in our body – in both a positive and negative way. Don’t overdo it with this milk alternative, and never give soy products to infants or toddlers.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

5 Skincare Regimens Perfect for Spring and Summer

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Spring is in the air! The trees are changing colours, flowers are blooming, and you will notice that your skin feels different too. The sun is getting harsher, and heat and humidity will make their way towards hampering the skin… Well, if you don’t care. If you fail to switch from your heavy winter skincare routine to a light spring one, you could soon be facing the issues of acne, breakouts and dull skin.

This is the perfect time to amp up your skincare and go in for dermatological treatments like chemical peels and laser skin resurfacing. You can also help your skin be spring and summer-ready by using the right skincare ingredients. An intelligent combination of active ingredients can do wonders for the skin and even keep the signs of ageing away. To make the most of the spring weather learn to make the most of your skincare routine.

5 skincare combinations are best for spring and summer season. Image courtesy: Adobe Stock

Best skincare combinations that will work for your skin

The important thing to remember is to pair your skincare ingredients correctly together. Very few are power couples for the skin that might work and benefits your skin. The first trick, of course, is to not use all the products together. To maximise the benefits of the skincare ingredients, here are some important parings you should not miss:

1. Vitamin C with SPF

Vitamin C is an essential ingredient for skin care. It helps protect the skin from sun damage, fights the antioxidants, repairs the skin barrier, promotes collagen production, and acts as an anti-ageing ingredient. When combined with sunscreen, the two work to protect your skin from environmental damage and block the UV rays that filter through the sunscreen.

Also Read: Vitamin C for skin: 7 benefits you must know about

2. Niacinamide with salicylic acid

Niacinamide is an important ingredient for fortifying the skin barrier and treating hyperpigmentation. Salicylic acid is what your skin needs to keep the breakouts away. When they are used together, your skin will benefit from reduced pore size, prevent acne breakouts, improve skin strength and work against the signs of ageing. Together they also improve collagen and elastin fibres giving the skin a youthful glow from the inside.

Best skincare combinations are best for spring and summer season. Image Courtesy: Shutterstock.

3. Retinols with peptides

Move the retinol to your nighttime routine during this time of the year. Vitamin A derivatives are the gold standard for home skin care because they treat everything from acne to ageing to fine lines. Peptides help skin cells rejuvenate and repair. Together they correct your complexion, make the skin tighter and give a smoother and plumper look to the skin.

4. Vitamin C and vitamin E

Vitamin C is essential for skin rejuvenation and protection, and vitamin E helps keep the skin supple. You can use them together to protect the skin from oxidative stress and maintain the suppleness of the skin, leaving you to enjoy the weather in its full glory.

5. Hyaluronic acid with exfoliating acids

Spring is a good time for skin repair, and the AHAs and BHAs do a great job of removing the top layer of the skin, making the new skin sensitive to dryness, and hyaluronic acid is a humectant that restores dryness. Hyaluronic acid recharges skin hydration and has long-lasting benefits for the skin.

Best skincare combinations are best for spring and summer season. Image Courtesy: Shutterstock.

Things to remember

When using new skin combinations, make sure you take your skin type into account. Always do a patch test first and start when using these combinations 1-2 times a week along with your regular skincare routine and slowly increase the frequency as needed by the skin. Do not over-exfoliate or scrub the skin, focus on good skin care every day for great results instead.

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DIET & NUTRITION

Performance Supplementation

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The sports supplements industry is one of the largest industries in the world of sports, especially with respect to revenue. Athletes are often attracted to these supplements by the effective marketing approaches used by marketers to sell these products. In sports, every athlete seeks to stage the best performances to achieve different milestones through their sporting life. The availability of supplements that can enhance the performance of these athletes makes them seductively attractive for these individuals.  No one would miss an opportunity to improve their performance, irrespective of the risks that exist. However, there is a need to ensure that these supplements are regulated. The lack of regulations in the sports supplement industry could lead to increased risks for the athletes. Perhaps we need to have a more standard approach to the management of sports supplements.

By Gabriel I. Escalera

     First, it’s essential to first have a better understanding of what sports supplements are in the sporting industry.  Sports supplements are additional nutrients that individuals can add to their normal diets to improve their physical abilities to perform in physical activities. Active athletes often include supplements in their diets to achieve sufficient nutrition for optimal performance in sports. In addition, athletes also use supplements to compensate for nutritional deficiencies. Most importantly, there is a belief among athletes that supplements significantly improve their abilities, helping them achieve higher performance.

        Supplements play an important role in the diets of athletes. As the name suggests, these substances should be used in addition to the normal diet, as opposed to being replacements. There are supplements that have been developed based on scientific evidence. This means that there are supplements in the market that can be beneficial to the athletes who consume them. There are several benefits that athletes can draw from using these supplements. One of the most significant benefits is that they can legally improve the performance of athletes. Other than that, supplements can also be used to attain the required weight for a specific sport’s weight classes. Similarly, they can be effective in losing weight for a specific sport. Supplements can also be used by athletes to build muscles and improve the circulation of oxygen within the body. Moreover, supplements also provide athletes with an option that helps them avoid the temptations of using other performance-enhancing drugs that are banned in most competitive sporting activities. As such, supplements are critical for athletes, especially with respect to the possibility of enhancing performances.

     There is a significant difference between performance-enhancing drugs and dietary supplements. There is a complete ban on performance enhancing drugs in the sporting world. However, dietary supplements are allowed within the sporting world. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not place strict regulations on sports supplements. So, the manufacturers of these substances are not required to submit samples of their products to the FDA.  The only requirement for sport supplement manufacturers is to make a claim of the health benefits of the supplement, based on scientific evidence. However, the FDA does not go beyond that to scientifically verify these claims.  Because of this there may be inadequate regulation of sports supplements, and this places the athlete at the risk of consuming substances that may be harmful to them.

     The use of supplements has continued to be a controversial topic among the stakeholders in the supplement industry.  These controversies tend to keep the conversation going and ensure that we can develop policies and laws that regulate the production and use of sports supplements. There are concerns about the processes involved in the manufacture of some sports supplements. The manufacturing process plays a significant role in determining the final product. The manufacturing process involves the use of different ingredients and processes that are not entirely known or understood. 

     Another important area of concern over sports supplements is that of the quality of these supplements. The quality of the supplement is critical however, the FDA does not require any quality standards on supplements. The FDA only requires that the manufacturers make a claim about the health benefits of these supplements. The FDA does not require the manufacturer to provide clinical or scientific trial results that verify the claims. This means that the manufacturers have considerable leeway to provide inaccurate information about the supplements to get approval from the FDA.  It is also possible that the manufacturers could create the same substance, give it a different name, and different claims to ensure that they are seen as different supplements. 

     Based on these observations, there appears to be a need to develop programs, policies, and laws that effectively regulate the production and sale of sports supplements. There is a need for the stakeholders, especially the FDA, to change the approach to the management of the supplements in the market. Regulations should be developed to streamline the manufacturing process.  Just like in the manufacture of medicines, there seems to be a need to regulate the manufacture of sports supplements. These supplements, when ingested, have the capacity to alter the body’s function. Their effects are similar to medicines. The regulation of the manufacturing process would ensure that there is a standard quality for every type of supplement. It could ensure that the most appropriate ingredients and processes are used in their manufacture.

     Quality control measures should also be implemented to ensure that the supplements are not harmful.  The quality of the supplements is dependent on scientific validation of their effectiveness in achieving the objectives for which they are created. As such, the FDA should implement programs that would compel the manufacturers to provide scientific verification for the health claims made. This would mean that quality is central to the development and production of the sports supplements. As such, it could provide a regulatory framework established to eliminate the safety risks associated with sports supplements. This way, sports supplements will be able to achieve their fundamental objectives without creating any controversy.

References

Kapoor, A., & Sharfstein, J. M. (2016). Breaking the gridlock: Regulation of dietary supplements in the United States. Drug testing and analysis, 8(3-4), 424-430.   Maughan, R. J., Burke, L. M., Dvorak, J., Larson-Meyer, D. E., Peeling, P., Phillips, S. M., … & Meeusen, R. (2018). IOC consensus statement: dietary supplements and the high-performance athlete. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise  metabolism, 28(2), 104-125.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Spot reduction doesn’t work

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When it comes to achieving a desirable body, it is common for people to have problem areas such as love handles, flabby arms, sagging skin, or hips. The market is flooded with products that claim to eliminate fat or tone specific body parts, from creams and applications to gadgets and machines. However, the reality is that you cannot spot reduce, and the attempt to do so is not only futile but also potentially harmful.

There are several reasons why spot reduction is a myth. Firstly, a healthy diet is crucial in eliminating body fat, and consuming high-calorie and high-cholesterol foods can cause the accumulation of fat in problem areas. No matter how many gadgets you use, if you continue to indulge in unhealthy foods, you will not see results.

Secondly, spot reduction is a simplistic approach that overlooks the complexity of the body. Many products claim to require nothing but attaching or applying them to problem areas, neglecting other body parts and requirements. To achieve a healthy body, you need to understand the physiology of your body and what it takes to achieve your goals. For example, if you want six-pack abs, you need to focus not only on abdominal exercises but also on reducing body fat and increasing body mass through a healthy diet and cardio exercises.

Thirdly, there are no shortcuts to achieving a healthy body. Miracle diets, pills, and potions may seem like a quick fix, but they will ultimately lead to a dead end. To achieve a healthy body, you need to put in the work and earn it.

Finally, committing to the health of your body is a lifelong dedication. Even if you achieve a desirable body now, it will not remain so forever if you abuse your diet and lifestyle. Therefore, it is essential to develop a holistic approach to your health and fitness, incorporating not only exercise and diet but also a positive outlook on life.

In conclusion, the key to achieving a desirable body is to do it the proper way. There are no shortcuts or quick fixes, and spot reduction is a myth. Instead, focus on developing a healthy diet and exercise program that addresses the whole body, and commit to a lifelong dedication to your health and well-being. By taking matters into your own hands, you can enjoy the benefits of a healthy body and a positive outlook on life.

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