By Pola Pospieszalska- from www.fitnessangel.org

Vegan on Female First

Vegan on Female First

There's a huge variety of brands and types of plant based milks and it can get a little bit overwhelming so let me make things a little clearer for you! I like almost all of them, but I don't really choose to drink rice milk because nutritionally it has very little value.

Which plant-based milk is for you?

When it comes to coffee shops and baristas, soy milk is the most popular plant based alternative. It has a lovely creamy/nutty taste. It contains the most protein out of all plant based milks (about 10g a cup) therefore it is also a good choice for people who are concerned about upping their protein intake. However, it is extremely important to always look for organic soy milk as soy is often GMO.

Almond milk has very little protein compared to soy milk but it has lots of calcium and less calories. So if you want to lose weight, choose unsweetened organic version of almond milk - you really can't go wrong with that. Many coffee shops offer this one too. At home, you can make one yourself! All you need is almonds and water.

  1. Soak the almonds overnight or up to 2 days. …
  2. Drain and rinse the almonds. …
  3. Combine the almonds and water in a blender. …
  4. Blend at the highest speed for 2 minutes. …
  5. Strain the almonds. …
  6. Press all the almond milk from the almond meal. …
  7. Sweeten to taste. …
  8. Refrigerate almond milk.

I personally use Oat Milk in my coffee which is another great option if you're looking to lose weight. At about 4g of protein a cup, it includes many minerals and vitamins like A, B, E, potassium, phosphorus and is a little thinner than other plant milks. Oats are amazing for skin, nails and hair and it is very creamy too, definitely my favourite. I make hot chocolate at night using oat milk. Lovely before bed!

Nutritionally, hemp milk has the most value - in one single cup you are getting almost half of your recommended daily calcium allowance, a big boost of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, folic acid and loads of vitamins.

Coconut Milk is highly nutritious, rich in fibre, auric acid, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins C and E it all sounds great BUT coconut milk is also rich in saturated fats and calories. It's OK in small quantities but should not be used every day. Coconut milk is now offered by Starbucks as their soy plant milk alternative for people who are soya intolerant.