Lately, I have been hearing a lot about oat milk. It seems to be everywhere- in creamers, as a milk alternative and even in yogurt. I had heard many positive reviews on it including it makes great ice cream and froths up like regular milk for yummy lattes. After hearing so many positive reviews, I decided to give it a try. It was yummy- sweet and creamy but I wondered about the health benefits.
What I discovered is oat milk has more calories than regular milk (90-120 calories per cup vs 30-40 for almond milk or 90 for cow’s milk) and has 3 grams of protein. Oat milk is an excellent source of vitamin A, important in the fight against macular degeneration and oxidative stress on the retina. It contains no cholesterol and is high in the soluble fiber, beta-glucan, which makes it a good substitute for people fighting heart disease. Oat milk has 10% of your daily dose of iron and 27% of your daily dose of calcium. Both are important for strong bones.
It is a good option for people struggling with allergies or intolerances. It’s vegan and is naturally free of lactose, nuts, soy, and gluten if made from certified gluten-free oats.
When shopping for oat milk, be sure to check the sugar content. You want to avoid oat milk that has added sugar.If you are looking for a way to switch up your dairy consumption, oat milk offers a tasty, relatively healthy alternative.
