Healthy and dairy-free
January 6th, 2011 by admin
Today’s Florida Times-Union featured an article about the growing popularity of soy/almond/rice milks and other “nutritious, tasty, convenient” alternatives to dairy products. The newspaper spoke to Darryl Register, who runs the D & D Dairy farm west of Jacksonville. Mr. Register was adamant that, “Not only shouldn’t these beverages be called milk, they shouldn’t be in the dairy case.” He added, “It misleads the consumer into thinking that they are getting the same benefits.” With that, the article went on to explain the nutritional differences between milk from cows and milk from nuts or plants. The paper even included a chart to illustrate, “How milk stacks up against ‘milk.’”
Compared to 2% milk, fortified soy milk has less calories, less fat and zero cholesterol, equal amounts of calcium and Vitamin A, more vitamin D, more B12, and more riboflavin (but less potassium). Overall, soy milk is an excellent choice for the health-conscious consumer. (Almond and rice milk don’t compare quite as well, but are still good options.)
So, contrary to the claim of grumpy Mr. Register, people who choose dairy-alternatives are actually getting more benefits than those who are drinking something intended for infant cows.
Visit ARFF’s website to learn more about dairy farming in Florida.