The trend to choose Dairy Free Milks such as Nut & Oat is going strong but why?
The number of people who are diagnosed as Dairy or Lactose (the sugar found in milk) intolerant has dramatically increased in the U.K. in the last decade which is one explanation for the availability of Dairy free milks. Veganism and personal preference are also contributing factors. Many make the assumption that Dairy free means ‘healthier’ yet this is not the case. The leading Dairy Free milk brands on the U.K. supermarket shelves are considered ‘Ultra Processed’ and contain chemical thickeners including xantham and guar gum which are known to the good bacteria in your gut and worsen a number of gastro conditions. These products have taken the steps to add in calcium which which is naturally occurring in Dairy products but food sources are more bio-available (useable) by the body.
If you choose to go Dairy Free due to an allergy, intolerance or just preference do some label reading to weed out the nasties! My brand recommendation is Plenish as they only use 3 ingredients (the nut/grain, sea salt & water) and they are delicious. They are available in major supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. They have a great range including Cashew, Coconut, Oat and my new favourite Almond ‘Barista’ which makes a fantastic Flat White!