Can’t stomach milk? Supermarket shelves are lined with lots of alternatives: soy, rice, hemp, almond, coconut, you name it. But which dairy-free option is right for you? Find out if milks really do your body good…
As a kid, milk was part of your daily diet, from morning cereal to midday cookie dunking.
But the older we get, the less we drink – and the more we need. Women, in particular, require milk’s bone-builders: protein, calcium, potassium, and vitamins A and D.
Some women cut out milk because of lactose intolerance or an allergy; others stay away because of worries with weight and cholesterol levels. Or maybe they just never liked the taste.
Whether you choose dairy or go dairy-free, cow’s milk and its alternatives offer a host of flavors and health benefits. Read on to find out which is the best for you:
1. Cow’s Milk
What it is: Americans consume about 583 million cups annually, according to 2008 statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
No wonder: Milk from cows’ mammary glands is packed with calcium – 1 cup provides about 30% of daily requirements (around 300 mg). Plus, it has protein, says Bethany Thayer, R.D., of the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Mich.
What’s good: All cow’s milk is fortified with vitamin D, which the body needs to absorb calcium. (This practice began in the 1940s to reduce the incidence of juvenile rickets, a skeletal disorder in children.) Milk also contains potassium and phosphorous, which helps build strong bones and teeth.
Calorie counting? Choose nonfat milk, which has less than half the calories of whole milk (about 80 calories per cup versus about 150 calories) and slightly more calcium.
Watch out for: The 1% or 2% you see on a milk carton refers to the percentage of fat compared to the other nutrients. So how much is in a glass? Here’s the skinny on fat content:
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Best Milk For You?
8:11 PM
nbhcentral
Posted in: Eating Healthy,Health
