The Effects Of Drinking Dairy Milk And Non-Dairy Milk Options For Seniors

Cow’s Milk

Many people are allergic to dairy milk. Not only can it cause stomach upset, but for some, it can negatively impact their mood, bring on asthma and even cause eczema. Luckily, cow’s milk is not the only product on the market these days. There are a number of alternatives, and each of them has several amazing benefits that make them a great option for your diet.

First, though, let’s take a look at traditional dairy milk. There are several varieties; for example, whole milk includes all of the fat, so it also has a lot of vitamin D, calcium, and natural proteins. Skim milk does not contain as many calories but still gives you a lot of nutritional benefits. You can get minerals, protein, calcium, and vitamins from skim milk, but you don’t have to worry as much about calories and saturated fat. Finally, lactose-free milk is also on the market. Like skim milk, it is good for you.

Advantages

Whole milk gives you the calories and proteins that you need and also helps with senior care services. Older people need certain vitamins and minerals, and whole milk gives them that. If you can’t handle lactose, opt for lactose-free milk. The type of milk mentioned above is also found in almost every store that has groceries, so it is convenient to buy.

Disadvantages

You can get too many calories if you opt for whole milk, plus a lot of saturated fat as well. Therefore, if you have high cholesterol or issues with your heart, you may want to try another product. In addition, dairy milk isn’t a great option for those that want to slim down.

Soy Milk

Created from soybeans, soy milk is often consumed by those that are lactose intolerant or are vegans. It doesn’t have cholesterol or very much saturated fat. In addition, soy milk has a lot of potassium, calcium, and protein.

Advantages

You get a lot of what you need from soy milk, like vitamin D, B12, vitamin A, and protein. In fact, soy milk has nearly the same amount of protein as cow’s milk, but it has fewer calories. There’s no cholesterol, so you don’t need to worry if you have heart issues, and vegans can enjoy soy milk as well.

Disadvantages

Some individuals can’t consume a lot of soy, particularly if they have thyroid disease.

Almond Milk

Almond milk is created from ground almonds and has very few calories (the unsweetened versions). There’s no lactose, saturated fat or cholesterol either. While almonds have a lot of protein in them, the same can’t be said for almond milk. There’s also not a lot of calcium, but you can find almond milk that has been supplemented.

Advantages

Almond milk does not have any cholesterol or saturated fat. It does not have very many calories and also provides you with vitamins A and D.

Disadvantages

You don’t get the protein or calcium you need from almond milk. In addition, if you have a nut allergy, it is best to avoid this product altogether.

Rice Milk

Very few people are allergic to rice milk, so it is a great option for a certain portion of the population. Rice milk comes from water and milled rice. Like almond milk, you don’t get a lot of vitamin D or calcium from rice milk, although you can find versions that have been fortified.

Advantages

Even allergy sufferers can enjoy rice milk. You can get calcium from it if it is fortified. And, vegetarians can consume rice milk with a clear conscience!

Disadvantages

There are a lot of carbohydrates but not a lot of protein in rice milk. If you suffer from diabetes, or you need protein to make it through your day, choose something other than rice milk. Seniors should avoid it because of the protein issue.

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