Experts warn against oat milk: dairy alternative linked to health damage, while semi-skimmed cow’s milk offers surprising benefits
If you sprinkle almond milk over your porridge or opt for flat proteins made from oat milk, you might want to think again.
If new research is to be believed, opting for plant-based diary alternatives could be detrimental to your mental health.
Scientists who followed more than 350,000 Britons found that plant-based milk drinkers were more likely to suffer from depression than those who drank semi-skimmed cow’s milk.
Chinese researchers said that semi-skimmed milk contains more good fats than skimmed milk, but fewer bad fats than full-fat milk.
Previous research has shown that “good fats” can increase the production of serotonin, a hormone that can alter mood.
This, they theorized, means the milk could be in a sweet spot where it improves mental health.
It also breaks the myth that milk alternatives are always the healthier option, they argued.
The research comes just months after separate studies linked the drinks to blood glucose spikes, bloating, skin problems and protein deficiency.
Many plant-based drinks, such as almond, oat or coconut drinks, often contain less saturated fat than cow’s milk and may seem like the ‘healthier’ choice
In the new study, scientists from Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, southern China, tracked participants’ diet and mental health for more than a decade.
They found semi-skimmed cow’s milk drinkers had 12 percent less chance of depression and 10 percent less chance of anxiety.
Those who consumed plant-based milks, such as soy and almond, had a 14 percent increased risk of depression.
Writing in the diary, Limits in nutritionsay the researchers: ‘Milk is a rich source of nutrients such as lactose, lipids, proteins and minerals, which are essential for maintaining human health.
‘The fatty acid profile of semi-skimmed milk may provide greater cerebral (brain) protection compared to whole milk and skimmed milk, potentially reducing the risk of both depression and anxiety.
‘These findings suggest that semi-skimmed milk may have a protective effect against these psychological disorders, which offers new perspectives for nutritional interventions.’
Research has long shown that too much saturated fat in a diet can increase the risk of high cholesterol, stroke and heart disease.
It has also been shown to increase the risk of depression.
Because adopting a plant-based diet could be detrimental to your mental health, if new research is to be believed
However, semi-skimmed milk has a lower saturated fat content than whole milk.
In Britain, more and more people have turned their backs on cow’s milk and opted for plant-based alternatives instead.
Interest in a plant-based diet has increased dramatically in recent years, with vegans citing ethical, environmental or health reasons for making the switch.
A recent survey found that around 600,000 people are now believed to be following a plant-based diet, while another 2021 survey claimed that almost a third of Brits were using alternative milks.
However, research increasingly shows that plant-based milk alternatives are not as good for you as real milk.
Last month the Mail on Sunday also reported that the super-trendy dairy alternative could be the cause of a growing number of young people being diagnosed with high cholesterol.