Oat milk has been one of the latest non-dairy beverages to gain attention among people across the globe. Manufacturers of oat milk such as Silk, Quaker, and Elmhurst 1925 are competing for a place in your grocery cart. In fact, oat milk has been considered one of the top food and nutrition trends of 2019.
With all such fad to the latest plant-based beverage available on the market, it raises a million dollar question: is oat milk healthy for you?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines milk as “the lacteal secretion from the complete milking of one or more healthy cows and shall not contain less than 8 1/4 percent milk solids.”
So, if you consider this FDA’s definition of milk, rice milk, soy milk, almond milk, and others do not meet its definition of milk.
The FDA ensures that labeling plant-based products with names including “milk” must not mislead people.
Quaker, who released their plant-based drink earlier this year, will be calling it “oat beverage” and not oat milk until the debate over using the term for non-dairy beverages is settled.
Oat beverage, or oat milk, is a blend of oats and water, which has been filtered to remove the solids, leaving just the liquid.
Some manufacturers lace their oat beverages with certain vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, vitamin D, or vitamin B12, to make it more nutritious.
Oat beverages often have a mild flavor and its consistency is slightly creamier than other dairy beverages; this is because the oats absorb more water than nuts.
Nutrition expert Jessica Penner said, “Oat beverage is a good middle-of-the-road milk alternative. It has a medium amount of protein, a little bit of fat (from canola oil), and a moderate amount of carbs.”
When compared with nut milk and rice milk, oat milk contains more protein (approximately 3-4 grams per cup). Also, it contains some amount of carbohydrates (15 grams per cup). Furthermore, oat milk contains soluble fiber that has shown to reduce blood cholesterol, which is good for the heart, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Dietitian Kaleigh McMordie said, “What makes oat milk different than other plant-based milk products is that it is free from the top 8 allergens. Oat beverage is nut-free, soy-free and dairy-free, so it’s safe for people with allergies or sensitivities. And as long as it is made with certified gluten-free oats, oat beverage is also gluten-free.”
Oat milk is not nutritionally equivalent to cow milk or soymilk; however, it could be a good choice for some people. It is, in fact, a great option for those who are allergic to nuts, dairy or soy. Sharon Palmer, the plant-powered dietitian, said, “You can easily use it as a replacement for dairy milk in cereals, smoothies, baking, and coffee.”
