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Which Alternative?
"There's a growing group of people with
an intolerance or inability to digest dairy –
not just lactose, but also the milk proteins
casein and whey," says Karen Falbo, a
certified nutritionist and director of
nutrition education at Natural Grocers by
Vitamin Cottage. There are also people
with certain medical conditions who should
avoid dairy, including those with auto-
immune disease, fibromyalgia, chronic
fatigue syndrome, Lyme disease, and those
with neurological disorders, such as autism,
Falbo says. And there are still others, such
as Erica Bazzy and her husband, who just
occasionally want some variety.
For these groups plus vegans, plant-
based milks provide that much-craved,
milk-like beverage. There are many options
on the market, but Falbo and Crandall say
consumers should consider three things:
FORTIFICATION – look for ones with
added calcium, vitamin D and other
nutrients; otherwise, be diligent about
your overall diet.
PROTEIN – alternatives are lower, so
adjust your diet accordingly.
SUGAR – choose unsweetened options.
Alternative-milk drinkers should also
be aware of gums, carrageenan, and
other additives in non-dairy milk.
Carrageenan is derived from red seaweed
and is approved by the Food and Drug
Administration, but some brands removed
it from their products after consumers'
raised concerns about a possible link to
digestive problems, Falbo says.
