Adopting healthy habits with a balanced diet always crucial for the well-being of a human. And no health regime cuts off the necessity of milk as a considerable supplement. Many health professionals and experts like doctors, dietitians, tell people about the indeed benefits of milk.
In fact, the taming of animals for dairy needs is a trend since prehistoric times for survival, yet now is significant business. Generally, people consume milk that comes from non-vegan sources, mainly animals like goat, cow, buffalo, camel, yak, sheep, etc.
However, a few years back, scientific research health prior to milk supplement was announced globally. That research claim that cockroach milk is four times more healthy than the milk of cow, goat even camel. Have you ever thought apart from healthy properties, milk also has animal hormones? What to do in such aspects?
Indeed you can consume milk from vegan sources. Surprisingly, there are ample ingredients like soy, almonds, coconuts, etc. as healthy and milky substitutes. Before we discuss the most environmentally friendly milk, let’s know what level of emission animal milk cost basically.
Impact On Environment By Cow’s Milk
Scientifically claimed that cow’s milk or buffalo milk generates the highest amount of greenhouse gases. In fact, also roughly estimated that, on every litre of milk, the emission of CO2 is 2.4kg, which affects the climate adversely.
The Food and Agriculture Organization even says that covering all milk cycle parameters like production, transportation of feed, and milk at the end also lead to many gases. Moreover, not only CO2- produced by cow’s milk, even methane, and nitrous dioxide are also generated, contribute to global warming.
The cattle fields are also a considerable part, as land-efficiency, labour, and crop care need the money and a lot of effort too. Moreover, the use of milk pouches, tetra packs, plastic bottles also causes pollution while manufacturing, printing, packing, transporting, and at the end, dumping. Apart from many adverse impacts on the environment, the profitable side is it creates more greenery and no deforestation.
Impact On Environment By Goat And Sheep’s Milk
Unlike cows, goats and sheep also produce a significant amount of greenhouse gases but precisely little less than cows. Over on an estimate, every litre of goat milk generates 1.03kg of CO2, which is less than cows’ CO2 production.
Similarly, the production of other gases like methane, etc., is also quite less in level. Gradually, the cost of emission while production, transportation, packing, and more is even smaller, yet disturbing to the environment.
The flushing of urine and faces by goats and sheep in water, or land, can also cause a health hazard. In fact, the maintenance of sheep and goat farms also need money and efforts that crucially impact on other resources.
The Overview And Average Estimate On Types Of Milk
One glass of cow’s milk on daily use for a year requires 650 sq m of land, that somewhat equal to two tennis courts. This is precisely similar to oat milk. A study also estimated that, in general, almond milk needs more water as compared to soy or oat milk production.
Per glass of rice milk, however, takes 54 litres of water. But the significantly almond milk and rice milk needs less water than required in cow’s milk. This overall level varied that considerably affects the climate within production.
The Most Environmentally Friendly Type Of Milk
The use of plant-based milk and milk products are highly healthy and nowadays readily available in the market. Moreover, it has been observed that consumption of such non-daily milk increased by 8-10% every year on the global count. But still, people often struggle with what is commonly found in plant-based milk and how to consume them every day.
Oat Milk
Highly nutritious plant-based milk that impacts the environment within lower stress over the environment. It needs too little water and can be easily grown in various parts of the world. However, an effortless and affordable milk substitute. For preparing oat milk, one needs water, blender, oats, and strainer, that takes a few minutes for fresh oat milk.
Oat milk is eco-friendly and healthy, which contains the right amount of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Daily consumption of oat milk lowers the risk of cholesterol, anaemia, and boost immunity. It is even suitable for people who are allergic to nuts and dairy milk. Oat milk can be used in beverages and smoothies.
Almond Milk
Well, almonds need more water than oats, approximately 6 times more, as suggested by Water Footprint Network. Thus, 80% of the world’s almonds- grown in California, which even takes transportation (mainly importing), and affects the environment.
For quick preparation of almond milk, soak almonds in water, or overnight, then just peel them off. Next is to blend them with some amount of water. At last, just strain it and use it. Almond milk is an enriched source of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre.
It is even beneficial for heart patients to inherit no-cholesterol. These are also low in calories, sugars, and good in calcium, potassium, phosphorus, etc. In general, almond milk can be used as smoothies and baking, etc.
Rice Milk
Generally, rice milk; prepared from brown rice. However, rice milk is also imported and sold in the UK, Europe, that is made from rice grown in India, China, Indonesia, etc. Rice is an important cash crop that requires water in a massive quantity.
Most of the Asian countries are famous for the cultivation of rice that generates CO2 and methane in a large amount. In fact, nitrogen-based fertilizers also lead to a certain amount of adverse effects on the environment. Rice milk is rich in calcium, vitamins (A and D), and minerals, which can be used as a natural sweetener too. Taking rice milk daily benefits heart, protein allergic, and lactose allergic people.
Coconut Milk
The use of coconut milk is quite common, especially in Asian countries like China, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, etc. Coconut trees; generally grown in regions with the tropical climate. Coconut; widely used in many food varieties and cuisines globally, and the preparation of coconut milk is easy.
Coconut milk gets from the fresh white flesh of the coconut, or even from dried coconut after soaking it in water for hours. For preparation use of blender and strainer is also there. The consistency of coconut milk depends on the amount of water used during preparation and blending.
It is an enriched source of vitamins, minerals, and other healthy properties. The productive use of coconut milk every day helps in reducing weight. It even benefits heart, boosts immunity, reduces the risk of stomach ulcers as well.
Soy or Soya Milk
Nothing new to say, that Soya milk is healthy and one of the environmentally friendly milk, packed with many nutrients. It is simply made by soaking and blending soybeans later with filtering measures.
Soy milk is, however, popular in the USA, Brazil, Argentina, Europe, and many more countries. However, some surveys claim that soybean cultivation is majorly affecting the forest cover and increasing deforestation. As a fact, the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in soybean crops is lowering the value of soil.
Precisely, soy milk is a good source of protein, vitamins (A, B-12, D), minerals (Potassium, Calcium). It is even lower in calories with less amount of saturated fat. Soya milk protects from cancer, heart strokes, osteoporosis.
Other Popular Yet Non-Dairy Milk
The mentioned environmentally friendly type of milk is healthy and lower the adverse impact on the ecosystem.
- Hemp Milk
- Pea Milk
- Cashew Milk
Can Environmentally Friendly Milk Give Low Impact On Ecosystem?
Unlike pollution is a notable problem worldwide, the use of meat and dairy products is also adverse to the environment. Being vegan is the somehow more healthy choice for self and planet as well. So many health and environmental researches raise hands on the use of non-dairy and vegan milk and food. Cutting of non-vegan diet and dairy products will impact low on the ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately time to sum-up the writings over the most environmentally friendly milk as a bottom line of claiming it healthy. However, it is still a personal choice, what type of milk you are consuming. But still, plant-based milk is a more booming substitute with high nutritious value and less impact on animals and the ecosystem. Consumption of non-dairy milk and non-daily milk products is now a trend, as suggested by many health experts. If you haven’t tried it yet, just grab a glass of non-dairy milk, taste it and save the planet too.
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46654042