Which Types Of Cow Milk Alternatives Are Best?

[mightymorg]

I know this isn't about gluten free foods, but it is along the same lines...

I don't know if I'm lactose intolerant or if it's the casein in dairy, but growing up I've never really handled moderate amounts of dairy well. Thus, I don't like milk plain at all, and will only use it for coffee or cereal, especially since I've given up my oatmeal since going gluten free! I've found some gluten free cereals I really like, so naturally I'm driinking more milk than normal. Other than that, that's pretty much the only dairy I consume, and I prefer skim milk.

Since drinking more milk, I've noticed some downright foul gas, and am open to other milk alternatives. I went to Whole Foods today to look at the options, but I was overwhelmed by all the different kinds (not to mention I've never had any kind of soy product!). I know there's soy, almond, rice, etc....Which do y'all prefer? I'd appreciate any pointers!!

[burdee]

IF I could tolerate soy, I'd choose soy dairy substitutes because many have high protein/ high fat varieties which I prefer. UNFORTUNATELY I react to and must avoid all forms of soy. Rice milk seems completely worthless for cereals. It's high carb, low protein and non fat. Why would I want to add more carbs to a basically high carb (usually rice based) cereal? I've used almond milks which have more protein and fats, but still not enough to balance the carbs in cereals. Coconut milk has MUCH more fats. So I often mix coconut milk with almond milk. However with hot gluten-free cereals, I cook them in some almond milk and then add almond butter (it really does melt into the cereal) to cool the cereal and add more fats and proteins. I LOVE that combination. Vance's also offers a potato based dairy substitute beverage. It's okay for cooking, but tastes awful on cereal. Most of those substitute milks collapse in hot coffee. So I haven't found anything to use in lattes. However Blue Diamond 'Almond Breeze' which contains soy lecithin does stay stable in hot coffee, but I can't tolerate any soy. Just my opinion ... Maybe others have different experiences.

BURDEE

[Jnkmnky]

We use rice milk when we need to. Otherwise, we drink water. In the morning, calcium added oj. Avoid soy. It's bad for your body.

Open Original Shared Link

Other than this article, you'll find many other mainstream negatives against soy in a person's diet. This is just the one I have in my favorites.

[bluelotus]

I used to drink Silk soy milk, which was tasty, but then I found out that they use corn for their flavorings and I am trying to avoid corn. I agree, rice milk is high carb, but right now, it is gentle enough on me that I haven't had problems. I'd like to move on to almond and others once my tummy has settled some from recent glutenings. The rice milk I use is Lundenberg farms, original flavor. It is on their website as being gluten-free.

[mightymorg]

Thank y'all for the input!

Any other suggestions are welcome!

[tarnalberry]

While I am not in the "soy is bad for everyone" camp, I think it's wise not to overdo it. I enjoy Almond Breeze as a second, and rice milk from Trader Joe's as a third, but all of the milk alternatives I've found besides soy have very little protein, which can be a problem for me.

[tarnalberry]

whoops... duplicate

[jenvan]

all about the rice milk...i can't do soy or dairy. i love wild oat's and whole food's rice milk the best. since you have a whole foods--i'd start with their brand of rice milk.

[Carriefaith]

I drink So Good Soy Milk and Tropicana Calcium Enriched Orange Juice.

I've read about the pro's and con's about soy and it does concern me, but I would like to see good scientific studies that prove these claims though. I may look into other products such as rice milk or almond milk.

[mightymorg]

all about the rice milk...i can't do soy or dairy.  i love wild oat's and whole food's rice milk the best.  since you have a whole foods--i'd start with their brand of rice milk.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sounds like I'll be giving that a try...thanks!

[Jnkmnky]

I drink So Good Soy Milk and Tropicana Calcium Enriched Orange Juice.

I've read about the pro's and con's about soy and it does concern me, but I would like to see good scientific studies that prove these claims though. I may look into other products such as rice milk or almond milk.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Open Original Shared Link

I am confident that if you begin looking at the possible dangers of soy, you'll find all the proof you need in a matter of moments. Google the positves about soy and you'll see that the info is shady, and pushing a product for $$ gain. There was a lot of "hope" thrown at soy. Everyone wants to believe in something that will help with health issues, but this just isn't the miracle food they want desparate people to believe in. It's a cheap money-maker...at best. At worst...I hate to think of what it really is.

[mookie03]

Sounds like I'll be giving that a try...thanks!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I love Silk soymilk- all varieties, and they say gluten free on the container. I dont know about the pros/cons of soy but dont they say the same about regular milk? (that we are not meant to digest lactose?). That said, i try to mix it up a bit so im not eating too much of the same thing (i drink skim milk too b/c i can tolerate it)

[Jnkmnky]

I love Silk soymilk- all varieties, and they say gluten free on the container.  I dont know about the pros/cons of soy but dont they say the same about regular milk? (that we are not meant to digest lactose?).  That said, i try to mix it up a bit so im not eating too much of the same thing (i drink skim milk too b/c i can tolerate it)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You have sit down and actually look at some info on soy. It's not as benign as you'd like to believe. Look into dairy as well. It is bad for you. I'm not all PETA ...go ahead and have a hormone/antibiotic free steak. Eat free range chicken for all I care...but for goodness sake, look into the soy 'thing'. It's seriously about your health.

[Carriefaith]

I enjoy Almond Breeze as a second, and rice milk from Trader Joe's as a third,

Do you have to order these online or can you find them in stores? I'm assuming these brands are gluten-free.

[Kasey'sMom]

With my dd we started with organic cow's milk and she became intolerant as well. We switched to soy and then she became allergic to soy. Third we tried almond milk which she loved however, she also tested positive for almonds. Now we do some rice milk, some coconunt milk, and some DariFree.

She used to beg for milk but now she doesn't ask for it as much. I just make sure that she gets lots of other food based calcium, sunshine and a children's calcium supplement.

I think she bacame sensitive to these foods because of her leaky gut. This all occured while we were waiting for her to diagnosis. I'm hoping over time as her system heals she can tolerate small amounts of casein etc.

We used to get Almond Breeze at our health food store. The closest Trader Joe's is about 6 hrs. away. I'm dying to get one in my area.

[Carriefaith]

Just to share some information I found out yesterday. Rice Dream is not gluten free. I went out and bought some thinking it was and then before I had any I came across this info:

Open Original Shared Link

Is Rice Dream Beverage a gluten free product?

No. Rice Dream Beverage is processed using a barley enzyme. Even though the barley enzyme is discarded after use, the final beverage might contain a minute residual amount (less than .002%) of barley protein. For a list of gluten free products click here.

[jenvan]

yeah, rice dream is shady it has tricked several people here. i haven't read a pkg myself, but have heard barley isn't listed in the ingredients but somewhere else on the package b/c it is used in processing....

[jerseyangel]

Yea--I noticed that at the store while reading the label about the .002% and didn't read any further. I use Pacific Foods Plain Rice Milk--they also have a vanilla version which I haven't tried yet. I like it in mashed potatoes--don't drink it plain, though.

[skbird]

I tend to do it sort of like Burdee, though I am not lactose intolerant. For a while I was only drinking goat milk when it came to dairy (meaning not cow milk) but I don't like goat milk on cereal and am not wild about soy, so I would do almond milk with coconut milk mixed in. That is a pretty good combo. Rice milk - meh!

I have made my own almond milk before - it's something like you take a cup of raw almonds, some shredded coconut and put in a blender then add 1 cup of boiling water and blend, carefully. You can add some more water, but be careful with the hot water in the blender, it expands fast. Then I let it sit and "steep" for a while, until it cools down. Add some vanilla extract, strain out the almond/coconut, and chill, for some good milk. You can use the left over pulp in baked goods.

You can also buy Hazelnut milk, I think it's Pacific brand. Also gluten free. I am not a fan of how much pre-made milks are sweetened though, and the only non-sweet versions I've found are for soy. Trader Joes has a good non-sweet soy milk in a green carton - if I have soy milk, that is usually the one I have.

Oddly, I had some cow milk a month ago after a few years of not drinking it (only goat milk) and had no problem. I have been drinking 1-2 cups a day for the past month, no gastro side effects or anything else. I have wondered *why* I don't seem to have problems with dairy, I tested negative at Enterolab for casein problems and have never experienced anything that would indicate lactose intolerance. I read often about how adults aren't supposed to tolerate it and that cow milk is bad, but I must be one of the very few rare adults with no problems with it. I am mostly Dutch, though, so maybe that has something to do with it. I do only get organic cow milk though, for the absence of excess homones and chemicals as well as the fact that organic cow milk has more omega three oils (because of the better diet the cows get). And I don't buy Horizon, as I have read too much about them not really conforming to organic standards, keeping cows in a feed lot, etc. Not cool.

Stephanie

[Jnkmnky]

I tend to do it sort of like Burdee, though I am not lactose intolerant. For a while I was only drinking goat milk when it came to dairy (meaning not cow milk) but I don't like goat milk on cereal and am not wild about soy, so I would do almond milk with coconut milk mixed in. That is a pretty good combo. Rice milk - meh!

I have made my own almond milk before - it's something like you take a cup of raw almonds, some shredded coconut and put in a blender then add 1 cup of boiling water and blend, carefully. You can add some more water, but be careful with the hot water in the blender, it expands fast. Then I let it sit and "steep" for a while, until it cools down. Add some vanilla extract, strain out the almond/coconut, and chill, for some good milk. You can use the left over pulp in baked goods.

You can also buy Hazelnut milk, I think it's Pacific brand. Also gluten free. I am not a fan of how much pre-made milks are sweetened though, and the only non-sweet versions I've found are for soy. Trader Joes has a good non-sweet soy milk in a green carton - if I have soy milk, that is usually the one I have.

Oddly, I had some cow milk a month ago after a few years of not drinking it (only goat milk) and had no problem. I have been drinking 1-2 cups a day for the past month, no gastro side effects or anything else. I have wondered *why* I don't seem to have problems with dairy, I tested negative at Enterolab for casein problems and have never experienced anything that would indicate lactose intolerance. I read often about how adults aren't supposed to tolerate it and that cow milk is bad, but I must be one of the very few rare adults with no problems with it. I am mostly Dutch, though, so maybe that has something to do with it. I do only get organic cow milk though, for the absence of excess homones and chemicals as well as the fact that organic cow milk has more omega three oils (because of the better diet the cows get). And I don't buy Horizon, as I have read too much about them not really conforming to organic standards, keeping cows in a feed lot, etc. Not cool.

Stephanie

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Horizon is the least concerned with the higher standards of Organic farming. Organic Valley is trying harder to be Organic in the strictest sense.

[skbird]

Yeah, I am all over Organic Valley these days. I was looking at the organic milk at my Raley's store and they have a house brand for a dollar less than the Organic Valley. But since I wasn't sure where it comes from, I was going to get the OV brand, UNTIL I saw on the side of the carton that the house brand IS from OV. So that is what I have been getting.

I read an article about them a while back, they are a collective, not a big corporation like Horizon. The only Horizon product I get is the sour cream - they use probiotic bacteria in it and it has a unique taste. I haven't found another sour cream like it. When I have gotten the Horizon whipping cream, it has gone sour in fewer than 5 days, despite the expiration date each time. Then I read about the feed lots in Idaho and Colorado and I said forget about it - paying that much more for basically the same thing I can get in the regular section. Bah!

Stephanie

[tarnalberry]

Do you have to order these online or can you find them in stores? I'm assuming these brands are gluten-free.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've found Almond Breeze in many stores (including mainstream) in the SoCal and Seattle locations. The rice milk from Trader Joe's is their own brand, so you'd have to go to a Trader Joe's to get it. ;-)