Oat milk lattes have become a favorite among many, especially in trendy cafes and among Generation Z. However, despite its reputation as a healthier alternative to cow’s milk, oat milk may not be as nutritious as it seems, according to a leading expert.
Professor Sarah Berry, an expert in cardiovascular nutrition at King’s College London, warns that oat milk is highly processed and mostly made up of water, making it less beneficial than its reputation suggests. For oat milk to actually lower cholesterol, you would need to drink around three glasses a day, which amounts to about 750ml. This is far more than most people consume, making it difficult to reap any significant health benefits.
One of the key issues with store-bought oat milk is that it is typically made up of only 10% oats, with the rest being water. The oats used in commercial oat milk are heavily processed to prevent the milk from becoming too thick, which results in a loss of some of their cholesterol-lowering fiber and other health benefits. In contrast, homemade oat milk, where you can control the amount of oats, may retain more of these nutrients.
Victoria Taylor, a nutritionist at the British Heart Foundation, also pointed out that there is no specific nutritional reason to stop drinking cow’s milk if you’re not lactose intolerant or following a plant-based diet.
In summary, while oat milk can be part of a balanced diet, it may not be the miracle health food it’s often portrayed as—especially when compared to more nutrient-dense milk alternatives or whole foods.
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