There are many people who believe that plant-based food items are healthier and safer than animal-based foods. That’s the reason many people avoid dairy to opt for plant-based alternatives which they believe offer greater nutrition.
The popularity of Paleo diets might be keeping many people from benefiting from the components of milk. In order to understand which food item is better nutrition wise, we have listed the nutrition facts of dairy products below:
Protein
When it comes to protein, dairy milk is the winner. Milk contains 3.3% protein, which is much higher than the amount found in almond or soy milk. Because protein is the building block of the body, we need it in good amounts to grow our muscles, cells, skin, hair, etc. Furthermore, milk contributes to an array of bodily functions.
If you take a glass of milk, you will get 8 grams of protein. However, if you take a class of almond milk, you will only get 1 gram of protein. This clearly proves that milk from a cow contains higher protein levels that play an important role in developing our bodies and spiking our energy at the same time.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates play an important role in giving our body the energy it needs to perform different activities. The energy produced by carbs is helpful in boosting the brain, muscles, and liver. A glass of cow’s milk contains 5 grams of carbs whereas a glass of almond milk only contains 1.4 grams of carbs, which means that you get more energy and nutritional value from dairy. Without a good amount of carbs in your body, you will feel weakness in your muscles and will also be unable to stay focused.
Fat
One glass of almond milk contains 2.5 grams of fat whereas one glass of cow’s milk contains 1 gram fat. This means that a dairy-free option consists of more fat content than the dairy option. However, fats are good for boosting energy in the body and muscles, allowing a person to remain involved in physical activities. Due to the excess carbohydrates in dairy milk, you get decent amounts of energy in your system. Furthermore, the fat in cow’s milk contains essential fatty acids like linoleic and linolenic that help with muscle growth and boosting immunity.
Vitamins
Vitamins are responsible for keeping us healthy. From keeping our metabolism on track to helping us heal, these essential nutrients allow us to make effective use of carbs, fat, and protein that is present in milk. Dairy products provide good amounts of vitamins to us including vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, D, E, K, and folate.
Essential Minerals
Dairy products are packed with essential minerals that assist different functions in our body and keep us healthy. When you take dairy products, you get copper, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, selenium, manganese, zinc, and sodium.
Therefore, if you look at the nutritional facts on dairy products, you will not opt for dairy-free options.