Soy and rice milk are no longer confined to the dusty shelves of health food stores, and other substitutes like oat, coconut, and even hemp milk are now … Compared to cow’s milk and non-dairy milks like almond and soy, coconut milk tastes sweet, nutty, and rich. “Virgin coconut oil (VCO), which may be produced from fresh coconut meat, coconut milk or coconut milk residue, is rich in medium-chain triglycerides (TGs) and lauric acid. Is Almond Milk Really Bad for the Environment? Coconut oil is touted as a healthy alternative to toxic lotions and skincare products. Environmentally Friendly You are probably already aware that cows, along with other livestock, have a significant, detrimental impact on the environment. “And trees themselves have great greenhouse gas benefits.” However, the research behind this is fundamentally flawed if … Might have to move over to coconut milk though if that’s a better option from an environmental perspective. Would using coconut flour be just as bad? Plant based milks are typically bought by environmentally conscious people. What may be surprising, though, is that almond milk takes a toll on the environment in other ways. Organic soy has most of the same nutritional and processing problems that conventional soy does, even though it is not GMO. By Kate Good. It can benefit health in several ways, such as by stimulating weight loss and lowering cholesterol. For example, So Delicious is working with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) for water conservation. Milk, cream, water and activated charcoal are all coconut byproducts, all of which are growing in popularity in the U.S. and Europe. For various reasons, many people are switching to non-dairy milks. Almond milk isn’t worse for sustainability than cows milk. It is not the liquid that can be drained out from a coconut that has been punctured, although many people assume this. Water Conservation: Producing sustainable milk does use up water, whether in the production process or in the product itself.Fortunately, companies are able to help restore this precious resource as they go through special initiatives. Coconut milk is lower in protein and calcium generally than almond milk. The unhealthy truth about almond milk Almond milk is in fashion, but that doesn't mean it is good for you, or for the environment. However, coconut milk makes up a decent portion of sales as well. Yes, it can. The Takeaway. I think the whole bad rap that soy milk has has also been false and alarmist when you look into the research. How About Milk Destruction: The Shocking Truth About the Dairy Industry and the Environment 42.4K Views 2 weeks ago. Coconut oil also isn’t too bad, but as coconuts are sometimes harvested using monkeys, it’s hard to know when it’s vegan. The Truth Behind the Decline in Bees. Food Almond Milk Is Not the Problem It’s fine if you don’t like it. With coconut, there's another factor – it produces more than oil. Deciding to become vegan is not just about the health benefits. I drink almond, oat and soy milk. But is it healthy for the environment, too? Valerie While both are way better than dairy for the environment, there is still some impact. Hemp, as a crop, is well-known for its sustainability, and its seeds are a nutritious base for milk. Q. Coconut milk is a white, milky substance extracted from the flesh of mature coconuts. Getting coconut milk from a coconut requires some processing, but the ingredient is also available in cans or bottles. The consistency is determined by the fat content. Coconut milk is derived from the flesh of the coconut. Soy is very goitrogenic and harmful to the thyroid. Maybe coconut milk or almond milk would be a good substitute? Can coconut milk beverages be frozen? Coconut Sugar: Bad for the environment? This was published 5 years ago. Environmentally, coconut milk is a pretty good choice — coconut farming has a fairly low impact on the land, and water use is relatively low. Recently, I came across an article describing how bad Almond Milk is for the environment, and I had to wonder, what about Cow Milk? If it is fermented AND organic, it’s fine in moderation. Coconut is one of those foods that seems to ping-pong between the 'good food' and 'bad food' list, and if you're confused about this, don't worry – even the experts can't quite agree. Shutterstock Fake cow, fake milk.. According to recent data, billions of bees are dying at the hands of the almond industry. So usually coconut cream has anywhere from 20-50% fat content, whereas coconut milk has 5-20% fat content. Oil palm produces, as its name says, basically only oil. Furthermore, coconut milk is lower in sugar than dairy milk, which is beneficial if you're trying to limit carbohydrates in your diet. Coconut milk has become one of the most popular nondairy milk options, and it’s one that wasn’t even on the radar when I did my original comparison of non-dairy milks back in 2009. According to Inhabitat, coconut milk, hemp milk, pea protein milk, and oat milk are generally low-impact, because they either require less water to grow or produce less emissions than other plant milks. Is Our Obsession With Coconut Products Bad For The Environment? But luckily, there are a few milks that are generally easier on the environment. Because coconut milk generally has a thicker, creamier texture, it works well in coffee drinks and makes a great cappuccino—which is probably why Starbucks has added it to their alternative milk choices. Finally, hemp milk contains more protein than almond or oat but less than soy or pea; it also delivers healthy fats. So, today, I’m going to do a head-to-head comparison between cow’s milk and coconut milk. “You don’t have to deforest trees to produce the milk,” Bergen said. almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk… The good news is that in general, the environmental impact of coconut oil is very low.Growing coconuts doesn’t require pesticides or herbicides, and coconuts are harvested by hand, instead of by a giant tractor. There have been a few viral articles getting a lot of attention that berate almond milk for being very unsustainable and as bad as cows milk for the environment. Are any kinds of non-cow pseudo-milk (i.e. I know some brands of coconut milk that have stated they don’t use monkeys, but I’m not sure there’s any coconut oil that is definitely vegan. First, however, Almond Milk seems to be one of the more popular go-to substitutes for Cow Milk, in addition to Soy Milk, Coconut Milk, and Hemp Milk, all with different tastes and nutritional benefits. The most recent turn in the UK dairy crisis is the rejection of milk by young people, replaced by alternatives such as soya or almond milk. Sort of — coconut milk can be subcategorized according to the consistency of the product. The Coconut Tree Growers. Dairy milk has had dire consequences for the environment but finding a more sustainable alternative isn’t as simple as it seems. When comparing coconut vs. oil palm, biodiversity is one important factor. Coconut would be an alternative for most recipes, but I know nothing of the environmental impacts of its production cycle. Are coconut milk and coconut cream the same thing? ... People shouldn’t feel bad about using coconut … Reply The main issues associated with almond milk production are water use and pesticide use, which may produce long lasting effects on the environment in drought-stricken California, where more than 80% of the world’s almonds are grown. David Dobbin, the chief executive of United Dairy Farmers has described this as a “demographic time bomb”. There’s a raging debate about whether coconut is good for you or bad for you due to the nutritional benefits and harms of various coconut products. ... or coconut milk in your cereal instead of regular! Is Breast Milk Healthy For Adults? Bottom Line: A decent milk substitute, but low in protein. Coconut oil’s HDL-boosting effect may make it ‘less bad’ than its high-saturated fat cousins (butter and lard), but it is not the best choice of oils to reduce the risk of heart disease. Almost all of the arguments against using coconut sugar cite this article as a source. All fats will help improve your mood, but coconut oil in particular is associated with anti-stress and anti-depression benefits due to being a medium-chain fatty acid. While there are plenty of nutritional benefits to almond milk, there's also less than 1 gram of protein in a cup (via USDA).While that's still better than the total absence of protein in rice milk and coconut milk, it falls far short of the 8 grams provided by a cup of cow's milk (via Healthline).If you're getting plenty of protein in your diet otherwise, it doesn't matter. Meat and dairy are bad for the environment Paleo principles do not condone eating factory farmed cattle or milk cows, industrial poultry, or other animals who do not graze freely. Which is Better For the Environment: Coconut Milk or Almond Milk? Jenni. Send your question to Umbra!. Every time I mention coconut sugar on Facebook, well-intentioned readers will jump into the discussion to let me know that coconut sugar is not sustainable, that coconut sugar is bad for the environment. But that doesn’t mean it’s bad for the environment. And there are reasons to be concerned about the ethical and environmental impacts of the global coconut trade, too. Thanks for all your posts. Yet increased demand of the products has forced farmers to choose pay over the environment. How healthy are they?