Healthline Heart health information shows Dairy-free alternatives brands Dajry-free products that we stand behind. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. Quinoa milk is a good plant-based source of complete protein for vegetarians and vegans. Some people eliminate dairy products to avoid the possibility of contaminants in milk, such as steroids or hormones.

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4 Low-Carb, Non-Dairy Swaps for Milk or Cream

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Because of the size of the animals and all the processes involved, dairy farming has a tremendous environmental impact. From methane emissions to deforestation and ocean dead zones, farming cows for their milk wreaks havoc on our planet. A report found that the 13 largest dairy firms on the planet have the same combined greenhouse gas emissions as the whole of the UK.

For more support, check out our Choose Dairy-Free campaign. Veganuary inspires and supports people all over the world to try vegan for January and beyond. Millions of people have already taken part. Will you join them? Sign up to receive a celebrity e-cookbook along with inspiring recipes, meal plans and more.

Suggested Searches. Try Vegan. Search US. These dairy alternative brands will help you ditch dairy for good. Image Credit: AdobeStock.

Category: Food. Thinking of trying vegan? Try our favourite: Rude Health Almond Drink £2. Pros: it's low in calories and naturally gluten-free, with no cholesterol or saturated fat. Hazelnut milk also contains vitamin E, which helps promote skin, hair and heart health.

Cons: like almond milk, hazelnut milk can be high in sugar and contains little protein. Compared to almond milk, hazelnuts have a better environmental footprint as they require the wind for pollination, rather than bees, and use much less water.

Add hazelnut milk to these delicious vegan Brownies to add a slightly nutty taste. Try our favourite: Alpro Hazelnut Drink £2. Cashew milk is rich and creamy in its consistency and has a milder taste compared to other nut milks.

Pros: it's naturally gluten-free and vegan and low in calories. Cashew milk also contains calcium and vitamin D, as it's usually fortified, and is a good source of vitamin K, which is needed for blood clotting. Cons: it's low in protein and contains no fibre, and there are many sweetened varieties, which have extra sugar.

It is also not suitable for those with a nut allergy. Try making these vegan flapjacks or a vegan chocolate party traybake with cashew milk. Try our favourite: Plenish Organic Cashew Unsweetened Milk £2.

Here, we are talking about the drink variety rather than canned coconut milk that's added to curries. It is made from coconut cream and water, and is more diluted than the canned version.

Pros: coconut is not actually a nut, so it's safe for those with a nut allergy. While is contains some saturated fat, it is a medium-chain triglyceride MCT , which goes straight to the liver where it is used for energy.

Cons: it is low in protein and, like almond milk, may contain carrageenan, which can cause digestive issues for some. Try our favourite: Koko Dairy Free £1. Like hemp milk, rice milk is made by grinding rice grains and then filtering it with water.

It is thinner than other milks and can make a versatile alternative in your cooking. Pros: it is least likely of all milk alternatives to cause an allergic reaction and is low in calories. Cons: it is low in protein but higher in carbohydrates, having been made from grain, so may not be suitable for those with blood sugar imbalances or diabetes.

Rice milk typically contains more additives to improve its consistency and is also high in inorganic arsenic, making it unsuitable for young children. Try this green breakfast smoothie made with rice milk.

Try our favourite: Rude Health Organic Brown Rice Drink £1. Flax milk is made from ground flaxseeds and water. Like hemp, it has a more distinctive taste and is a little thinner in its consistency.

Pros: flax milk, like the seeds, is a good source of alpha linoleic acids ALA , a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in plants that is naturally anti-inflammatory.

It is naturally gluten-free and may be suitable for those with a nut allergy. Cons: Flax milk tends to contain more thickeners and preservatives to improve its texture and shelf-life.

This is a newer milk to the market and it appears to be fairly sustainable, but organic varieties may be best to ensure there has been no use of pesticides during farming. Try our favourite: Flax Drink Bio £4. Tiger nuts are tubers, not nuts. They are about the size of a chickpea, and they get their name from the stripes on their exterior.

Cons: Tiger nut milk is often blended with rice milk to make it creamier, but, unlike the actual tiger nuts themselves, there is no fibre and very little protein in tiger nut milk.

Other issues may come in around fair trade and ethical sourcing. Try our favourite: Rude Health Organic Tiger Nut Drink £2. A newer nut milk on the market with a more distinctive, nutty flavour than other nut milks, making it good for coffee and baking.

Pros: naturally higher in good fats and protein, which can be helpful for keeping blood sugar levels stable. These good fats are polyunsaturated and ALA, which offer several health benefits and may be neuroprotective. Cons: walnut milk often contains added sugars and is not suitable for those with a nut allergy.

Walnuts, like almonds, often come from California, which brings with it some sustainability issues around water. Try adding walnut milk to this vegan ginger loaf cake recipe or baked banana porridge for extra nuttiness. Try our favourite: Valsoia Walnut Drink £2.

Pros: quinoa milk is often gluten-free and suitable for coeliacs check individual brands for any added ingredients , is higher in protein than other plant-based milks and contains no fat. Cons: it's not as widely available in the UK as other cow's milk alternatives. There has been a surge in popularity of quinoa and quinoa-based products in the last decade, which did start to have an impact on certain regions that harvest this crop.

Therefore, sustainability is a bigger concern here than its impact on global warming, which is relatively low. Try our favourite: NaturGreen Organic Quinoa Oat Drink £2.

Pros: it contains all-important omega-3 fatty acids and MCT, as well as protein. It's also low in carbohydrates. Cons: some brands add protein powders to the milk for texture and consistency, and it can often be loaded with additives and sweeteners, so check the label. Chia seeds are adaptable and can grow in low-quality soils with little strain on resources, making it environmentally sound.

Get extra health benefits by subbing in chia seed milk for this turmeric latte. Made with macadamia nuts, this is a creamy, slightly nutty milk that's quite new on the market.

Pros: it is low in calories and gluten-free, contains a little protein and is higher in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Cons: macadamia milk is often mixed with protein powder to add thickness, and usually has added sugars unless you can find an unsweetened variety.

Macadamia trees have the ability to adapt to climate change, and can optimise water as well as use the carbon present in the environment, making them drought-resistant. It's probably one of the more sustainable nuts around.

Try swapping macadamia milk into this gorgeous vegan truffle recipe. If you are concerned about getting enough calcium from a plant-based diet, read this guide to find out more. Try our favourite: Milkadamia Macadamia Nut Milk £3. It is also more watery than other options, but comes in many varieties and can be a great replacement for milk in cereal.

A cup of rice milk contains approximately calories, less than 1 g of protein, and just over 2 g of fat. Other dairy-free milk alternatives include:. While plant-based margarine is commonly available, some people look for natural replacements.

These include:. Replicating the texture of soft cheese is easy. There are many plant-based versions of soft cream cheese on the market, which are usually made using soy or coconut milk. These soft cheeses are just as easy to make at home. Soaking cashews nuts overnight and blending them with a bit of nut milk and lemon juice gives many people the tangy cream cheese flavor they want.

People can blend soft silken tofu with salt and spices to make a dairy-free nacho cheese. Adding chives and fried onions to the mix can turn it into a simple, vegan onion dip.

The salty-sour taste of hard cheese can be difficult to replicate at home, but there are many store-bought cheese alternatives available in health food stores. Crumbling hard tofu and baking it with salt and truffle oil can make an excellent topping for pasta or other dishes that may call for hard cheeses.

Nutritional yeast has a nutty, cheesy flavor and many manufacturers fortify it with essential vitamins. Nutritional yeast is a simple way to add a cheesy flavor to many dishes, including cheesy garlic bread and pasta sauce.

Dairy yogurt is a combination of milk, lactic acid, and bacteria. The process is the same for dairy alternatives.

Many manufacturers of store-bought options use cultured soy, but some use other bases, such as coconut milk. People can also purchase a yogurt-making kit and produce their own dairy-free yogurt. They can reuse the live bacterial culture many times to make new batches. There are countless dairy-free ice creams on the market.

Producers typically make them with nut milks, such as those from coconuts, almonds, or cashews. Dairy-free fruit-based sorbets are also available. A person can also blend frozen bananas, vanilla, and a small amount of plant-based milk to make a simple vanilla ice cream at home.

Dairy milk is a rich source of protein and a very common source of dietary calcium. Many other plant-based foods contain these nutrients, but a person who is making the switch should make sure they are meeting their daily needs.

Most people naturally stop producing lactase, which is the enzyme needed to break down the lactose sugar in milk, once they stop consuming dairy.

Symptoms of lactose intolerance include:. For people who are lactose intolerant or sensitive to dairy products, switching to alternatives can help avoid symptoms and keep their digestive system healthy. Anyone allergic to milk should avoid dairy products altogether. Some people eliminate dairy products to avoid the possibility of contaminants in milk, such as steroids or hormones.

A study noted that even small amounts of hormones and steroids in milk appear to pass on to the person who drinks it and could have unwanted effects on the body. The researchers call for more research on the topic.

A review found that vegans who do not consume any animal products, including dairy, had a significantly reduced incidence of cancer. This may not be directly due to the lack of dairy in their diet, however, as vegans also avoid meat and eggs. It is vital to understand that just because something is plant-based does not automatically mean it is healthful.

People should always check the labels of dairy alternatives to look for any added ingredients or other factors that may alter how healthful the food is.

Aoternatives been independently Heart health information and testing products for over years. If you alternnatives through our Dairy-free alternatives, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process. But how are you supposed to navigate the growing non-dairy aisle? And are these milk alternatives any healthier than cow's milk? They can contain around calories or less depending on the ratio. We include products Dsiry-free think are useful for Nutty Cocktails and Mocktails readers. Heart health information you buy through alternatuves on this page, we may earn a Heart health information altdrnatives. Medical News Today only shows you brands and alternativds that Heart health information stand behind. Many people are moving towards dairy alternatives for a variety of reasons, including better health or to reduce their impact on the planet. One struggle people face when giving up dairy is how to replace everyday dairy products. In this article, we offer a guide to the best dairy substitutes, from alternatives to milk to coffee or cereal to replacing butter in a favorite recipe.