With the never-ending debate over whether or not adults should consume milk, the question remains: how many adults still drink it? And with the explosion of popular plant-based milks in recent years, are adults changing their drinking habits or opting for traditional milk? According to a new Yahoo News/YouGov survey of 1,746 U.S. adults conducted April 11-15, 52% of respondents say they still drink some form of milk at least occasionally. Still, 31% rarely or never drink any type of milk. Interestingly, whole milk and 2% cow’s milk emerged as the top milk choices, preferred by 32% and 22% of respondents, respectively. On the other end of the spectrum, just 9% of respondents opt for plant-based milk, with 54% preferring almond milk, followed by 24% choosing oat milk.
Yahoo Life asked nutritionists what they think of these results. Here’s what they had to say.
Is it surprising that so many adults drink milk?
While nutritionists say it’s not unexpected that more than half of adults still drink some type of milk, they were surprised that cow’s milk is so much more popular than plant-based milk. Whole milk and 2% milk are the most consumed milks, Patricia Kolesanutritionist and owner of Prato Dietista LLCtold Yahoo Life: “It’s a bit surprising how popular the plant-based milks that adults still drink are that they’re still drinking. [cow’s] milk.” However, she notes that this trend is understandable, given that regular milk remains the more economical, accessible and convenient option in comparison.
What draws the attention of the nutritionist Megan Byrd is that 13% of people say they never drink milk. “For me, drinking milk would involve adding it to coffee and smoothies, so if I were asked this question, I would probably say I drink milk, but I never actually drink glasses of plain milk,” Byrd tells Yahoo Life. She notes that this number could be higher if drinking milk meant consuming it alone.
Are there benefits to drinking regular milk?
Kolesa describes milk as a “nutritional powerhouse,” which may be why more than 65% of respondents indicate they primarily drink a version of cow’s milk. Only one 8oz serving contains 13 essential nutrients, including 8 grams of protein, plus calcium and vitamin D, which are essential nutrients often low in the average American diet.
Moderate amounts of dairy products in general have been shown to support bone healthreduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and contribute to improving to sleep and hydration needs. And despite the common misconception that dairy causes inflammation, it actually contains many ingredients known to have anti-inflammatory properties, such as whey protein, antioxidants, probiotics, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Are all milks, including plant-based milks, the same?
When it comes to cow’s milk, the only difference is “the fat content and therefore the calories”, says nutritionist Heidi McIndoo tells Yahoo Life. A glass of whole milk contains 150 calories and 4.5 grams of saturated fat, while skim or skimmed milk contains just 84 calories and 0 grams of saturated fat. Opting for a low-fat option may be preferable for those trying to reduce saturated fat or total calories.
Dietitian Nicole Ibarra told Yahoo Life that she is pleasantly surprised to see that 32% of respondents prefer whole milk. despite the American Heart Association recommending keeping overall saturated fat intake to no more than 5 to 6 percent of daily calories, some research suggests benefits from consuming full-fat dairy products. One to study shows that, compared to low-fat dairy products, consumption of full-fat dairy products is associated with a lower incidence of hypertension and diabetes, as well as a reduced risk of metabolic syndromea group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
“Like skimmed milk, almond and oat milk are low in calories and saturated fats and can be great alternatives for those looking to follow a more plant-based diet,” says Kolesa. “Nutritionally, almond milk and oat milk can provide the same amount of calcium and vitamin D compared to regular milk when fortified,” she adds.
While plant-based milks can be a great alternative for those who don’t tolerate or don’t like dairy, they cannot be considered equal substitutes due to differences in protein content. “For those who drink plant-based milk, I would recommend soy milk over the others,” says McIndoo. “Its nutritional profile is closer to dairy milk, especially when compared to oat and almond milk, which are very low in protein,” she notes. However, only 12% of respondents said they preferred soy.
Why don’t some people drink milk?
Although milk offers nutritional and health benefits, there are several reasons why some adults do not drink any type of milk. Of the 13% of respondents who do not drink milk, 30% express that they do not like the taste of milk and 19% have allergies or digestive problems, such as lactose intolerance, when consuming milk. Given that as most people age they have more difficulty digesting dairy products, this number seems lower than expected. In fact, about 36% of Americans and 68% of people in the world suffer from lactose intolerance.
As for the taste of regular milk, McIndoo told Yahoo Life, “even though the flavor is very mild, some people may find it unappealing.” She suspects this dislike is related to the consistency, which is generally creamier than other drinks like water, tea or coffee. Additionally, the smell of milk or the fact that it is an animal product may be unpleasant for some. Just like regular milk, taste and consistency can also contribute to an aversion to plant-based milks.
Is drinking milk necessary for good health?
If adults are not getting other sources of calcium (found in foods such as yogurt and kefir) and vitamin D (found in trout, salmon It is fortified orange juice), “it’s definitely a positive thing” if they’re drinking milk, says Byrd. However, she emphasizes that if the individual consumes other sources of vitamin D and calcium, drinking milk is not necessary for good health.
Therefore, although milk is not considered essential to a balanced diet, Ibarra notes that all variations of milk offer valuable nutrients and can be useful for a variety of purposes. For example, “someone who is struggling to gain weight or is an elderly person who is not very hungry may benefit from adding whole milk because it is higher in calories and can help them meet their nutritional needs,” she points out. McIndoo adds: “In addition to the refreshing, pleasurable sensation you can get from a glass of cold milk, it is an excellent source of a variety of essential nutrients.”
Maxine Yeung is a certified nutritionist and health and wellness coach.
