Are plant-based milks good?

"In general, these non-dairy milks have been promoted as healthier, and that's not necessarily the case," says Melissa Majumdar, a spokeswoman for the US Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Cow’s milk is naturally rich in protein, calcium, potassium and B vitamins, and is often fortified with vitamin A (which is naturally present in whole milk) and vitamin D. While many plant-based milks are enriched with many of the nutrients found in cow’s milk, not all are.

A lot also depends oncwhich type of plant milkcyou drink, whether it is fortified, how many added sugars it contains and how it fits into your overall diet. You should not assume, for instance, that plant milks contain the same nutrients as cow’s milk, even if the drink is white and has the same creamy texture. And some of the sweetened versions can contain more added sugar than a doughnut.