Oat yogurt vs. milk yogurt: which is healthier?
Anna Jones
20/01/23
Reading time: 8 minutes
We in Germany love yogurt: According to a report by Statista, around 72.7 percent of the population enjoys it several times a month. For many of them, this means that yogurt is part of their daily inventory.
Yogurt is often considered a 'superfood' because of its mineral and protein content. In this blog article we will take a closer look at this image: are yogurt and other cow's milk products really that healthy? How do you compare them to plant-based alternatives?
THE 'HEALTHY' THING OF COW YOGHURT
'Milk makes tired people cheer up' - we heard this saying many times as children. Dairy products like yogurt, cheese and milk are often praised for their calcium and protein content: consuming a lot of them gives us strong bones and big muscles, right?
Milk and its products contain a notable amount of calcium: according to the Center for Health, you get 130 milligrams of calcium from 100 g of yogurt. This corresponds to 13% of the recommended daily calcium requirement, which is 1,000 milligrams.
However, it is often overlooked that for strong bones you need much more than calcium alone. Magnesium, zinc, boron and copper e.g. B. are also very important - these minerals are only contained in small amounts in yogurt.
Ideally, you should consume calcium and magnesium in a 2:1 ratio . This promotes the absorption of the two minerals and therefore helps maintain strong bones. In fact, since milk contains these minerals in a comparatively small 10:1 ratio , consuming cow's milk products is not the easiest route to strong bones.
Vegan oat yogurt: benefits
The first, clear advantage of oat yogurt: It is 100% lactose-free. Since around 75% of the world has lactose intolerance , lactose-free products are becoming more common and increasingly popular.
This means that oat yoghurt is of course not the only variant in the lactose-free yoghurt range. Soy yogurt has been available for a long time, and other varieties such as almond, rice and cashew yogurt are now easily found in most supermarkets.
Plant-based yoghurts made from soy or nuts are a good alternative, but they may still not be right for people with intolerances and allergies. Oat yogurt, on the other hand, is soy-free, nut-free and often gluten-free . Whether an oat yogurt is gluten-free depends on the production and packaging of the oat flakes: The grain is naturally gluten-free , but is often consumed before and after harvest together with other grains such as: B. Wheat, rye and spelled are grown and processed.
The oat flakes that we use in our organic Vegurts are 100% gluten-free . That's why everyone can enjoy our Vegurt - it tastes excellent, creamy and fruity.
Compared to milk yogurt, oat yogurt is also rich in fiber . Fiber not only contributes to healthy digestion , but also to a lower risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and colon cancer . Nevertheless, a study showed that a large part of the German population does not consume enough fiber .
Vegan yogurt: ecological benefits
Beyond the health factors, there is a clear difference between cow's milk and oat products in their ecological footprint . Milk alternatives made from oats require much, much less water to produce the same amount of final product. According to an article by BBC Future , one liter of cow's milk requires 628 liters of water, while oat drink only requires 48 liters for the same amount.
It's also worth noting that despite their bad reputation, almond milk alternatives require less water than cow's milk. With 371 liters of water for 1 liter of end product, we cannot claim that almond drink is the most sustainable alternative. However, the very negative condemnation of this milk alternative seems questionable when we compare its significantly lower water consumption with that of cow's milk.
Vegan yogurt: conclusion
Milk alternatives and yogurt alternatives are more popular than ever. Nowadays you can choose from a whole selection of plant-based yogurt. Depending on your individual taste or health needs, you can choose either soy, oat or almond alternatives .
Although dairy yogurt is known to be a good source of calcium, maintaining strong bones goes far beyond simply taking calcium . Minerals such as copper, zinc and especially magnesium should also be part of a healthier diet.
Our vegan oat yogurt is not only gluten-free and has no added soy, lactose and nuts, it is also low in fat , sustainable and rich in protein and fiber . So you start your day with great taste, a balanced diet and a clear conscience. Try out our Vegurt range with 5 delicious varieties and see for yourself.
Anna studied German and Romance languages in England and has been vegan for 8 years. She is a big fan of fresh Köttbullar and enjoys researching news and facts in the area of veganism. If you have any comments or requests, please write to her here: online@greenforce.com
