Is Plant Based Milk Actually Good ?

The Plant-based diet has been a rapidly rising lifestyle worldwide and is currently seeing a steady rise in Nepal. Riding this wave are a bunch of fantastically convenient products that are completely plant based, while still providing the consumer with necessary vitamins, proteins etc. necessary for a balanced, healthy diet. Multiple options for plant-based milk like soy milk, coconut milk and even almond milk are now lining the shelves of our supermarkets and grocery stores. Foodies promote it and most cafes proudly include it on their menus. These newer lactose free options for milk, are not only healthy (depending on their sugar content), but also usually lower in fat and they taste pretty great! It all sounds perfect and maybe we can stop this article right here…

BUT, (you knew there was a big fat one coming up right? )

Yes, plant-based milk is a not only healthy and yummy but also cruelty free to animals – but it is bad for our planet. The relationship between soya growth and the massive deforestation in the Amazon, has been well documented.

Packed with nutrients and antioxidants, hailed as a superfood, we will be focusing on one product, the Almighty Almond. More than 80% of the world’s almond crop is grown in California, which has been experiencing its worst drought on record. In a report released by The New York Times, they allege that is takes almost 4 liters of water to grow ONE almond!!! Yes, even cow’s milk takes about 100 liters of water to produce 100ml of milk, but it is definitely NOT concentrated in one spot. With growing demands from Asia and in the US itself, Almond farms are the new cash cow (see what we did there :P) hence, farmers are scrambling to get on board.

Farmers have been accused of diverting ground water reserves towards their almond orchards. According to this article by reporter Tom Philpott, the amount of water being carelessly being pumped out of the ground reserves is causing the ground to literally start sinking, severely threatening vital infrastructure like bridges, roads, even leading to earthquakes!

We have been witnessing ridiculous climate change effects right here in Nepal, every other day and witnessing them online – with the feeling of impending doom, no doubt. We need to wake up! We consumers must be a little more conscious of what we buy and how it affects not only our health but the Earth’s too…For we are nothing without our planet. As Captain Planet once rightly pointed out, “The Power is Yours!”