Human infant intestines in the ancestral environment are natively colonized by bifidobacterium infantis, which completely metabolizes oligosaccarides present in human breast milk and outputs highly acidic byproducts. This acid kills most other gut bacteria, allowing B. infantis to consist of 50% of the intenstinal microbiome in healthy infants [1]. Oligosaccarides cannot be metabolized by babies without gut bacteria, but human mothers produce more of them than most other mammals we know of, and the specific oligosaccarides present depend on maternal generics [4]. NICU infants untreated with B. infantis are 5x more likely to fall into sepis as a result of necrotizing enterocolitis[2,3], probably due to increased intestinal permeability to pathogens.
But B. infantis is coevolved for the digestion of human oligosaccarides, and those are specifically genetically coded for in human milk [4]. As a result, "vegan baby formula" or even baby formula without the correct oligosacarides could be a disaster for baby intestinal health, and even cow's milk has a different oligosaccaride profile, and we don't know how adaptable the gut microbes are.
> Soya, oat and almond drinks are only deemed acceptable alternatives if they’re fortified, especially for young children
Adult humans don’t require dairy, most vegan soy and pea milk for children is fortified. Ripple Kids, for example (pea based and fortified).
konfusinomicon · 53m ago
even though there have been many a breakthrough in nut milking technology in recent history, like the ability to tell male almonds from female, and the dual nut milker, which together doubled both output and quality, there are still no vegan drinks that are equivilent to milk
Qem · 2h ago
It appears milk took the crown of villain food that once belonged to eggs, and butter. Curious about what foodstuff will take this crown next once people get tired of maligning milk.
Of these, water does not matter, while lactose and butter fat are at best useless for nutrition and at worst harmful.
Casein and whey protein are the useful components of milk, which you can get separated from the undesirable components as milk protein concentrate (i.e. casein + whey protein) or whey protein concentrate.
Some years ago there where some scary claims that "casein causes cancer", but I have read the original claims and all the studies on which they were based, so I could determine that the claims were bogus, because they were based on invalid inferences from the results of otherwise very important studies, which were unjustly blemished by these sensational claims.
The real conclusions of those studies did not contain any information whatsoever about whether casein is good or bad, and their main correct conclusion was that certain kinds of malnutrition have protective effects against cancer. This is not at all surprising, because malnutrition behaves like a mild form of chemotherapy, i.e. it is much more harmful for cancerous cells than it is for normal cells. Unfortunately malnutrition also has bad health effects, so it is not an acceptable solution for avoiding cancer, but a compromise must be made between the risk of cancer and not eating enough essential nutrients.
If health were the only criterion, it would be better to avoid any milk-based products except milk or whey protein concentrates.
However milk and various dairy products, like cream and butter, are irreplaceable for obtaining the best taste in various dishes. I have experimented a lot with replacing dairy with various vegetable milks. While the results were decent, they were never as good as with real milk-based products. Still, it is better if such tasty dairy-based food is eaten only infrequently.
filleduchaos · 17m ago
The idea that milk alternatives exist because milk is a "villain food" seems rather silly to me. Besides the patently obvious (veganism), lactose intolerance is a well-documented phenomenon and not everyone is interested in lining the pockets of companies like Lactaid.
.. note there's some UK specific aspects of the study:
> Plant-based drinks in the UK that are labelled as ‘organic’ are not allowed to be fortified with any nutrients.
> Most plant-based drinks would be classified as ‘ultra-processed’ according to the NOVA classification.
The findings also conclude:
> Replacing cows’ milk with almond, oat or soya drinks would result in potential benefits and risks from both a nutritional and a toxicological perspective.
.. so hardly a slam dunk.
esperent · 2h ago
> according to the NOVA classification.
I have massive problems with the NOVA classification.
For example, anything traditional gets a pass. Cheese? Traditional, so it's not highly processed, even if made in a factory. Oat milk? New, so it's classified as highly processed , even when there's less actual processing happening (talking about mass produced but real cheese here, not the American stuff).
I do get the idea behind NOVA, it's designed to be simple, to statistically improve the diets of people in Europe, and to accept that they won't stop people eating traditional foods so they should ignore them. Overall, trying to have less NOVA food items in your diet is a good start to healthy eating.
However, there's no nuance. It's (intentionally) simplistic. It falls apart when you focus on individual items like this, and it will get used this way.
Many things classified as highly processed, considered individually, could be fairly healthy. Many things not classified as highly processed, considered individually, could be unhealthy.
Statistically, applied to all foods, it should help steer people towards a healthier diet. But when talking about an individual food, you should have a stronger case than "it's NOVA classified as highly processed" before dismissing it.
kgbcia · 1h ago
Should be rebranded "calcium fortified drinks"
xenospn · 4h ago
Nobody actually needs to drink dairy. I thought that was already well established.
But B. infantis is coevolved for the digestion of human oligosaccarides, and those are specifically genetically coded for in human milk [4]. As a result, "vegan baby formula" or even baby formula without the correct oligosacarides could be a disaster for baby intestinal health, and even cow's milk has a different oligosaccaride profile, and we don't know how adaptable the gut microbes are.
[1] doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-01350-0 [2] doi.org/10.1542/peds.2004-1463 [3] doi.org/10.1038/s41372-019-0443-5 [4] doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45209-y
“We have no more need for the milk of a cow than we do the milk of a dog or a giraffe.”
[1] https://www.doctorklaper.com/dairy-free
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/6/1385
Adult humans don’t require dairy, most vegan soy and pea milk for children is fortified. Ripple Kids, for example (pea based and fortified).
Of these, water does not matter, while lactose and butter fat are at best useless for nutrition and at worst harmful.
Casein and whey protein are the useful components of milk, which you can get separated from the undesirable components as milk protein concentrate (i.e. casein + whey protein) or whey protein concentrate.
Some years ago there where some scary claims that "casein causes cancer", but I have read the original claims and all the studies on which they were based, so I could determine that the claims were bogus, because they were based on invalid inferences from the results of otherwise very important studies, which were unjustly blemished by these sensational claims.
The real conclusions of those studies did not contain any information whatsoever about whether casein is good or bad, and their main correct conclusion was that certain kinds of malnutrition have protective effects against cancer. This is not at all surprising, because malnutrition behaves like a mild form of chemotherapy, i.e. it is much more harmful for cancerous cells than it is for normal cells. Unfortunately malnutrition also has bad health effects, so it is not an acceptable solution for avoiding cancer, but a compromise must be made between the risk of cancer and not eating enough essential nutrients.
If health were the only criterion, it would be better to avoid any milk-based products except milk or whey protein concentrates.
However milk and various dairy products, like cream and butter, are irreplaceable for obtaining the best taste in various dishes. I have experimented a lot with replacing dairy with various vegetable milks. While the results were decent, they were never as good as with real milk-based products. Still, it is better if such tasty dairy-based food is eaten only infrequently.
Paper: [SACN and COT assessment of the health benefits and risks of consuming plant-based drinks: summary](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/plant-based-drink...)
.. note there's some UK specific aspects of the study:
> Plant-based drinks in the UK that are labelled as ‘organic’ are not allowed to be fortified with any nutrients.
> Most plant-based drinks would be classified as ‘ultra-processed’ according to the NOVA classification.
The findings also conclude:
> Replacing cows’ milk with almond, oat or soya drinks would result in potential benefits and risks from both a nutritional and a toxicological perspective.
.. so hardly a slam dunk.
I have massive problems with the NOVA classification.
For example, anything traditional gets a pass. Cheese? Traditional, so it's not highly processed, even if made in a factory. Oat milk? New, so it's classified as highly processed , even when there's less actual processing happening (talking about mass produced but real cheese here, not the American stuff).
I do get the idea behind NOVA, it's designed to be simple, to statistically improve the diets of people in Europe, and to accept that they won't stop people eating traditional foods so they should ignore them. Overall, trying to have less NOVA food items in your diet is a good start to healthy eating.
However, there's no nuance. It's (intentionally) simplistic. It falls apart when you focus on individual items like this, and it will get used this way.
Many things classified as highly processed, considered individually, could be fairly healthy. Many things not classified as highly processed, considered individually, could be unhealthy.
Statistically, applied to all foods, it should help steer people towards a healthier diet. But when talking about an individual food, you should have a stronger case than "it's NOVA classified as highly processed" before dismissing it.
Nobody actually needs to eat beans.