The Difference Between "Whole Plant" and "Plant Based"

The dairy section in grocery stores has been dominated by the plant-based milk industry. Intolerances to dairy, allergies, and adopting a vegan lifestyle were catalysts to non-dairy alternatives. The plant-based milk industry includes milk made from oats, soy, nuts and more! There is something out there for everyone. Although, these alternatives to dairy milks are not created equally. There is a major difference between whole plant milk and plant based milk. 

Why Plant Milk

Many plant-based milks are basically just flavored water. Humans started drinking cow milk because it is a steady source of nutrients able to sustain life. It provides our bodies with vitamins including riboflavin, vitamin E, vitamin A, folate, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. And of course calcium and protein. 

The transition from cow’s milk to non-dairy beverages began due to the rise of allergies to lactose, a sugar found in milk. It is common for human bodies not to have the enzymes to properly digest lactose. In 1980 soy milk hit the market, it was one of the first plant based milks. Although high in protein, it is also a high allergen and most soy in the US is genetically modified. All plant milks are not all created equal. Using a whole plant compared to a plant based product will differ in the nutrients provided. 

Plant-Based Milk 

Almond milk is a great example of a plant-based product. Almonds are first washed and soaked, peeled, blended, filtered, and diluted with water. By the time your almond beverage is packaged it has been extracted of all its vital nutrients, essentially leaving you with almond water. Next time you pick up a carton of almond milk look at the nutrition label. An entire cup of almond milk provides only 1 gram of protein! 

Whole-Plant Milk 

A whole plant milk product, like flax milk made from the ground seed, uses the entire plant! Meaning the whole flaxseed is ground up and mixed with other ingredients leaving you with an ample amount of nutrients. The final product of flax milk is free of cholesterol and lactose, is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and 3 grams of protein! Malibu Mylk is one of the only whole plant milks out there. When creating an alternative, it is extremely important that it has equal, if not more nutrients than the original product. And that is exactly what we ensure with our product. 

Next time you go shopping for a non-dairy milk, read the nutrition label! See how much nutrients your dairy free milk contains and then make your decision. And remember the more nutrients the better for you!