How Does Milk Impact The Growth Of Plants?

Milk can be beneficial for plants, but overuse can lead to issues like black rot and soft rot. It is important to approach using milk for plants with caution, as it can cause issues like wilting and death. Milk contains essential nutrients such as calcium, potassium, and iron, which can improve nutrient absorption and promote plant growth. Applying a diluted mix of milk and water on the plants’ foliage or around their roots can also promote plant health and encourage growth.

Milk has numerous benefits for plants, including improving soil fertility, structure, and water retention for optimal plant growth. It acts as a natural pest repellent, reducing the need for chemical interventions. Calcium in milk strengthens plant cell walls and promotes overall plant growth. However, milk is not a panacea for growing plants, as overuse can result in destroyed plants due to bacteria in the beverage that can stunt growth and cause wilt.

Milk can serve as both a fertiliser and activator in garden beds, supporting plants to grow healthy and strong. The rich calcium content in milk helps plants grow and prevents rotting, which is common during humid seasons. Diluting milk with water and using it as a fertilizer may provide plants with an additional source of nutrients, encouraging plant growth. If no fertilizer or manure has been applied, milk can be used to supply the primary nitrogen requirement of the crop as a pre-plant fertilizer.

However, never use milk undiluted on plants, as this can stunt their growth, cause them to wilt, and even die. Too much milk can also cause black rot, making it crucial to use milk with caution.


📹 Which type of milk is best for you? – Jonathan J. O’Sullivan & Grace E. Cunningham

Dive into the most popular milks— dairy, almond, soy and oat— to find out which is healthiest for you and for the planet. — If you go …


Can we use spoiled milk for plants?

To promote greener and healthier foliage, mix spoiled milk with water in a 1:1 ratio and spray it on your plant’s leaves. This eco-friendly method minimizes food waste and over-fertilization. Reuse expired milk as a natural fertilizer to enhance plant growth, improve soil health, and reduce food waste. This is especially important in a country where thousands die of hunger each year. Practical kitchen hacks can help combat food wastage and promote a more responsible approach to consumption. By repurposing expired milk, you can reduce waste and nourish nature.

Do plants grow faster with milk?

The use of milk as a fertilizer for domestic plants has been demonstrated to enhance the nutritional value of the soil by providing small amounts of nitrogen and calcium, which can be diluted with water.

What happens if you put milk in plants?

Milk is a beneficial plant food due to its rich calcium content, essential proteins, and vitamin B. It helps plants grow and prevents rotting, which is common during humid seasons. To use milk on plants, mix milk and water, transfer the mixture to a spray bottle, and spray the mixture on the leaves. After 30 minutes, check if all the milk is absorbed. Wipe off excess milk with a wet cloth to prevent fungal reactions. It is advised to avoid using excess milk to prevent bacteria from exploiting growth or causing the plant to fade.

Is breastmilk good for plants?

Breast milk can be used as a fertilizer for plants and vegetables, as it contains proteins that make soil nitrogen-rich and calcium that boosts soil nutrient levels. To make fertilizer, follow a 1:1:4 ratio of coffee grounds to breast milk and water. Mix 1 tablespoon of coffee grounds with 1 tablespoon of milk and 4 tablespoons of water for each 1 tablespoon of coffee grounds. This method can be beneficial for those with a green thumb and can be used on crops. If you have any concerns about abnormal skin conditions, consult your medical provider for advice and more information.

Is milk good for rose plants?

Milk is effective in keeping powdery mildew and black spot at bay, according to horticultural professor Jeff Gillman. He recommends creating a mixture of water and milk and spraying it on leaves once a week. The calcium in milk helps fortify the leaves’ natural defenses against fungus. If slugs are eating roses, set out a bowl of beer overnight and let them drown themselves. A frosty brew is a great reward after a hard day in the garden.

What to do with expired milk?

Spoiled milk can be used in various recipes, including baked goods, soups, stews, salad dressings, cheesemaking, tenderizing meat or fish, and even in face masks or baths. It can be substituted for regular milk, buttermilk, yogurt, or sour cream in recipes like biscuits, pancakes, scones, and cornbread. Soups and stews can be thickened and richened with a splash of spoiled milk. Salad dressings can be made with spoiled milk, and cottage or farmer’s cheese can be made. Spoiled milk can also be used to soften skin in certain cosmetic applications. However, it may be necessary to mix it with fragrant ingredients if the smell is overbearing.

What can I do with my leftover breast milk?

New moms often dream of opening up a freezer filled with breastmilk bags, but they often don’t think about what to do with the extra breast milk. Extra breast milk can be used in various ways, such as drawing a milk bath, making soap and lotion, turning it into jewelry, donating or selling it, making breast milk popsicles, and making baby food. This extra breast milk can be used for various purposes, such as making baby food, donating it, or selling it. It’s important to consider the potential uses and benefits of using this liquid gold.

What would happen if you have a plant milk?

Plant-based milk offers numerous health and environmental benefits, according to UCLA Health senior dietitian Dana Ellis Hunnes. While cow’s milk is a small part of a person’s diet, plant-based milk and a plant-forward diet provide numerous benefits. There are various flavors and types of plant-based milks available, and it is possible to find one that works for you. Alternative milks can be categorized based on their plant base, making it an accessible and healthy option for those looking to improve their health and the environment.

Is tea with milk good for plants?

Tea with milk or sugar in the garden can be harmful to plants, as it can cause wilting and mold growth. Over-fertilizing plants is not beneficial, so daily tea use may not be beneficial. Instead, consider adding tea leaves to compost as an ingredient. Used tea leaves boost nitrogen levels, help break down other substances, and encourage decomposing bacteria. They can be added as loose leaves or paper bags, assuming they don’t have staples or string attached. Acid-loving pot plants can also benefit from using tea leaves, but it should be added to compost as part of a balanced mix. A full list of plants that like tea leaves can be found below.

Is fresh milk good for the plants?

Milk is a rich source of calcium, which is beneficial for both human consumption and plant consumption. It serves as a fertiliser and activator in garden beds, supporting plant growth and health. Milk can also be used as a new purpose for bin milk, as it contains calcium and several B vitamins that can be absorbed and used by plants. Calcium is a crucial nutrient for plants, as it supports the absorption of other vitamins and minerals, promoting growth and preventing blossom end rot caused by calcium deficiency.

Is milk good to put on plant leaves?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Is milk good to put on plant leaves?

Milk is beneficial for plants due to its high calcium and B vitamins content, which promote growth and prevent blossom end rot. It also has antifungal properties and is considered a natural pesticide for many plant varieties. However, it’s important to be frugal when using milk, as overwatering can lead to wilted or stunted plants. Whole milk is recommended over skim milk, as skim can cause black or soft rot depending on the type of plant being watered.


📹 Milk. White Poison or Healthy Drink?

Over the last decade milk has become a bit controversial. Some people say it’s a necessary and nutritious food, vital for healthy …


How Does Milk Impact The Growth Of Plants?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

58 comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Plant-based milk can be pretty expensive depending on where you live, but I’ve found that oat milk (and lots of other plant-based milks) are very easy to make at home. You can save quite a bit of money over time, by making it yourself. Another added bonus is that you avoid any unwanted additives. The only downside really is that you miss out on some added nutrients, however, you can find them in many vitamin supplements! I would definitely recommend trying it out!

  • When they mentioned the environmental footprint of soy production, they didn’t mention this- “More than three-quarters (77%) of global soy is fed to livestock for meat and dairy production. Most of the rest is used for biofuels, industry or vegetable oils. Just 7% of soy is used directly for human food products such as tofu, soy milk, edamame beans, and tempeh.” -Our World in Data

  • I think this kind of thing should be taught in a new subject in schools. If we actually teach this kind of thing, the next generation will have an even bigger understanding of what their impact as an individual and as a society really is. If we do this, a lot of the industries we currently have would pretty much dissapear in the next 20-50 years.

  • Our household switched from dairy to oatmilk a few months ago and we don’t miss dairy milk. If you’ve tried soymilk and not been a fan of the flavour I strongly recommend oatmilk. It’s as creamy as dairy and has a mild, subtly sweet flavour. I like it so much I drink it straight but we find it works well in everything from coffee, to cooking, and of course cereal. Unsurprisingly it makes amazing oatmeal!

  • I left this for my self, feel free to see. Summary Soy and Oat Milk Pros : Beta-glucans, Good amount of carbohydrate, Emission friendly, Less land, less greenhouse gases, the same, lactose friendly, protein as dairy milk, less water, less maintenance cost, good fats. Cons : Deforestation Almond Milk Pros : Healthy, nutritious enough, rich taste, low emission, good fats. Cons : Deforestation, water overuse, long time, high maintenance cost, nut allergic, least nutritious. Dairy Milk Pros : Most protein, good calcium, rich carbohydrate, best D vitamin, easy access. Cons : High maintenance, most emission, most land use, large deforestation, most water, Lactose Intorant for some, unethical, need to be fed.

  • I know a lot of people dont care about our planet anymore but im so grateful that there are articles like these to help educate people who do want to save our planet. People should also watch how cows are being used to produce their milk, some cow farms are in horrible conditions where cows are confined side by side and never get to see the outside world. I hope after perusal this article people can switch from cows milk to soy/oat milk ☺️

  • Oat milk is hands-down my favorite. From experience: – I’m lactose intolerant so no OG milk. – Soy milk gave me gas, lots of it. – Almond milk irritated my stomach for some reason. Might be the carrageenan, but hard to find one without it around here. – Hemp milk wasn’t too bad. It was a bit too rich for my preference though, and a bit too specialized/expensive. – Rice milk was the easiest to down by far, but a little on the expensive side. – Coconut milk: If you can get past the flavor, it’s honestly not a bad alternative imho. I couldn’t get past the flavor.

  • O A T all the way 🙌🏼 Tastes and feels good to drink and my conscience is clear knowing it takes up the least resources, doing the least harm to the planet and has the dietary nutrients I want most – at least when I compare the products sold where I live. The more of us buying it will drive the price down and let’s do away with ciwmilk occupying the most space on the milk shelves!! I first tried oatmilk in Oslo 3 years ago. So glad my cousin reminded me about it when I returned to the states 💞

  • Dairy milk: basic you know what it tastes like Soy milk: usually pretty sweet, tastes good in drinks (coffee, smoothies, etc.) Do not recommend for your cereal… Almond milk: can be a bit watery, pretty bland Oat milk: tastes pretty close to dairy milk, not watery or overly sweet, has thicker texture. My personal favorite

  • Thanks for noting the health and environmental benefits of plant milk. From a health perspective, cow’s milk also decreases testosterone and raises estrogen levels and increases the risk of prostate cancer and diabetes. You mentioned that plant milks are fortified, but cow’s milk is also fortified with vitamin D in Canada and the US, so all milks are fortified. It’s clear that from a health, environmental and moral / ethical perspective, plant milk is the preferred choice. For a more in depth look into how cow’s milk is produced, this is a good documentary: MILKED: White Lies In Dairy Land

  • Environmental impacts and exploitation of animals in creating dairy milk motivated my transition to plant-based options. For cow milk, one strategy to increase output is to keep the female cow in a continuous cycle of pregnancy through artificial insemination so milk is being produced. Additionally, they are separated from their offspring shortly after birth, which are destined for the same fate or shipped to be slaughtered for their meat. A lot of non-human animal suffering is made invisible to us because we benefit from it, but we can rise from our own ignorance.

  • I have recently gone back to dairy milk after four years. My decision is based on many factors including accepting I ditched dairy milk because the media told me it was bad. I grew up on milk so I really don’t even understand why I fell for it. Nothing wrong with cow milk people. It also helps in the synthesising other nutrients

  • I love oat milk so lots of reason, mostly because I’m allergic to soy, tree nuts and casein (cows milk protein) so … whoever invented it is incredible!!! I love that it’s become trendy and I notice my health feeling better now that I’m not constantly consuming something that I’m allergic to :’D also, better for the planet is a great plus!!

  • I loved milk as a kid… however I became lactose intolerant 😭 I recently tried almond milk and surprisingly it tasted pretty good! I was always hesitant to try new milk because I was afraid I’d waste product if I ended up not liking the taste. Thankfully I did! Now I have a milk alternative if I really need it. Although I tend to avoid any type of milk altogether and just drink water or juice

  • what he says about the hormones in cows milk is in such small amounts; he is actually meaning very small amounts because when I was a toddler I lived on milk (started from living on the farm with FRESH UNTAMPERED MILK) then moved to city and kept drinking heaps if bottled milk from shop, Huge difference; the hormones Did affect me negatively. And it’s not only the hormones.

  • I’ve made rice “milk”, almond “milk” and oat “milk” at home frequently, it’s super easy though time-consuming. Since then, the idea of paying good money for what is ultimately at least 90% water is anathema to me. I just don’t drink milk very often, and get my good proteins and vitamins elsewhere. Make a point of eating almonds daily. Try to eat oatmeal often.

  • I grew up on cows milk and milk products. As I got older I noticed that I was having digestive issues (acid reflux, and flem) after eating anything made with milk. I switched to almond milk at least 10 years ago (mother was also having issues with the milk products). I have recently switched to oak milk and am finding I prefer it to the other. I am now in the process of learning to make it myself instead of buying it, less expensive that way also. With all of the non dairy productions on the market now days it is very easy to enjoy some of the things I love, like cheese, sour cream and ice cream. So glad I figured out it was the milk that was causing my issues.

  • Great info. But also important to note – every brand is different so if it’s health concerns you’re dealing with then the ingredients, other than the main one, are the worry. The brand of oat milk Costco carries has just oats and filtered water, for example. Other brands have oils and other ingredients added. Just my 2 cents 😋😁🖤.

  • It is crazy. Two days ago I first tried a oatmilk i my cappucino. And I liked it. No stinky mouth, no dry mouth after drinking. So i bought it for at home and I have to say it is really good. I never drank milk because it is not necessary for the bodys supplementation. You can get all of the nutrients in another way.

  • I would love to see your calculations on how it takes a square kilometer to produca a glass of milk. Where I live, a cow grazes on 0.05 square kilometers and produces 20 litres of milk per day. Thats 0.000625 square kilometers per glass of milk if you leave other factors (which should be smaller than the grazing area) out.

  • I’m lactose intolerant and allergic to soy, but seeing how much water is used for almond farms (and they are often grown in California where it doesn’t rain that much), I think oat milk seems the best. Not hard to farm and doesn’t take a lot of water or impact deforestation much. The small changes that could make a big difference for the health of us and our planet. I still think cows milk tastes the best though.

  • While an informative article, I think this applies to only developed nations which mass produce plant based milk. In India, daily milk is still the cheapest and socially conscious milk as cows are well treated, being considered as holy animals. Soy milk is 2-3 times the price of dairy milk while almond and oat milk are unheard of. Nevertheless, I love Ted-Eds and continue perusal them at leisure ❤️

  • to be clear about the cows, when they say that the cows eat oats its not false, but its miss leading, 95% of the cows diet is the parts of oats and soy and other crops that humans can’t digest, so yeah even though the cows eat more “oats” than it takes to make a glass of oat milk, they are actually eating the stalk and the shell or the plants that humans can’t eat anyway (not accusing ted ed of lying but it is a misleading but “true” piece of info used by groups like peta a lot to spread anti cow propaganda and when a source like ted sees it and uses it, it can spread like a wild fire)

  • Consuming dairy from cows has always made me feel icky in some way, whether it’d bloating or stomach cramps/ churning. Sucks that it’s normal though, so nothing can really be done about it other than a diet change. Almond milk was my first, quickly switched with soy and then finally switched to oat, when I had to stop consuming soy products. I like oat milk more, don’t know how to explain it, but it’s just satisfying to have some in my tea or bran

  • Look out for emulsifiers. I used almond milk for years but recently switched to soy and oat milk. But even there, read the labels. I only found one very expensive oat milk that doesn’t add concentrated oats or sugar to sweeten it. To me, those are sickeningly sweet. And with soy too, look out for additives or stripping the bean of fiber. I found two brands that were simply organic soybeans and water but one has 4 grams of fiber and one has zero. I’m going with the one with fiber retained in the milk.

  • At 3-minute mark: “It takes almost 4 square kilometers to produce just one glass of cow’s milk.” I can’t think of any way that could be correct. References to water use are misleading, as well, it is discounts rain, ponds, and naturally replenished wells. Cows urinate in fields, and water enters the ground as part of a cycle. I’m not necessarily advocating milk over the alternatives. I’m just saying these comparisons seem odd.

  • Where are my soy boys at? Until oat milk comes down in price it’s just not an economical option for me. As someone with low income soy milk is the best option for me bc it’s cheap and high in protein. Sometimes I can’t meet my required caloric intake for the day so soy milk is also great for helping me get as close as possible

  • If anyone wants to know what the best store bought almond milk is in my opinion, it would be blue diamonds almond breeze. I get the vanilla one that’s sweetened but what I found is they seem to use slightly less almonds in their recipe then the silk brand does and you don’t taste as much almond in it. I can’t even tell much of a difference between normal milk and their vanilla almond milk and the same with their chocolate milk. It’s great. It has more ingredients then less popular brands but that’s because it has added nutrients!! Calcium and vitamins!

  • This is an interesting case and a great overview of different milks. But I feel like it misses something. Yes, dairy or cows in particular contribute more greenhouse emissions or take more resources compared to plants, but they also have the most variety of gifts to offer after harvest. If plants are grown for milk than that is the only product (I can be corrected here I am not 100% on that) however cows when given the resources talked about in this article produce milk, food, clothes and other by-products used daily; they are versatile and produce so much more than milk. The problem comes in when there is overconsumption and this leads to the unhealthy stewardship of resources in all areas. Its a cool article!

  • I’d like it very much if you’d include other types of plant-based milks. I can’t drink dairy as I’m pretty close to 100% intolerant. I’ve been drinking coconut milk for a few years now, but now I’ve been diagnosed with moderate atherosclerosis, and coconut milk is high in saturated and mono-unsaturated fats. There’s also flaxseed and other types out there. Should I go back to soy, which has a nice flavor whether Asian or Western recipe, move to oat, which is more expensive despite being a subsidized crop, use flaxseed, which doesn’t taste good, or…?

  • Disappointed that it didn’t mention cost as a factor. Dairy milk is cheaper than the alternatives much of the time, and if you make the alternatives at home they will not have the fortification to make them comparable nutritionally. Thus dairy remains the milk of the poor. This was basically just the Kurzgesagt article with a different coat of paint.

  • I’ve always preferred plant based milk or dairy even as a kid! For some reason, i thought my morning cereal tasted better with almond milk, than regular milk! But now im older, also lactose intolerant, almond milk is all we buy! sometimes my mom gets the occasional oat milk. Well she once bought this oat latte, it was sooo good, so creamy!

  • I only drink soy milk and love it. I choose only one without sugar added. That way soy milk contains only 0,5g of sugar and 3g of protein in 100ml AND almost half less calories, because cows milk contains 60kcal per 100ml and my soy milk has 33kcal per 100ml. I don’t like oat milk, because it contains less protein and more carbs. As for almond milk… I never liked the taste of it. On plant-based diet it’s really important to have as much protein as you can get.

  • I heard a doctor on YouTube say that cow’s milk has pus and blood in it, will they make it out they don’t get it out enough I think there’s something wrong with cows milk for me and I am kind of lactose intolerant I’ve never been able to enjoy cow’s milk. My favorite milk is soy milk! I tried all those milks but I came back to soy milk. And soy milk also has phytoestrogen which I think helps women in the long run that are low on estrogen as we get older

  • Number one is dairy milk Second is soy milk For last 50 years and even more my family is feeding cows and buffaloes. Right now we have two three cows and two buffaloes. For their for we have an acre and half of land, for years we just used not more than two acres of land to feed them. They drink 60 to 100 litres of water per day and in washing them we carefully use as little as possible water between 25 to 45 litters. And space they live is about 100 square metres. We also did soy crop farming for two years and if I see the amount per litre of milk I could get from dairy and soy, soy milk cost more. Dairy milk required less space as compared to soy milk as total milk I got sayin a month or year. Water requirements was less for soy milk.

  • Something’s off with the “square kilometers per glass of milk” numbers. The units don’t make sense. Producing a glass of milk doesn’t use up land. So that would have to include a time unit. Something like “1 km² can produce n glasses of milk per year” or equivalently “x km² years per glass of milk”. But what could that time unit be? 4 km² is enough land for quite a few cows to graze on, and each cow gives several liters of milk per day. So that’s many glasses of milk per day and even per hour. Could it be per minute? The numbers look somewhat plausible (I’m not a farmer), but who calculates stuff in “square kilometer minutes”?

  • 3:01 – “It takes almost 4 square kilometers to produce one glass of cow’s milk”. So we can only produce about 40 million glasses of milk a year if we cover the entire Earth’s surface in dairy farms? Mmm I don’t think so.. They must mean something else – I just wish they’d be more clear about what they mean by land use and water use etc. in these kinds of articles

  • As someone who studied nutrition I can say, one thing that he conveniently glosses over is the fact that true milk has about 99% of what we need as humans of micronutrients like vitamins and minerals, and plant based is far from it, yes the manufacturer can add some, but it’s a very long list, and even if they do, they add only a fraction of it

  • i’ve been drinking almond milk for a lot of years now since i’m allergic and intolerant to dairy. I know oat milk is a little bit better for the planet than almond and I also love the taste of it more. the problem is that oat milk is not really available in almost if not any store on the city I live 🙁

  • Great article, only thing missing / omitted is the amount of Honey Bees 🐝 that are killed in the process of making Almond milk. Almond trees have to be pollinated and the areas in which that species of bee works, means other types of wild bees get forced out and have no pollen and die. Oat milk is by far the best choice for the planet and for mankind 🌍

  • Problem with plant based milks: A lot of the times manufacturers follow specific recipes for their products. As such, if, for example, you moved to another city and couldn’t find the milk you’ve grown accustomed to you have to go through the lengthy process of finding another milk you like. A lot of the times they add flavorings (like vanilla, ew) and either you like them or have to try again and again in search for one you like

  • I’ve tried all of those milks (as well as coconut milk) and the oat milk was by far the worst tasting. Even the almond and soy kinda taste weird without vanilla/chocolate flavoring or being sweetened and I feel like having to do that lowers their nutritional value overall. And plant milks tend to be pricey compared to regular milk

  • I loooove dairy milk. I’m one of those people that will crave a cold glass of milk. However! I’m loving oat milk! It’s delicious (vanilla sweetened) and I reach for it more often since dairy causes me bloating and breakouts. Plus, I don’t want cows out of a job but I’m all about the environment lol great article

  • I live on a dairy farm where our 360 dairy cows produce approximately 8500 litres of milk a day They are fed a blend of maize and grass and a few different bye products from human food. I’ve worked out that that equates to about 2.4 acres of land to grow that food which is 0.0096 square kilometres. So that works out to be 34,000 250ml glasses of milk to 0.0096 square kilometres but you claimed it takes 4 square kilometres to make one single glass of milk. I think you must of made a mistake

  • Whilst certainly beyond the scope of this short article, I’d have loved some of the other plant-based alternatives to have been thrown into the mix for comparison. For example, pea milk is an interesting player, as I think it is even higher in protein than soy, and I believe grown across the EU. Hemp milk? Tastes awful IMO, but potentially very low carbon footprint if you’re in the UK / EU…how does that stack up overall? I’d also be interested in coconut vs hazelnut vs rice, and whether the carbon footprint of buying them in countries where they’re grown locally outweighs the carbon footprint + environmental impact of importing other milks from overseas. May sound obvious, but perhaps some of them use looooads of water like almonds, or the alternatives are transported using efficient shipping. I’m a sucker for this level of nitty-gritty detail!

  • There’s something not right about this. Any other people grow up on a small farm that had a dairy cow or two? We had less than 3 acres with two milk cows. Our neighbor had about 20 milking goats on the same amount of land space, but I digress… how then were we getting enough milk for us, our neighbors, and other animals on such a smaller lot of land than you said is needed to produce 1 glass of milk? Besides having a fence up, we never disturbed the trees or vegetation that was on the property except for when it rained heavily, then the well used sections would show signs of wear, until fried up and then most things recovered. And at the end of life cycle, one of these cows provided enough meat for our family of four to last us almost the entire year, and also gave us tons of bone broth. I think there was a big misrepresentation on dairy milk, and I would also like to see goat milk vs cow milk in regards to space, production, and water use.

  • The majority of soybean farms that caused deforestation are actually soybeans for animal feed not for human consumption. The existing soybean farms is more than enough to feed all population but not enough to feed all cows. it is also notnmentioned that soybeans is a legumes which has a nitrogen fixation ability that makes soil healthy and productive.

  • Remember, kids: cows, like humans, only produce milk to feed their young. In order to get milk, dairy farmers must artificially inseminate the cow. When she gives birth, they take her baby away, usually within 24 hours. The separation is traumatic for the mother and the calf. Male calves are slaughtered, as they are of no use to the dairy industry. Female calves are subjected to the same fate as their mothers. Dairy cows succumb to exhaustion after 4-5 years and can no longer produce milk, so they are slaughtered for low-grade meat. Yet, a cow’s natural lifespan is 18-22 years. They don’t have to do that to almonds, soybeans, and oats.

  • I recently tried soy milk for the first time. My first reaction was, “Why is the dairy industry a thing?” Soy milk is so fantastic, it is milk, not a substitute or imitation. I am never consuming dairy milk again. Dairy so wasteful. And the cruelty administered to the animals who provide the fluids. Would very much like to see dairy a thing of the past. (A surprising number of people are opposed to this notion, irrationally preferring dairy milk and won’t even try a plan-based alternative)

  • What do you mean “it takes almost four square kilometers to make one glass of cows milk”, thats literally impossible considering the total land area on earth is only about 130,000,000 square kilometers, that would mean if all land were converted to cows milk it would only produce around 32 million glasses of milk

  • The thing is, dairy milk is produced for humans, while milk is produced for the mother cow’s calf. There’s also so much suffering involved: the cows are artificially inseminated to produce the milk, and when the baby is born, it is taken away to be either turned into meat or into a milk-producing cow.

  • I don’t care which one uses less water, what i care about is how it tastes and that goes for the super majority of people. Silk branded Almond milk does a great job mimicking the flavor of dairy while soy takes a bit more to make it drinkable for the masses. Oat milk has a strong taste and it is an acquired taste, so it’s adoption will take much longer. As for Soy milk, I have noticed Bolthouse branded Thai-Chai milk is very enjoyable! Now I know this is just my opinion on them, but most folks are going to want their milk to taste as close to what they inherently know to be good to them.

  • I suffer from recurent bouts of IBS. I find that Oat Milk is better because Dairy has lactose and fats which can exacerbate a flareup, while Almond and many other plant-based milks have a lot of added sugar. Oat milk is good because of its fiber content and low sugar level. Sugary foods are really bad for IBS because it can lead to bloating and other unpleasant side effects.

  • Mentioned deforestation due to soya farming, please note 80% of what is grown is used in animal feed and not consumed by humans. Also there are now soya farms in Europe, so soya farming is spreading out. This is the milk I choose to drink and have done for nearly 5 years, this has everything I need in it whether naturally or fortified to keep me healthy. Less suffering of animals involved which is the most important aspect and also healthier for the planet.

  • I think that the dairy milk is good option because the other plant based milks need to be processed and then they are further sold in markets on the other hand dairy milk doesn’t need to be much further processed as it comes straight from the machine named cow. this accounts to more resource and infrastructure needed to start plant based milk factory and dairy milk can be sold even without factory. If we talk about emission dairy milk produces emission but it is still less than what cars and other industrial sectors are contributing.

  • Comparing milks only on macros and some nutrients is very superficial to establish which is best. When you compare dairy and soy milk you must compare the quality and variety of the proteins and not only their volumes, that’s why b12 is added but it’s not the only type of protein plant based milks are lacking of

  • i don’t digest really well milk with lactose so I am probably intolerant to that. I consume soya milk everyday for proteins and everything in my shake, just worried about other effects on estrogens and thyroid hormones. trying to find the right one although other plant based milks have less proteins and i would like to avoid to add powder proteins in my milkshake

  • Until I saw this article, I thought the dairy people trying to stop the plant based substitute marketers from calling their products “milk” was kind of silly. Now I completely get it. I should cut back on milk, but as good as some of the substitutes taste, they are hard on my system. Don’t be so enamored with them you overlook your body telling you it doesn’t like them. Soy can mess you up if your body us intolerant. Oat is about the only one I can do anymore, but even then, I have to cut back on other carbs.