If you pour almond milk over your porridge or opt for oat milk whites, you might want to think again.
Opting for plant-based dairy alternatives could harm your mental health, if new research is to be believed.
The scientists, who tracked more than 350,000 Britons, found that plant-based milk drinkers were more likely to suffer from depression than those who drank semi-skimmed cow’s milk.
Chinese researchers said semi-skimmed milk contains more good fats than skimmed milk, but less bad fats than whole milk.
Previous research has found that “good fats” can increase the production of serotonin, a hormone that can alter mood.
They theorized that this means milk could remain in a sweet spot where it improves mental health.
It also destroys the myth that milk alternatives are always the healthiest option, they argued.
The research comes just months after separate studies linked the drinks to blood glucose spikes, bloating, skin problems and protein deficiency.
Many plant-based drinks, such as almond, oat, or coconut, tend to have less saturated fat than cow’s milk and may seem like the “healthier” option.
In the new study, scientists at Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, southern China, tracked participants’ diets and mental health for more than a decade.
they found Semi-skimmed cow’s milk drinkers were 12 percent less likely to suffer from depression and 10 percent less likely to suffer from anxiety.
Those who consumed plant-based milks, such as soy and almond, were 14 percent more likely to suffer from depression.
Writing in the diary, Frontiers in nutritionThe researchers said: ”Milk is a rich source of nutrients such as lactose, lipids, proteins and minerals, which are essential for maintaining human health.
‘The fatty acid profile of semi-skimmed milk could provide greater brain protection compared to whole milk and skimmed milk, thus potentially reducing the risk of depression and anxiety.
“These findings suggest that semi-skimmed milk may have a protective effect against these mental illnesses, presenting new perspectives for dietary interventions.”
Research has long shown that too much saturated fat in the diet can increase the risk of high cholesterol, stroke and heart disease.
It has also been shown to increase the risk of depression.
Because opting for plant-based products could harm your mental health, if new research is to be believed
However, semi-skimmed milk has a lower level of saturated fat than whole milk.
In the UK, a growing number of people have turned their backs on cow’s milk and opted for plant-based alternatives.
Interest in a plant-based diet has skyrocketed in recent years, with vegans citing ethical, environmental or health reasons for making the switch.
A recent survey suggested that around 600,000 people are now thought to be following a plant-based diet, while another in 2021 claimed almost a third of Britons used alternative milks.
However, research has increasingly suggested that plant-based milk alternatives are not as good for your health as the real thing.
Last month, the Mail on Sunday also reported that the trendy dairy alternative could be behind a growing number of young people diagnosed with high cholesterol.