VEGETABLE DRINKS: HOW TO BEST CHOOSE FROM THE SUPERMARKET SHELVES

If you have decided to replace animal milk or have been forced to do so due to lactose intolerance, plant-based beverages are definitely a viable alternative for your breakfasts and recipes. The problem? They can be made from multiple grains or dried fruits, which is why they can put you on the spot when choosing.
Soy, oats, rice, millet, sorghum, kamut, quinoa, spelt, chestnut, hazelnut, walnut, almond, coconut, you name it.
I inquired, researched and decided to share with you a small vademecum for juggling the supermarket aisles like a true professional. Let’s start right away:

1. MAKE SURE THEY ARE WITHOUT ADDED SUGARS
Vegetable beverages are naturally a source of sugars found within the raw materials from which they are made; adding further simple sugars will not benefit your health; in fact, it will further impact your blood sugar.

2. CHECK THAT THEY HAVE A LOW SALT CONTENT
Salt, salt and more salt. It’s everywhere now, so trying to limit your intake of it where possible could help the health of your arteries and your cardiovascular system more generally.

3. LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE LIST OF INGRENDIENTS
You are looking at a plant-based beverage, not a medication bugiardine; that is why you are not looking for a very long list of ingredients, excipients, sweeteners, sweeteners, flavorings, …, but rather usually it is just the opposite, the more components are reduced, the higher the quality of the product.

4. GIVE PREFERENCE TO THE SOURCING OF RAW MATERIAL FROM SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Be very careful, “vegetable” is not always synonymous with sustainable, so check the label carefully, especially if you are choosing this type of product for an ethical and planet-saving issue.

5. AVOID PRODUCTS ENRICHED WITH PRESERVATIVES
For this point, you will be helped by both the expiration date or best-before date listed on the product’s packaging and the indicated storage methods. A good quality vegetable milk, without preservatives, has an average half-life of about 3-4 days once opened.

6. PREFER PRODUCTS FORTIFIED WITH CALCIUM AND VITAMIN B12
This indication is especially for those who have a vegetarian or vegan diet, in which the intake of certain nutrients is limited. So check the ingredients present and remember that calcium addition is often indicated through Lithothamnium Calcareum algae, a natural source of this mineral.

7. CELIACHIA? AVOID GRAIN-BASED DRINKS WITH GLUTEN
Gluten is a protein found in some grains, but fortunately for you, not all. Therefore, even if you have celiac disease you will be able to find the drink that is right for you: choose from soy, rice, millet, oats, quinoa, almond, hazelnut, and coconut. However, remember to check the label and discard products that say “may contain traces of gluten.”

8. NICKEL ALLERGY? AVOID DRIED FRUIT DRINKS
Dried fruits, such as hazelnuts and almonds, tend to accumulate more heavy metals in them. These include nickel, which is often a source of allergies. Therefore, if you are affected, you should direct your choice toward grain-based vegetable drinks.

In short, as you may have guessed, what makes the difference is the composition of the product. If you are just now approaching the “veg” world, you just have to start trying some drinks. Your taste buds will be the ones to choose the best raw material for you, but don’t forget the tips you just read!
Taste, experiment and vary with gusto, we’ll see you in the next article