![]() This rule will go into effect in January 2020 for large food manufacturers and January 2021 for smaller companies ( 20). In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is redesigning food labels to explicitly call out the grams of added sugar - making it easier to identify which milks to buy or avoid ( 20). Whether you choose dairy or nondairy milk, you should aim for unsweetened varieties to minimize your intake of added sugar. The lactose in breast and dairy milk is especially beneficial for infants and young children. The natural sugars in milk fuel your body and brain, but some affect your blood sugar more than others. If you’re watching your blood sugar, the best choice may be unsweetened almond milk, as it has little to no sugar. Yet, the glucose and maltose in rice milk have a high GI, meaning that they’re quickly digested and may raise your blood sugar levels significantly ( 19). Lactose, the sugar in cow’s milk, likely less significantly affects blood sugar than other forms of sugar. However, fructose may raise your triglyceride levels and trigger digestive issues like gas and bloating in some individuals ( 18). Lower GI foods raise blood sugar levels more slowly than higher GI ones.įructose, which is found in coconut milk and several nut milks, has a low GI and may be preferable if you’re watching your blood sugar levels or have diabetes ( 18, 19).Ī review of 18 studies in 209 people with diabetes found that when fructose was used to replace other carbs, average blood sugar levels dropped by 0.53% over 3 months ( 18). ![]() Glycemic index and milkīecause all types of milk contain carbs, they can be measured on the glycemic index (GI), a scale of 0–100 that denotes to what extent a food affects blood sugar. Undigested lactose also helps improve your body’s absorption of certain minerals, such as calcium and magnesium ( 17). If not fully digested, lactose functions like prebiotic fiber, which feeds the healthy bacteria in your gut. Galactose is especially important for central nervous system development in infants and young children ( 16, 17). The lactose in dairy and breast milk is broken down into galactose as well as glucose. They’re quickly digested and broken down into glucose, the major source of energy for your body and an essential energy source for your brain ( 16). The simple sugars in all types of milk have several effects on your health. Cow’s milk has slightly less than rice milk. Among the unsweetened nondairy varieties, rice milk has the most sugar and almond milk the least. Milk’s sugar content varies greatly depending on its source and whether it contains added sugar. You might exceed that limit with sweetened milk alone if you drink more than one glass each day. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends limiting added sugar to under 10% of your total daily calorie intake - or about 12.5 teaspoons (50 grams) on a 2,000-calorie diet ( 15). Chocolate milk delivers a whopping 23 grams in just 1 cup (240 ml). In general, sweetened types have far more sugar than unsweetened ones. Cow’s milk is comparable to rice milk at 12 grams. Vanilla almond milk: 15 grams (sugar added)Īmong the unsweetened nondairy varieties, rice milk packs the most sugar - 13 grams - while almond milk contains none at all.Sweetened coconut milk: 6 grams (sugar added).Chocolate soy milk: 19 grams (sugar added).Chocolate cow’s milk (skim): 23 grams (sugar added).Cow’s milk (whole, 2%, and skim): 12 grams.Milk’s sugar content varies significantly depending on the source and how it’s made - as some products have sugar added. ![]() Sweetened versions provide added sugar, too. Most dairy and nondairy milks contain naturally occurring sugars like lactose. However, keep in mind that sweetened versions, including chocolate milk and flavored nondairy milks, harbor added sugar as well. Nondairy milks, including oat, coconut, rice, and soy milk, contain other simple sugars, such as fructose (fruit sugar), galactose, glucose, sucrose, or maltose. ![]() In cow’s milk and human breast milk, the sugar comes primarily from lactose, also known as milk sugar. These natural sugars are the main carbohydrate in milk and give it a lightly sweet taste - even when drunk plain. That’s why some products, such as dairy and nondairy milks, show sugar content on their nutrition panel even if sugar isn’t included as an ingredient. However, some foods contain naturally occurring sugars. They’re also linked to weight gain and metabolic syndrome, a condition that increases your risk of diabetes and heart disease ( 1, 2). Many people try to avoid added sugar - and for good reason.įoods high in added sugar contribute extra calories to your diet without providing any additional nutrients.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |