Experts revealed that a popular dairy milk alternative has negative health impacts that many might not be aware of, and warned that drinking it in the morning might not be the best idea.
Melissa Rifkin, a registered dietitian, told Parade: “Oat milk lattes can be part of a healthy diet, but they’re not nutritionally complete on their own.
“While it can provide some fibre, most oat milk lattes are low in protein and fat—two nutrients that help stabilise blood sugar and keep you full.”
Echoing Ms Rifkin, Nour Zibdeh, also a registered dietitian, shared that oat milk, being high in carbohydrates, can cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels if consumed in the morning, which isn’t the case with dairy milk, as it contains protein and fat that balance out its natural sugar content, reports The Independent.
Also speaking to Parade, Ms Zibdeh explained that oat milk “is low in protein and fat and leads to worse spikes in blood sugar”.
French Biochemist and author Jessie Inchauspé, also known as the “Glucose Goddess”, has also spoken about the flaws of oat milk. In a 2024 interview with American entrepreneur Marie Forleo, Ms Inchauspé likened drinking oat milk to drinking “starch juice” as “oat milk comes from oats, and oats are a grain, and grains are starch”.
Therefore, drinking a beverage with a high glucose concentration will lead to “a big glucose spike”.
While this is the case with oat milk, it doesn’t mean that you have to cut it out entirely from your diet. There are still ways to enjoy oat milk whilst keeping in mind what the dietitians have to say.
For those who enjoy an oat milk latte, pairing the drink with protein-rich foods, such as eggs or Greek yoghurt, is a good way to balance out the sugar levels.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
