Why is there sugar in dairy milk you ask? Milk sugar – lactose – is naturally present in milk. It is a simple sugar – ie breaks down fast and is quickly absorbed by your body – same as table sugar.

Dairy also always contains saturated ‘bad’ fats and never has any fibre – which is exactly the opposite of what we want from a healthy diet!

Plant-based milks all have a better fat and sugar profile than dairy milk. Protein levels vary but soya milk is pretty close to dairy milk and with better protein at that! Soya protein lowers cholesterol and may reduce the risk of breast cancer. Some cow’s milk proteins such as caseins are hard to digest; in fact they used to make furniture glue out of casein!

The amount of calcium you get from most plant milks is the same as from cow’s milk. Plant milks contain a bunch of good nutrients on top, whilst dairy milk always packs a good dose of hormones and pus.