Ranking milk

Anica Graney, Editor-in-chief

As someone who was raised drinking a glass of milk with every meal, I find myself qualified to rank the top three types of milks on the market. And before anyone comes at me with their hardened milk opinions, let me be the first to say that I’m chill with whichever type of milk you choose to quench your thirst with (as long as it’s not soy milk).

Oat milk
The milk that everyone who knows what’s up drinks: oat milk. At first sip, it may be off-putting to some who are too used to cow’s milk, but it is by far the most superior.

Oat milk has a nice, creamy flavor that pairs excellent with cereals, smoothies, coffees, and hot chocolates. The nutritional value is high as it is a great source of vitamins, carbohydrates, protein, and fiber. Oat milk also does not contain any common allergens, although people with gluten sensitivities need to be careful with what brand of oat milk they get before consuming.
Oat milk is also the most sustainable milk on the market. It is environmentally friendly and easy to produce even on your own.

Cow’s milk
Got milk? I’m sure everyone remembers the advertisement campaign made to brainwash the American public into thinking cow’s milk was liquid gold. I sure do. Posters of kids with milk mustaches and the infamous slogan covered the school cafeteria; subliminally implanting the idea to drink milk with whatever slop was being handed out that day by the lunch ladies.

As soon as we humans were weaned off our own mother’s milk supply (or formula supplement, no judgement), we have been forced to guzzle down cow’s milk like our bones would break into splinters without it. Now, don’t get me wrong by this beratement of cow’s milk, I’m still a big fan of it, as it was what I was raised on living in the dairy state.

Looking at the more negative side of drinking cow’s milk, it is notorious for giving people a funny tummy. Lactose intolerance is a real epidemic yet so many recipes and restaurants still heavily rely on lactose-filled dairy products. Not only that, but cow’s milk has been linked to causing hormonal acne, cancers, and even bone fractures if consumed in excess.

Cow’s milk isn’t all that bad though. For one, it’s the only type of milk I would willingly drink a glass of and pair with the beloved Oreo cookie. Cow’s milk also has more nutritional value compared to most other types of milks on the market.

Almond milk
Almost as famous as cow’s milk these days, almond milk is one of the most common substitutes for cow’s milk. However, despite popularity, I think it falls flat in ranking at the top of my list.
The taste is nuttier and denser than cow’s milk and can come in a variety of flavors. In fact, I’d much rather sip on some chocolate almond milk than the vanilla or unsweetened versions of the drink.
The nutritional value is much lower than other kinds of milk. It’s great for low-carb diets, but often has added sugar if not the unsweetened kind. People allergic to tree nuts also must avoid this type of milk.
While there are so many more types of milk on the market that I haven’t covered, namely hemp milk, soy milk, coconut milk, rice milk, and cashew milk, the three on my list are the most popular and deserving of being ranked. If you have been a loyalist to the dairy state your entire life and have only drank cow’s milk, go ahead and give oat or almond milk a try. You might be surprised at how much you like it.