Oat Milk Vs Soy Milk: Which Is The Better Plant-Based Milk?

The last few years have seen an eco and health-conscious revolution take over the food and beverage industry, as the demand for non-dairy milk and other plant-based alternatives is booming [1]. People have become widely informed about the benefits of these cruelty-free products for their diet, especially so when it comes to milk. It has certainly opened up a wide array of options for those suffering from lactose intolerance too.

Now there is no lack of options when it comes to these products: supermarkets and everywhere else are flooded with different types of plant-based milks. So now the new question that has arisen is, which plant-based milk is better? And the dilemma is often oat milk vs soy milk. We’re here to help you make your choice by laying down all the facts!

What is Soy Milk?

Soy Milk originates from grinding and filtering soya beans which gives a smooth liquid. It is also known as soya milk and is an emulsion of protein, water, and oil.

Drinking soy milk is appealing due to its mild, nutty flavor and creamy consistency, making it a popular choice for health-conscious individuals who may be lactose intolerant or have dairy allergies.

What is Oat Milk?

Oat milk is created from a blend of oats and water and is the product after straining out the solids.

Many people choose oat milk due to its higher fiber content and health benefits.

Oat Milk vs Soy Milk: Taste and Texture Comparison

This is a huge factor that helps in deciding what to switch to when it comes to milk that suits your flavor palette. Soy milk taste, with its mildly nutty flavor and creamy feel, closely resembles traditional dairy milk, making it a popular choice for those seeking a similar texture and taste.

Oat Milk

Oat milk fans are those who like a neutral, naturally sweet flavor. It can also have a slight oatmeal taste to it and is available in flavors like vanilla, chocolate, sweetened, unsweetened, etc.

The sweetness isn’t dominating and is quite subtle, and this is infused with a creamy liquid that can feel quite close to dairy milk and is neither too thick nor too watery. So if you still crave the consistency of dairy milk, you might like to go for this choice. Oat milk’s creamy texture and mild sweetness make it a favorable alternative to traditional dairy milk.

Soy Milk

Soy Milk has a mild nutty or bean-like flavor to it and people who favor that are drawn to this type of milk. It is more evident in the unflavored variation but it can also be masked or complemented through the other flavored options. It can be quite creamy and thicker compared to oat milk and can be a delicious addition to your diet.

Soy Milk vs Oat Milk: Nutritional profiles

For those switching to plant-based alternatives for embarking on a healthier lifestyle, this information is important to take note of:

• Carbohydrates: Oat Milk has a higher carbohydrate content to it, which gives a natural sweetness. However, it can affect blood sugar levels, especially for individuals with type 2 diabetes [2].
• Calories: Due to its high carbohydrate content, oat milk is also higher in calories.
• Protein: Soy milk wins this one as it has more protein content than oat milk.
• Fats: Oat milk generally contains more fat than dairy milk but offers a healthier fat profile with lower saturated fat and higher unsaturated fat levels, which are recommended for cardiovascular health.
• Fiber: Oat milk contains more fiber than Soy milk, which contributes to healthy bowel movement

Vitamins and Minerals:

Both these drinks also have a high percentage of vitamins and minerals present and it varies across the drinks:

• Soy milk in comparison to oat milk has a higher amount of vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin B6, and niacin.
• Soy milk also includes antioxidant advantages with isoflavones that are capable of decreasing the risk of cancer and alleviating menopausal symptoms like hot flashes [3].
• Oat milk and soy milk are pretty equal when it comes to vitamin E, zinc, and riboflavin.
• The oat milk options available to consume are fortified, which means that they have a higher calcium content. Fortified oat milk has a higher calcium content compared to cow’s milk.

It is important to note that these nutritional values will vary depending on the different brands of milk one might get, whether it is unsweetened soy milk or vanilla oat milk. So kindly keep this in mind and check out the reference chart above to have a clear idea of the nutritional differences of oat milk vs soy milk.

Oat Milk vs Soy Milk: Health benefits

Oat Milk:

This milk includes a type of soluble fiber called beta glucans which play a role in reducing cholesterol levels. It is also low in saturated fats which overall makes it ideal for heart health.

Fortified oat milk has calcium and vitamin D content which positively impacts bone health.

A healthy gut and bowel movement can result from the high content of soluble fiber in oat milk. The fiber in oat milk also helps stabilize blood sugar levels.

For those who suffer a soy allergy, oat milk is a easy and safe option for a plant-based alternative

Soy Milk

One of soy milk’s biggest advantage is its protein content, which is almost the same as cow’s milk. This can especially be preferred by those looking to build muscle.

The isoflavone compounds in soy milk play an important role in controlling cholesterol levels which contributes towards heart health. These compounds also help in relieving certain menopause symptoms like hot flash.

Soy milk also contains vitamin D and calcium and is beneficial to bone strength. Drinking soy milk is particularly advantageous for those who are lactose intolerant or have dairy allergies, as it offers a mild, nutty flavor and creamy consistency.

It is lower in saturated fats, making soy milk an attractive option if your goal is weight loss management.

Oat Milk vs Soy Milk: Usage in Cooking

Oak Milk’s Fame in Coffee Shops

Oat milk is often preferred over soy milk for beverages like coffee because the latter curdles in the drinks. This is because of the composition of protein and fat and how it reacts to the acidity in coffee, and oat milk has a lesser percentage of protein. Its natural sweet taste and creaminess goes well with the taste of coffee too.

Baristas often choose oat milk for its creamy texture and natural sweetness.

Soy Milk’s Versatility in Savory Dishes

Soy milk has a relatively neutral taste that makes it easy to adapt to most things when combined without overpowering the primary tastes of a dish. It is often used as a plant-based substitute for soups, sauces, and gravies and is useful for vegan or vegetarian recipes.

Oat Milk vs Soy Milk: Impact on the Environment

A lot of those who go down this route of switching to plant-based alternatives are because of being environmentally conscious and advocating for cruelty-free methods. So many would want to know if their preferred plank-based milk also hails from green origins. Both oat milk and soy milk offer significant environmental benefits, making them popular choices among eco-conscious consumers.

When it comes to oat milk, it is based on the farming and cultivate of a sustainable and low maintain crop that doesn’t require much resources to survive. This makes it a pretty great choice for eco-lovers who would like to not contribute more to the carbon footprint and support sustainable efforts.

Now soy milk comes from extracting soya beans and this process is efficient in managing land and water use in comparison to animal/diary milk. However, its environmental impact is not too positive either and is somewhere in the middle when compared to other plant based milks. It’s production is ecologically better than almond milk, but is not as sustainable as oat milk. This is because it claimed that majority of the soy crop is cultivating for the consumption of farm animals.

Rice milk is another sustainable plant-based alternative, offering environmental benefits similar to oat milk. A glass of this for breakfast is a good start to the day.

Conclusion

We hope that this comprehensive article has provided you with the info you need to make the choice in the oat milk vs soy milk battle. They both have their own pros and cons and are healthy alternatives, you just have to choose based on your needs and preferences. There are also other plant-based milk alternatives like coconut milk and macadamia milk that can be explored! The growing popularity and importance of non-dairy milk alternatives in modern diets cannot be overstated.

A healthy diet and the right exercises enhance quality of life. If you would like to know more about how you can lead an active and fit lifestyle, check out the JustFit app!