Hemp Milk vs. Cow's Milk

We're told milk "does a body good" and constantly asked if we've "got milk," but there are those of us that are aware "milk is for babies". Humans are currently the only species on the planet that drink milk into adulthood, and only two out of five adults can properly digest it. Three out of five no longer have the ability to digest lactose - a sugar found in cow's milk, because we lack the enzyme lactase which normally stops being produced by the human body between the ages of 2-5.

Being lactose intolerant is actually normal for adults since we're not really supposed to be drinking milk from animals. Hemp milk is a healthier alternative, made by soaking then grinding hemp seeds in water, and provides nutrition that rivals traditional milk as well as milks from other plant sources.

List of Hemp Milk Benefits vs. Traditional Milk

1. Calcium. Both types of milk contain calcium which is essential for teeth and bone health. Adults need about 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day, and a glass of hemp milk provides about half of this amount. However, unsweetened chocolate or vanilla flavored hemp milk only contain 1/3 of this amount. Cow's milk contains about 305 milligrams per cup, just below 1/3 of the daily amount adults need. Therefore, hemp milk contains more calcium than cow's milk.
2. Phosphorous. Adults need about 700 milligrams a day, with one glass of hemp milk providing between 20-35% of this amount - about the same as traditional milk.
3. B-Vitamins. These eight vitamins (such as riboflavin, thiamin, B6, B12, etc.) assist in converting food into energy, playing an important role in cell metabolism. Adults need 2.4 micrograms of B-12 each day, a cup of any flavor hemp milk supplying 1/4 of this. Traditional milk, however, supplies about half of this amount.
4. Vitamin D. It's recommended adults take around 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day, though some studies suggest a higher number than this (as high as 2,000+) depending on how much sunlight we're exposed to. It helps our bodies absorb calcium, and a glass of hemp milk supplies about 30% of the 600 IU/day suggested. Cow's milk only has about 50 IU's per cup.
5. Magnesium. Depending on age and gender, adults need between 310-400 milligrams of magnesium a day (males needing more) for proper muscle and nerve function. Cow's milk contains around 27 milligrams in a cup, with hemp milk having just a few milligrams more on average.
6. Sugar. Unsweetened hemp milk contains no sugar, though sweetened and flavored versions have added rice syrup to make it sweet (chocolate having about 23 grams of sugar). Sugar means added calories which can lead to weight gain. Cow's milk contains about 13+ grams of sugar per cup.
7. Fat. Hemp milk is low in saturated fats, which can serve as harmful if consumed in high amounts leading to heart disease. Milk from cows contains about the same as hemp milk.

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Additional Facts About Hemp Milk

• Because hemp milk is made from hemp seeds, drinking it will not get you "high" as it doesn't contain the tri-chomes that contain THC.
• Hemp milk is cholesterol-free, soy-free, gluten-free, non-dairy, and has no known allergies linked to it.
• High in hormone-regulating Omega 6 & anti-inflammatory Omega 3 fatty acids
• Hemp milk doesn't need to be refrigerated until after it's opened.
• Dr. Oz chose hemp milk as his favorite alternative to cow's milk.
• Dr. Andrew Weil says hemp milk contains all 10 essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein & muscle tissue).

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