Why Don't Vegans Drink Milk?

If you’re first venturing into the world of veganism, you might be wondering why vegans don’t eat dairy. You’ve probably heard dairy cows are happy and healthy, and that dairy is good for human health – but unfortunately that couldn’t be further from the truth!

There are three major reasons vegans avoid dairy, and the first has to do with ethics. Dairy production is not cruelty-free. Dairy cows endure terrible conditions, living out their lives in a permanent state of pregnancy and discomfort as they are forced to produce large amounts of milk. They’re separated from their calves at birth, develop frequent infections from the constant milking, and are slaughtered for meat around 5 years old – when the natural lifespan of a cow is 20-25. Even worse, male calves are often sent to slaughter after just a few months for veal production.

The second reason vegans don’t consume dairy is for the environment. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) reports that the world now has approximately 270 million dairy cows. All these cows emit huge amounts of methane, which is a greenhouse gas much more powerful than CO2. It captures the sun’s heat and traps it in our atmosphere, contributing to global warming. 

Cows produce tonnes of manure too, which is far from harmless. Mismanaged slurry gets into the water supply and can damage essential ecosystems downstream. On top of that, cattle farming is a leading cause of Amazon deforestation, as huge spans of forest are burned and cut down to make way for soya fields to feed cows.

Finally, dairy is not a health food! Many people think we need dairy to be healthy, but that makes little sense – after all, cows’ milk is made for calves, and we don’t drink the milk of any other animal. Nutrition science has known for years that high dairy consumption increases exposure to saturated fat and hormones, responsible for the development of heart disease and some cancers. People can get all of the calcium that they require from daily servings of green and yellow vegetables, as well as fortified dairy alternatives. 

What Dairy Alternatives Can I Have Instead?

Dairy isn't kind to animals, the planet or our bodies. It's something that we need to avoid if we are ever to make the transition to sustainable nutrition! But what if you love dairy? How are you supposed to eliminate it after eating it for so long?

What's wonderful about the modern world is the ingenuity of the people in it! Today, we have more vegan, dairy-free alternatives than ever before. And what's more, they taste great: most times even better than the original. Take vegan milk, for instance. You can now buy vegan milk made from almonds, soya, rice, coconut and even oats from brands like Rebel Kitchen, Oatly and Alpro. 

Vegan cheese has exploded recently – with tonnes of new and innovative brands coming out with all different forms and flavours of dairy-free cheese. You can get cheese made from soya, nuts and coconut that mimics your favourite traditional cheeses. For instance, you can get vegan halloumi, cheddar, garlic and herb soft cheese, and even parmesan. And vegan cheese comes in blocks, slices, shreds, spreads and more!

Vegan yoghurts and puddings and becoming more and more mainstream. Popular oat-based dairy alternative company Oatly makes a type of creamy oat "fraiche" that's just like creme fraiche. Alpro makes a range of delicious, fruit flavoured soya yoghurts and successful brands like Freaks of Nature and CoYo, make delectable, yoghurt-based desserts. 

If you haven't tried vegan chocolate yet, then prepare to be amazed. Companies like Vego, iChoc and Moo Free offer vegan chocolate with the sweetness, flavours and creaminess of traditional chocolate. What's more, innovative suppliers like Booja-Booja, Goupie and Cocoa Libre make gourmet chocolates, truffles and even vegan advent calendars, perfect for special occasions!

If you're going vegan, don’t worry! Giving up dairy doesn’t mean giving up the foods that you love. With vegan milks, cheeses, yoghurts and chocolate, you really can have your vegan cake and eat it too!