Health

Understanding Plant-Based Milk Nutrition - A MYOM Comparison

Understanding Plant-Based Milk Nutrition - A MYOM Comparison

The Plant-Based Market

There has been an explosion of plant-based milks onto the market in recent years and they have been gaining a lot of attention, offering consumers a range of options beyond cow’s milk. But with so many choices, how do you know you’re picking the best one for your needs?

We think MYOM wins hands-down on doing the right thing for the planet and sustainability. However, what about nutrition? In this blog, we’ll take a deep-dive into why MYOM is a game-changer in the oat milk market, especially when it comes to nutrition.

Nutritional values of made oat drink:

TYPICAL VALUES PER 100ml RI*
Energy 151kJ/34kCal
Fat 1.4g
-Of which Saturates 0.2g
Carbohydrate 4.7g
-Of which Sugars ** 1.9g
Fibre 0.5g
Protein 0.4g
Salt 0.10g
Calcium 130mg 16%
Vitamin B12 0.90µg 36%
Vitamin D3 0.75µg 15%
Iodine 30µg 20%

 * Reference intake of an average adult (8400kj / 2000 kcal)
** Contains naturally occurring sugars from oats.

Key Nutritional Components In Plant Milk

Calories:

Calories serve as a measure of the energy you gain from a food or a drink. When it comes to milk alternatives, lower calorie options are often sought after for weight management or general health. Although, we think there is more to food and drink than calories (which we’ll also cover); but MYOM in fact has fewer calories compared to the leading oat milk brand. But don’t worry, we haven’t compromised on taste. It is still creamy and delicious. So much so that 80% of regular oat milk consumers rated the taste of MYOM to be very good or excellent and 62% preferred the taste to their current brand in independent tests.


MYOM Original Oat: 141kj/34 kcal vs Oatly Semi-Skimmed (LL UK): 200kj/48kcal per 100ml.

Total Carbohydrates and Sugars: 

Carbohydrates often get a bad rap in diet culture, but they’re actually one of the key macronutrients that provide the body with energy. There is some concern and research about excess carbohydrate consumption contributing to weight gain and blood sugar dysregulation. Type and quantity of carbohydrate is important, MYOM offers a lower carbohydrate content than the leading oat milk brand without sacrificing taste. We also love to use MYOM in delicious, filling, and well-balanced meals – such as fluffy protein pancakes and overnight oats with chia and pumpkin seeds.

“Of which sugars” on our nutrition label is how much of the carbohydrate content comes from sugar. Don’t worry, these are never added sugars and only ever the naturally occurring sugars from the oats. MYOM sets itself apart by containing lower total carbohydrates and naturally occurring sugars compared to the market-leading oat milk brand.

MYOM Original Oat: carbohydrate 4.7g, sugars 1.9g vs Oatly Semi-Skimmed (LL UK): carbohydrate 7.0g, sugars 3.4g per 100ml.

Calcium:

Calcium is the best known of all the minerals and is the most abundant in the body. It is critical for building and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. However, it also has lesser known roles including involvement in cell signalling and muscle function. Although cow’s milk has traditionally been considered a good key source of calcium; plant-milks can often lack this essential mineral. Not MYOM! We’ve fortified our oat blend with calcium, more than matching the amount you would find in the equivalent amount of semi-skimmed cow’s milk and the leading oat milk brand.

MYOM Original Oat: calcium 130mg vs Oatly Semi-Skimmed (LL UK): calcium 120mg per 100ml.

 Iodine:


Did you know that our main source of iodine comes from cow’s milk? And that most milk-alternatives in the market are not fortified with iodine? MYOM stands out by not only being fortified with iodine, but matching the levels found in semi-skimmed cow’s milk and contributing to 20% of your recommended intake. Iodine is an essential micronutrient required to make thyroid hormones, which regulate many bodily processes including growth and metabolism. Research has found that exclusive consumers of alternative milks had significantly lower iodine intakes and were more likely to be iodine deficient. So, you can understand why we chose not to skip this vital mineral.

MYOM Original Oat: iodine 30mg vs Oatly Semi-Skimmed (LL UK): iodine 22.5mg per 100ml.

Vitamin B12:


This vitamin is an especially important consideration for vegans. Vitamin B12 has many roles in the body including nerve function, and the production of DNA and red blood cells. As it’s such a crucial vitamin and deficiency can often be hidden and take many years to manifest, we’ve chosen to match the amount of B12 in MYOM with that you would find in the same quantity of semi-skimmed cow’s milk, which contributes to 32% of your recommended intake, more than the leading oat milk brand.

MYOM Original Oat: B12 0.9mcg vs Oatly Semi-Skimmed (LL UK): B12 0.38mcg per 100ml.

The Importance of Sustainable Nutrition and Environmental Impact

Although we stand out on these nutrition parameters, MYOM isn’t just about offering a nutritional product. We’re completely committed to sustainability. We are more sustainable than dairy by a long way, but also considerably more sustainable than other ready-to-drink plant milks. So not only are you nourishing your body, you’re also being kind to Planet Earth.

Our Conclusion

Choosing the right plant-based milk can have a big impact on the environment and your nutrient intakes. MYOM stands out by offering a product that is lower in calories, carbohydrates, and sugars than the leading ready-to-drink oat milk. Whilst being carefully fortified to provide a source of essential nutrients such as calcium, iodine, vitamin B12 and vitamin D.

NOTE: The content of this blog, such as text, graphics and images (“content”) is a guide for informational purposes only and written to the best of our capability for accuracy and completeness in September 2023. MYOM Ltd assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content.

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