What are oat milk benefits and side effects? Is oat milk low fodmap? Gluten free? Acidic or alkaline? Vegan? Good for you? Healthy? Sustainable? Here are oat milk pros and cons: all the info on oat milk that every ethical consumer wants to know…
Food is something we consume every day. If you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on oat milk benefits and side effects.
After learning if oat milk is good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be able to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about oat milk benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Oat Milk Benefits and Side Effects
Health
Oat milk benefits for health may include:
- elevated mood
- less oxidative stress
- bone health
- heart health
- lower blood cholesterol levels
- lower risk of osteoporosis
- healthy hair, nails, and skin
Additionally, oat milk is typically…
- Gluten Free, however, oats can often be cross-contaminated with wheat, buy certified gluten-free to be sure
- Not a common Food Allergen however, oats can often be cross-contaminated with wheat, buy certified gluten-free to be sure
- Low-FODMAP
Environment
Water footprint: likely moderate, it takes 2,416 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of rolled oats / 290 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of rolled oats
Carbon footprint: likely low, 1.0 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of oats, a car driving equivalent of 2.5 miles or 4 kilometers
Destruction: low, oat milk production is relatively sustainable, there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. oats are especially valuable in sustainable crop rotation, help ensure sound cropping and soil conservation practice, an ideal low-input crop, encourages crop diversity to reduce soil erosion and control plant diseases, insects and weeds, reduce the need for herbicides, don’t deplete underground water aquifers, oat by-products can help replace fossil fuels in power generation
Oat milk is….
- Sustainable
Animals
Kills: none, oat milk production does not require any animals to be killed
Harms: none, oat milk production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from oat milk production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Oat milk is…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Oat milk…
- May involve worker exploitation, laborer issues, human rights concerns
Where does most oat milk come from?
The world’s leading producer of oats is Russia, followed by Canada, Poland, Australia, Finland, The United States of America, Brazil, Spain, United Kingdom and Argentina.
Overall oats are planted in more than 70 countries world wide.
Is oat milk nutritious?
Yes! Oat milk is high in fiber, beta-glucans and often enriched with nutrients including calcium, potassium, iron, and vitamins A and D.
Is oat milk gluten free?
Yes, oat milk is typically gluten free but oats can often be cross-contaminated with wheat and therefore, contain gluten. Be sure to check specific brand gluten free labeling if necessary.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
Is oat milk a common food allergen?
No, oat milk is typically not a common food allergen but oats are often cross-contaminated and contain the common food allergen: wheat. Many people experience allergic reactions to wheat contaminated oats.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
Is oat milk low FODMAP?
Yes, oat milk is low FODMAP, a beverage that fits into a low-FODMAP diet.
A low FODMAP diet may help those with bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
It’s all about knowing your body. Observe what works and what doesn’t. You body might even react negatively to a low-FODMAP food simply due to intolerance. Everyone is different! Be mindful and patient. Take time to get to know what’s best for your physical health and overall wellbeing.
Water footprint of oat milk?
Oat milk likely has a relatively moderate water footprint compared to other foods and beverages.
It takes 2,416 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of rolled oats / 290 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of rolled oats.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource?
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of something referred to as a “water footprint”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Carbon footprint of oat milk?
Oat milk likely has a relatively low carbon footprint compared to other foods.
It takes around 1.0 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of oats, a car driving equivalent of 2.5 miles or 4 kilometers.
Food not only has a water footprint but also a carbon footprint, known as CO2e, which stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. Since carbon measurements are a bit more difficult to comprehend, it is common to equate CO2e to the distance which a car drives in miles or kilometers.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Is oat milk sustainable?
Yes, oat milk production is relatively sustainable since there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used. Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
Is oat milk vegan?
Yes, pure oat milk is vegan. Oat milk is made from oats, a cereal grain, and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non Vegan Foods List
Does oat milk have human rights issues?
At this time there are no major concerns with oat milk production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening!
It’s important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may come with specific brands.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Be sure to read up on this list of ‘Foods You Should Always Buy Fair Trade‘
This post was all about oat milk benefits and side effects.
Sources:
The Original Oat Milk – FoodData Central – USDA
