Many of us would be lost without our morning coffee. And luckily, research shows that drinking coffee can even pack in health benefits, including weight loss. However, when you add the wrong ingredients to your cup of joe, you could ultimately end up harming your health instead of helping in it. Many of the most popular coffee add-ins are filled with sugar and other harmful additives that could put you at risk of weight gain, inflammation, and more. So, what are you meant to do if you don’t like black coffee? The key is to choose a milk that’s as healthy as possible.
Unfortunately, if your go-to milk is flavored and sweetened, it’s like a poor choice for your health. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of healthy alternatives! To discover one of the best options, we spoke to Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN. She told us that soy milk—fortified soy milk, in particular—makes one of the healthiest choices possible to add to your coffee. Find all of her expert insight regarding the benefits of this milk below.
Fortified soy milk benefits
Although almond and oat milk may have trumped this option in popularity over the past few years, Costa says that soy milk is her "top recommendation when it comes to the healthiest milk for your coffee." According to her, "it has numerous health benefits that make it stand out from other types of milk," in addition, of course, to its "smooth and creamy texture."
But what, exactly, makes this milk so healthy? For starters, Costa notes that the soybeans it's made from "are an excellent source of plant-based protein," making this milk "a great choice for those looking to increase their protein intake or switch to a more plant-based diet." It packs in 7 grams of protein per serving. This makes it the highest-protein option when compared to other plant-based milks. In fact, she says, "fortified soy milk is the only plant-based milk recognized by the USDA as a nutritional alternative to cow's milk."
But it's not just protein that soy milk offers up; Costa tells us it also contains beneficial fatty acids that can do wonders for your heart health. "It's also often fortified with vitamins and minerals, including calcium and vitamin D, which are crucial for bone health," she points out. "Thus, when considering a balance of protein, beneficial fats, and essential nutrients, fortified soy milk is a superior choice for your coffee."
And if you've heard that soy products could stimulate hormone-dependent cancers, don't fret. Costa assures us that this is a misconception. "The truth is that numerous studies have verified the safety and significant health benefits of these products, even suggesting that isoflavones may protect against certain common cancers like breast and prostate cancer."
Additionally, she suggests, "Choosing unsweetened soy milk can help you avoid added sugars, supporting your weight loss goals and promoting better health." Going the unsweetened route is a major key, regardless of what type of milk you choose, as consuming too much sugar can lead to serious health risks, including weight gain.
At the end of the day, most experts agree that the healthiest way to take your coffee is black (or with some healthy spices sprinkled in). However, when you want to add a bit of creaminess to your cup, Costa says soy milk is likely the healthiest way to go.
