For gut health, Oat milk and Soy milk are often top contenders due to fiber (oat) or protein/prebiotics (soy) that feed good bacteria, while Pea milk offers high protein and Hemp milk provides omega-3s, but the "best" depends on your tolerance and needs; always check for unsweetened versions with minimal additives. Almond milk is gentle but lower in protein, and fortified options (calcium, B12, D) are generally better for nutrient replacement.
Choosing a lactose-free milk is essential for individuals with lactose intolerance and IBS. Almost all alternative milk choices are lactose-free. Dairy-free milk is ideal for gut health for individuals sensitive to or allergic to cow's milk. These include unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, and hemp milk.
Dr. Gundry recommends unsweetened coconut milk or hemp milk as top plant-based choices, avoiding most nut milks like almond/oat due to lectins; if dairy, he suggests A2 dairy (goat, sheep, or A2 cow milk) from specific breeds, or fermented dairy, emphasizing fermented sheep yogurt, and lists specific brands like Pacific Foods Hemp on his site.
For people with lactose intolerance, choosing lactose-free milk may prevent abdominal pain, diarrhea, and excessive intestinal gas. For people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), lactose or other ingredients may lead to digestive distress, so almond, soy, oat, and other milk alternatives may be easier to digest.
Soy milk is high in protein. Almond milk is a good source of vitamin E and antioxidants. Nut and seed-based milks contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which benefit heart health. Oat milk has more riboflavin (vitamin B2) and vitamin B12 than low-fat cow's milk.
People are quitting oat milk due to concerns about highly processed ingredients like seed oils and emulsifiers, its impact on blood sugar (due to broken-down starches and added sugars), low protein content, potential inflammation, and gut health issues, with some wellness influencers shifting to cow's milk or other alternatives like almond or soy. The trend reflects a growing awareness that while convenient, many commercial oat milks aren't as "natural" or nutritionally complete as initially perceived, leading consumers to seek whole foods or dairy for better protein and fat balance.
While dairy milk can contribute to gut issues, inflammation, and other health concerns, there are plenty of. Coconut milk and hemp milk stand out for supporting a healthy inflammatory response and being nutrient-rich, while almond and hazelnut milk provide delicious, low-carb options.
Rice, hemp, pea, cashew, and almond milk are a few examples of plant-based milk alternatives for IBS. They're naturally free of lactose since they're made from plant sources and are easier on the belly.
Get the Most Bang for Your Gut
They contain less fat. “If you can't have cow's milk, soy milk and rice milk are often the healthiest milk for gut health – especially for people with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation,” Park said.
Here are five foods that promote healthier digestion and help you avoid common gastrointestinal symptoms.
Nuts can be high in anti-nutrients
Anyone familiar with Dr. Steven Gundry's Plant Paradox will know about lectins, and if you follow Dr. Paul Saladino, phytates may ring a bell. Anti-nutrients like phytic acid and lectins can impair gut health and nutrient absorption.
Coconut milk: Coconuts contain the lowest lectins, so a coconut milk made from only coconuts will be nearly lectin-free. Pea protein milk: While peas contain lectins, isolated pea protein used in milks is purified and treated, minimizing active lectin content. Cow's milk: Lectins are not found in cow's milk.
Dr. Gundry recommends unsweetened coconut milk or hemp milk as top plant-based choices, avoiding most nut milks like almond/oat due to lectins; if dairy, he suggests A2 dairy (goat, sheep, or A2 cow milk) from specific breeds, or fermented dairy, emphasizing fermented sheep yogurt, and lists specific brands like Pacific Foods Hemp on his site.
Cashew Milk
If you're looking for a good dairy alternative and almond milk isn't your favorite, this is a fantastic option to try! They do contain oats, just as a FYI if you don't tolerate those well (or you have blood sugar issues, see below on oat milk). Or………
Better for Your Health: Oat milk contains more fiber — a nutrient that regulates your digestive system and blood sugar — than almond milk. Its slightly higher nutritional content may support your overall health more effectively.
Spotlight the Super Six:
When it comes to the plants you eat, you want to eat from across the six different plant groups: vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, legumes (beans and pulses), nuts and seeds, and herbs and spices.
Cardiologists warn against probiotics for heart patients due to risks like infections (endocarditis) in vulnerable individuals, potential negative interactions with heart medications, and the lack of strong human data proving consistent cardiovascular benefits, with some early concerns even showing increased mortality in critically ill patients. While probiotics show promise for gut-heart axis health, they pose risks, especially for immunocompromised patients or those with underlying heart conditions, necessitating doctor supervision.
Signs you might need probiotics include frequent digestive issues (bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation), frequent infections (colds, sore throats), skin problems (acne, eczema), mood changes (anxiety, brain fog), and fatigue, especially after taking antibiotics or when your gut health seems off despite a healthy lifestyle. These symptoms often point to an imbalanced gut microbiome, which probiotics can help restore by introducing beneficial bacteria.
Foods that may make IBS constipation worse
Water and other non-caffeinated drinks, for example herbal teas, are recommended as a beverage for patients with IBS[13,59,60]. In contrast, carbonated water and other carbonated beverages should be avoided by IBS patients, because they may cause symptoms[59,60].
Symptoms
People are moving away from oat milk due to concerns about its high sugar/carb content causing blood sugar spikes, added oils and emulsifiers in processed versions, lower protein/nutritional value compared to dairy, and potential for gut issues like bloating, leading many wellness influencers and consumers to switch to whole foods or other plant milks like almond/soy for different benefits.
Unsweetened soy milk is the closest match nutritionally, plus you get a few grams of healthy fats that you won't get from skim milk. Almond milk — while not unhealthy — is less nutrient dense, especially in terms of its limited protein content.
All dairy foods including milk, cheese, and yogurt, as well as dairy proteins, like whey and casein, were found in several systematic reviews to be anti-inflammatory or to have a neutral effect on inflammation. Learn more about dairy's role in fighting inflammation here.