Potato milk benefits: How this unusual, dairy-free milk could lower your cholesterol

This Morning: Vanessa Feltz slams idea of milk in tea first

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Potatoes aren’t just for eating, did you know that you can drink potatoes in the form of milk? Waitrose has announced that from February 2022 it will be stocking the Swedish product, Dug – a new potato milk. The manufacturers, Veg of Lund, state that potato milk is deliciously creamy and works just like any other milk, and it foams perfectly when making coffee. This milk is also said to have a number of health benefits, including reduced cholesterol if you choose it over cow’s milk. Express.co.uk chatted to Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy to find out why you may choose to drink potato milk.

Potato milk might not sound appealing, but it could be a big trend starting next year.

This carby milk is said to be smooth, with a slightly buttery taste, and has a thick, creamy consistency.

The exact recipe for potato milk remains a secret, but the cloudy liquid is made by boiling potatoes, mixing them with rapeseed oil, and adding natural flavouring and vitamins.

It forms an emulsion that is said not to separate in any drinks.

Potato milk is not only interesting (and apparently delicious), it has a number of health benefits.

Plant milk is the only option for vegans and those who have a cow’s milk allergy or lactose intolerance.

Full-fat dairy milk is high in saturated fat (3.7g per 100ml, and 2.4g of saturated fat), which is linked to raised cholesterol levels.

Potato milk, on the other hand, has 3.0g of fat per 100ml – and only 0.2g of that is saturated fat.

Dr Lee explained: “Potato milk has a similar three percent fat content to dairy milk, although most of this is unsaturated, healthy fat.”

Drinking potato milk instead of cow’s milk could help you to keep your weight in a healthy range, as unsweetened potato milk has 39 calories per 100 ml compared to 68 calories per 100ml for cow’s milk.

Eating lots of saturated fat and being overweight can raise your cholesterol and increase your risk of heart disease, so making the swap from cow’s milk to potato milk every single day could really help.

You’re not missing out on most of the goodness by switching to potato milk, either.

Dr Lee pointed out: “Potato milk has a similar calcium content to cow’s milk.

“It also contains calcium carbonate which is generally well absorbed.”

Dug unsweetened potato milk contains the following: Water, Potato (6 percent), Maltodextrin, Pea Protein, Chicory (Vegetable) Fibre, Rapeseed Oil, Fructose, Sucrose, Acidity Regulator (Di-and Mono-Sodium Phosphate), Calcium Carbonate, Emulsifier (Sunflower Lecithin), Natural Flavour, Vitamins (D, Riboflavin, B12, Folic Acid).

Potatoes are also a good source of iron, vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium, so you’re getting a boost of these ingredients if you drink potato milk regularly.

However, it is important to note that potato milk is low in protein, salt, and fibre and does not contain iodine.

Dr Lee said: “Dairy products are an important source of iodine, which is essential for the production of the hormone thyroxine.”

Thyroxine is important for the functioning of heart, muscle and digestive function, as well as brain development and maintenance of bones.

The doctor added: “Most other plant milk also does not contain iodine – with a few exceptions, such as Alpro Soya Milk, and Oatly oat milk.

“Iodine is also found in yoghurt and cheese, and fish such as cod, haddock and scampi, and eggs contain smaller amounts of iodine.”

Choosing potato and other plant milk instead of cow’s milk is not only good for your body, it’s the climate-conscious way to shop.

Dr Lee explained: “Dairy milk has a far higher carbon footprint than all the currently available plant milk.”

Potato milk is the most sustainable plant milk of them all, according to the doctor.

She said: “Growing potatoes is said to be twice as efficient as growing oats and producing potato milk has the lowest carbon footprint of all – at 0.27kg CO2 per litre.”

The most important thing to take into consideration is that you need to make sure you eating a varied, balanced diet in general.

Dr Lee said: “If you have any chronic health conditions, especially those that affect the gut, always check with a dietician before you switch over completely to plant milk, including potato milk.

“Milk is a staple part of the UK diet, and cow’s milk remains highly nutritious with many health benefits.

“However, at least 25 percent of us are now regularly drinking plant milk, and this has been firmly on an upward trend.

“You can add it to tea and coffee, drink it cold, or add it to cocktails.

“You can also cook with it, for example, it can be added to pancakes or cereal, or used to make a sauce.”

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