What Are the Advantages of Coconut Milk Vs. Dairy Milk?

You have options for milk in today's marketplace. Go to your grocery store and you will find several choices ranging from traditional dairy milk, to almond milk, soy milk and coconut milk. There are notable advantages of coconut milk versus cow's milk. For people with dairy allergies or lactose intolerance, coconut milk is a good replacement. It is a unique milk with added health benefits that are not found in dairy. Always consult with your medical professional if you have allergies or other concerns.

Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is not the juice in a fresh coconut, but a white creamy milk made from fresh coconut. Whole ripe coconuts have a layer of white meat inside the hard exterior brown shell. The coconut meat is squeezed to extract the liquid, called coconut cream, which is then mixed with water to produce coconut milk. It has a light coconut flavor that is good to drink or use in cooking. Coconut milk is available unsweetened and sweetened with cane sugar or sugar substitutes. It comes in unsweetened, original, vanilla, chocolate, eggnog and chocolate mint. Coconut milk is used in Asian and Indian cooking, as well as in tropical beverages. It is a good milk to use for smoothies.

Dairy Milk

Dairy cows produce milk for 10 months after they give birth to a calf. They produce approximately eight gallons of milk per day. Some people believe that cow's milk is for calves and not for humans. It is true that the milk of mammals is specific to the needs of their young. There has been controversy over the care of dairy cows, what they are fed, how often they are milked, how healthy they are and whether they have hormones. According to the Harvard University Gazette, hormones in milk are dangerous. Often cows are still being milked when they are pregnant, and the estrogen goes into the milk fat. Excessive estrogen has been linked to certain cancers. Milk is available with differing amounts of fat: skim or non-fat, low fat or 1 percent fat, low fat or 2 percent fat and whole milk. All of them contain lactose, a milk solid that some people cannot digest.

Nutrients Compared

Coconut milk will vary in nutritional content based on the brand and flavor. One cup of unsweetened coconut milk has 50 calories, 5 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 1 gram of protein and 1 gram of carbohydrate. Many are enriched with calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B-12, magnesium, folate, iron, selenium and zinc. Dairy milk with 2 percent fat contains 125 calories per cup, 8.53 grams of protein, 4.7 grams of fat, 20 milligrams of cholesterol and 12.18 grams of carbohydrates. Dairy milk is a good source of calcium, supplying 314 milligrams per cup. Skim milk with no milk fat has approximately 87 calories, which is still more than unsweetened coconut milk. Coconut milk has healthy fatty acids that are not found in dairy milk. Fifty percent of the fatty acids in coconut milk is lauric acid, which turns into monolaurin in your body. Monolaurin has antiviral, antibacterial and antiprotozoal activity against strains of staphylococcus and listeria, according to a study by Dr. Mary G. Enig entitled, "Coconut: In Support of Good Health in the 21st Century."

Storage Advantages

Coconut milk has a storage advantage over dairy milk. It is available in shelf-stable containers and refrigerated cartons that have a longer expiration date than dairy milk. It also freezes better than cow's milk. The shelf life for frozen pasteurized coconut milk is 12 months. Dairy milk must be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 38 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Always use dairy milk before the expiration date, and if it smells bad, don't drink it at all. Cow's milk does not freeze well; the texture and appearance will be altered. Canned milk is not the same as fresh milk, and there is not shelf-stable dairy milk.