Is It True That Vegetable Milk Can Increase The Risk Of Depression?

Vegetable milk illustration (Freepic)

Milk is an important part of the human diet consumed by more than 6 billion people worldwide. Milk contains various important nutrients such as lactose, lipids, proteins, and minerals, which play a major role in maintaining the health of the body.

However, a new study found that plant-based milk consumption, such as soybean milk, oats, and almonds, could increase the risk of depression, while semi-skim cow milk has benefits that have the potential to protect mental health.

This study was conducted by involving 357,568 participants from the Biobank UK database. The participants who had no history of depression or anxiety at the beginning of the study were monitored for 13.5 years. During that period, more than 13,000 participants were diagnosed with depression, and a similar number were diagnosed with anxiety.

Research results show that pure milk consumption can reduce the risk of anxiety by 16 percent. In addition, semi-skim milk is found to be able to reduce the risk of depression by 12 percent and anxiety by 10 percent. However, skim milk does not show a significant impact on the risk of depression or anxiety.

Furthermore, semi-skim milk has greater benefits, with a 17 percent reduction in the risk of depression and anxiety by up to 29 percent.

The researchers say this benefit may come from higher content of unsaturated fatty acids compared to skim milk, which provides protection to the brain. This content has the potential to reduce the risk of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.

In contrast, plant-based milk alternatives are associated with an increased risk of depression by 14 percent. This is likely due to the amplification and additives that are often found in plant-based milk, making it part of ultra-processed foods. Previous research also showed that recurrence could disrupt gut microbiomes, trigger inflammation, and increase the risk of health problems, including colon cancer.

These findings show the importance of choosing the type of milk consumed, especially in relation to mental health. Semi-skim milk can be a better choice to support mental balance, while plant-based milk needs to be considered carefully, especially if it contains additional ingredients.