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Andrew Tobias
Andrew Tobias

Money and Other Subjects

Sorry Almond Milk, It’s Soy By A Mile

January 5, 2025

But first . . .

On the Brink of Anarchy?

By Lucas Kunce:


In the late 1800’s wealth inequality was skyrocketing, workers were organizing for power against an elite profit-maximizing class, and political polarization was at a zenith. As a result, people caught political fever, and it became contentious. Check out how familiar this description of the late 1800’s sounds . . .


We’ve been here before.

Worth reading in full.



And now . . .

I asked ChatGPT to rank milk based on environmental impact.  Instants later:


Sure. From least to most impactful:

  1. Soy Milk: Uses the least water (28 liters per liter of milk) and land (0.7 square meters per liter) and produces relatively low greenhouse gas emissions (0.75 kg CO2e per liter). It also has low eutrophication potential.
  2. Oat Milk: Requires slightly more water (48 liters per liter) and land (0.8 square meters per liter) than soy milk but still has a fairly low environmental footprint. Emissions are around 0.42 kg CO2e per liter.
  3. Almond Milk: Uses a significant amount of water (371 liters per liter), but requires less land (0.5 square meters per liter) and has low greenhouse gas emissions (0.42 kg CO2e per liter).
  4. Skim Milk: Has a high water use (518 liters per liter) and land use (7.1 square meters per liter), and emissions (around 2.00 kg per liter).
  5. Dairy Milk: Has the highest environmental impact across all metrics: it uses the most water (628 liters per liter), land (8.9 square meters per liter), and produces the most greenhouse gas emissions (2.5 kg CO2e per liter)

That’s quite a difference!

Regular milk requires 22 times more water per liter than soy, 12 times more land, and emits triple the CO2 equivalent.

Better still, it may also be healthiest:


From most to least:

  1. Soy Milk: Packed with protein (7-8g per cup) and essential amino acids, soy milk is great for muscle health. It’s also rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are good for brain health and can reduce the risk of heart disease.
  2. Almond Milk: Low in calories and carbs, almond milk is a heart-healthy option due to its healthy fats and high vitamin E content. Avoid the sweetened variants for the best benefits.
  3. Oat Milk: This digestible option is rich in fiber (1-2g per cup) and low in fat. It’s especially good for reducing cholesterol and boosting immunity with its vitamin D and calcium content.
  4. Skim Milk: Despite having less fat, it retains vitamins A and D, calcium, vitamin B2, B12, and phosphorus. Good for muscle and bone health but lacks healthy fats found in plant-based alternatives.
  5. Whole Milk: High in saturated fats which can impact cholesterol levels, but also contains important nutrients like calcium, vitamin D and protein.

If you’re an infant or still growing, it may be a different story.

Otherwise: soy or oat at Starbucks, in smoothies, and on your cornflakes.

 

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Ross Perot, 1988

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