If you prefer your coffee creamy and sweet, milk may be part of your daily ritual. Milk contains proteins, calcium and other micro nutrients which can enhance your daily cup. Plus, its less bitter than traditional black coffee makes it far more acceptable. Milk-flavored espresso drinks such as lattes or cappuccinos have even become popular! But is adding milk really beneficial for our health?

Coffee is an excellent source of polyphenol, an anti-oxidant and natural anti-inflammatory. Drinking more polyphenol-rich coffee may reduce oxidative stress on the body while fighting many chronic health issues – from cardiovascular disease to obesity and more. If you add excessive sugar, however, these polyphenols could become bound up with dairy proteins in milk which would inhibit their absorption into the system and subsequently decrease absorption significantly.

Researchers conducted an experiment published in ACS Food Science and Technology that looked into interactions between milk proteins and caffeine molecules in water and coffee drinks, such as lattes. When mixed, their structures of milk proteins remain undamaged allowing it to still provide its characteristic mouthfeel and flavor – showing that adding milk into coffee doesn’t actually negate its benefits!

Coffee with milk is also an ideal solution to alleviate acidity and discomfort associated with drinking too much black coffee, while also lowering its temperature and thus protecting from thermal burns that might otherwise result from drinking excessive amounts.

But is milk necessary when there are non-dairy alternatives readily available? From almond to hemp milks, there are countless alternatives that provide essential nutrition while still providing creamy taste and sweetness in their coffee beverages. These plant-based milks make an excellent option for anyone avoiding cow’s milk but seeking to keep their coffee creamy and sweet!

But, can non-dairy options offer the same flavor and creaminess that we associate with milk? Unfortunately not; plant-based options don’t contain the same chemical composition to deliver that signature coffee taste. But keep in mind that moderation is key; so if milk-containing beverages bring you joy then go ahead and indulge – just make sure that everything else in your diet remains balanced.