In recent times, there has been a shift in people’s preference for food intake. From animal-based meat and dairy products, they have slowly and steadily transitioned towards a more plant-based diet.
It has led to an increase in the consumption of vegan meats like tofu, tempeh, cereals, and pulses, and plant-based milk such as soy, coconut, oats, peas, almonds, and other similar kinds of nuts.
Naturally, the increase in consumption of vegan products has also led to an increase in the use of vegan or plant-based dairy products, including yogurt and yogurt starters.
In this write-up, we will discuss plant-based yogurts and starters. How are they different from traditional yogurts, and how and why are they replacing traditional dairy products?
But, first, let us look at some interesting facts about this real transition in people’s dietary habits.
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In 2019, the worldwide sale of plant-based milk was around US $12 Billion. This is expected to reach US $21 Billion by the end of 2026.
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In the US, the consumption of vegan milk products increased by more than 60 percent. On the other hand, there was a sharp decline in the consumption of cow’s milk by 22%.
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When it comes to non-dairy yogurt, including plant-based starter cultures, the global market is expected to reach approximately US $ 2.5 Billion by 2025.
All these factors point towards a shift in the preferences of consumers. And, there are valid reasons for the transformation. As the population worldwide becomes more aware and conscious of the choices they make about their diet, the transition shows valid results.
Let’s break down and understand a few things about vegan yogurts and starter cultures.
What is a Plant-Based Yogurt and Yogurt Starter Culture?
Yogurt is a food product made from the bacterial fermentation of milk. The bacteria that is introduced to the milk is known as a yogurt starter, yogurt culture, or starter culture. Traditionally, yogurt was produced by fermentation of dairy milk or animal-based milk.
However, when plant-based milk such as milk derived from soy, coconut, almonds, or other nuts, etc., is fermented, they become yogurts too. These yogurts are known as plant-based yogurts. Similarly, the cultivation and culmination of the live bacteria from a plant-based source give rise to dairy-free starter culture or vegan yogurt starter culture.
So, why are non-dairy or vegan yogurt and starter cultures so much in demand?
The answer is simple to understand, yet could be complex to explain. There are a lot of benefits one can derive from consuming yogurt, for example, they are good for gut health and are a rich source of probiotics or microbiota, protein, calcium, and vitamins. However, there are several disadvantages or downsides to consuming dairy-based yogurt.
People who have a cow milk allergy or are lactose intolerant refrain from consuming any kind of dairy product. Lactose is a kind of sugar (glucose) that is found in sufficiently large quantities in animal-based milk and its by-products.
SCD Yogurt
Dairy milk contains relatively higher calories than vegan milk. For people with calorie restrictions, vegan or plant-based SCD yogurt made from vegan starters cultures would be a better option.
The term SCD means Specific Carbohydrate Diet. People with high levels of cholesterol in their blood are at risk of a heart stroke or any other kind of serious cardiovascular disease.
Since dairy milk and dairy yogurts have a high concentration of fat, people generally tend to avoid consuming them. However, plant-based milk and its by-products such as vegan cheese, SCD yogurt, etc., have less cholesterol fat in them. It proves to be a good option for better heart health for the population.
Benefits
Apart from the above differentiations, vegan yogurt also has all the goodness of dairy yogurt. A sufficiently large quantity of live microbiome bacteria or probiotics can be found in vegan yogurt. These are beneficial for the digestive system and are gut-friendly.
Just like their dairy counterparts, vegan yogurt also is a rich source of protein, calcium, vitamins, and essential minerals.
Vegan yogurt is also customizable according to one’s tastes, preferences, and requirements. For example, yogurt made from plant-based milk can have different types of textures, thicknesses, tanginess in taste, etc. They can also be flavored with various fruits, nuts, and natural flavors.
They can be fermented by various methods and by using many fermentation tools and techniques. Further, the varying fermentation process, temperature, and utensils may produce different yogurts.
A non-dairy yogurt starter ferments dairy or animal-based milk and vegan or plant-based milk. Thus, these starter cultures can produce yogurts of both kinds, whether they are vegan or non-vegan.
Wrap Up
There are apparent benefits to consuming dairy-free yogurts. With increasing awareness and becoming more health conscious, people recognize the health benefits of specific carbohydrate diets. It has propelled the consumption of SCD yogurts to a new level. Because your health is vital, it is also crucial that you should pay attention to what you consume.
