Plant-based milk continues to gain popularity worldwide. In recent years in particular, high-protein plant milk has attracted markedly greater interest, reflecting a consumer trend towards adequate protein intake, care for muscle mass, and food choices that better serve health.

A report from Innova Market Insights notes that almost 60% of food and beverage consumers worldwide place importance on getting enough protein each day. Milk-type beverages were also the product group most often purchased on the basis of a protein claim over the past year — a sign that “protein” is becoming one of the key factors influencing what today’s consumers choose to eat and drink.

Protein and its key role in health and muscle mass

Protein is a nutrient with an essential role in building and repairing tissue, supporting immune function, and forming many enzymes and hormones. It also increases satiety, which may help with weight control and the preservation of muscle mass — particularly in older adults at risk of age-related loss of muscle mass (Sarcopenia). The guideline of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) recommends that healthy older adults obtain approximately 1.0–1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, to help maintain physical performance and reduce loss of muscle mass.

Different plant milks carry different nutrients

Each type of plant milk has a different nutritional value. Products made from soybean or from pea provide approximately 8–10 grams of protein per serving, making them a suitable option for those wishing to increase protein intake from plant sources, whereas products made from almond, rice or coconut generally contain relatively little protein naturally.

That said, individual plant milk products differ in their raw materials, formulation and nutrient fortification, which affects the amount of protein, vitamins and minerals they contain. Reading the nutrition label is therefore an important step before deciding what to buy.

How should you choose a high-protein plant milk?

Choosing a product should not rest on the amount of protein alone; the quality of the protein and the overall nutritional value should be considered alongside it. High-quality protein should contain all nine essential amino acids and be well digested and absorbed by the body. Protein quality can be assessed from the essential amino acid composition and the digestibility of the protein — for example the Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) and the Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score (DIAAS). Soy protein is recognised as one of the higher-quality plant proteins, as it contains the full set of essential amino acids and its protein digestibility is high compared with many other plant proteins.

Although high-protein plant milk is a convenient way to add protein to daily life, the quality of the overall dietary pattern still matters. Eating a variety of minimally processed plant foods — dried beans, tofu, tempeh, wholegrains and a range of seeds — helps ensure an adequate intake of essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

On the occasion of World Plant Milk Day, high-protein plant milk reflects the progress of food innovation in responding to the needs of today’s consumers — in nutrition, in sustainability, and in widening the range of choices available. The heart of good health, however, remains a balanced and varied plant-based diet, together with reading the nutrition label and choosing products suited to your own needs, so that the nutritional benefit is realised in full over the long term.

#WorldPlantMilkDay  #PlantMilk  #MilkAlternatives

By BDMS Wellness Clinic

References

• Innova Market Insights. Innova’s Top Ten Trends 2026: Shaping the Future of Food & Beverage [Internet]. Innova Market Insights; 2025 Oct 13 [cited 2026 Jun 22]. Available from: https://www.innovamarketinsights.com/press-releases/innovas-top-ten-trends-2026-shaping-the-future-of-food-beverage/
• Volkert D, Beck AM, Cederholm T, Cruz-Jentoft A, Goisser S, Hooper L, et al. ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical nutrition and hydration in geriatrics. Clin Nutr. 2022;41(4):958-89.
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Dietary Protein Quality Evaluation in Human Nutrition: Report of an FAO Expert Consultation. FAO Food and Nutrition Paper No. 92. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 2013.
• Karoui R, Bouaicha I. A review on nutritional quality of animal and plant-based milk alternatives: a focus on protein. Front Nutr. 2024 Jul 5;11:1378556.

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