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Costa milk alternative changes

Andydragon

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Retired Moderator
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3,323
Location
Gloucester
Type of diabetes
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Diet only
Hi all,

If anyone uses Costa and the milk alternatives they have changed supplier from alpro to Adez (as both Costa and Adez owned by Coca Cola which was news to me)

but this has meant the nutritional information has changed. I used to like a large Almond Latte which whilst higher carbs for some, was okay for me. But the Adez Almond is much higher in carbs (and calories)

from my records, the large latte is now 22.5g carb rather than 13.9g and 163 calories rather than 119

Soya milk is better (7.4g carb / 126 calorie) [It might be better than previous alpro actually]

just a reminder I guess that we have to keep a careful eye on these things!

nutrition for 2022 here: https://www.costa.co.uk/docs/store-allergen-guide.pdf

I can’t find the 2021 version unfortunately
 
I always get a coconut cappuccino at Costa and luckily the coconut milk carb value remains the same. However it’s not so coconutty :(
I asked yesterday if it’s a permanent move and they confirmed it was :mad:
 
I always get a coconut cappuccino at Costa and luckily the coconut milk carb value remains the same. However it’s not so coconutty :(
I asked yesterday if it’s a permanent move and they confirmed it was :mad:
I’ve avoided coconut and oat in general as the carbs are just so much higher but found almond was the most palatable to me

the almond one is a lot more nutty flavour, I don’t dislike it but and I’m hardly perfect when it comes to carbs but it is quite an increase. The soya was actually okay taste wise so maybe it’s for the better as it seems a lot healthier in that respect
 
Just checked a take out flat white with coconut milk is 16.5g carbs, won’t be having any more of them
 
Just checked a take out flat white with coconut milk is 16.5g carbs, won’t be having any more of them
Yeah, you have to be really careful, the alternatives often have nearly as many carbs as just having milk or on reading, coconut milk is more carbs than skimmed milk…

it’s because they don’t use unsweetened alternatives unfortunately :arghh:

There are major differences between the alternatives, it seems soya is now the lowest Costa do at 4.9g carbs in a flat white small. It’s still not low though. I know there are lower carb alternatives but they don’t do them

plus different coffee shops use different so you have to check out the nutrition at each and hope they don’t change the milks.

(the soya says 0 sugar, I guess they argue that’s healthiest even though sugar or carbs it’s all the same to us)
 
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I’ve avoided coconut and oat in general as the carbs are just so much higher but found almond was the most palatable to me

the almond one is a lot more nutty flavour, I don’t dislike it but and I’m hardly perfect when it comes to carbs but it is quite an increase. The soya was actually okay taste wise so maybe it’s for the better as it seems a lot healthier in that respect
I was drinking almond milk sometimes at home but it’s high in oxalates which is now a risk for me getting another kidney stone, so knocked that on the head!
 
Yeah, you have to be really careful, the alternatives often have nearly as many carbs as just having milk or on reading, coconut milk is more carbs than skimmed milk…

it’s because they don’t use unsweetened alternatives unfortunately :arghh:

There are major differences between the alternatives, it seems soya is now the lowest Costa do at 4.9g carbs in a flat white small. It’s still not low though. I know there are lower carb alternatives but they don’t do them

plus different coffee shops use different so you have to check out the nutrition at each and hope they don’t change the milks.

(the soya says 0 sugar, I guess they argue that’s healthiest even though sugar or carbs it’s all the same to us)

Anyone with thyroid issue should avoid soy in all forms, so this is out for me.
 
That’s something I didn’t know
Why is that if I may ask?

If you do some reading around it, you will find the usual pros and cons, similar to many conditions, but it is something, along with gluten, that my Endo advised ditching. The consideration is it inhibits absorption of oral thyroid meds.
 
If you do some reading around it, you will find the usual pros and cons, similar to many conditions, but it is something, along with gluten, that my Endo advised ditching. The consideration is it inhibits absorption of oral thyroid meds.
Fair point, I know there are interactions of some drinks with meds (like citrus is reasonably well known) and I think normal milk can hinder some also so not really a surprise when I think about it

thanks for the pointer, I know it’s a little tangential to the main post but it’s interesting
 
Anyone with thyroid issue should avoid soy in all forms, so this is out for me.

Now I've got to know why? (My T1 mother had some sort of thyroid issues so I assume that makes me at high risk, though last time they checked I was OK.)

Apologies for going off topic @Andydragon, I can start a new thread if this derails this thread. :)
 
Anyone with thyroid issue should avoid soy in all forms
Tofu used to be a staple for me in the years before I found out about carb intolerance and became more of a carnivore. Then I read about two huge population studies on Japanese people. The couples who ate tofu daily, or even multiple times a day, were far more prone to develop alzheimers. There were also suggestions that soy was OK for the young, but not for older people, (like me, even then) due to effects on hormones. It was very hard to do, but I abandoned soy from one day to the next. One suggestion was that the effect was not due to the soy itself, but to the fluid in which the tofu was kept, so in that case soy milk would be OK.
Don't people who put soy milk in hot drinks find it curdles?
 
I would normally avoid Starbucks but I needed a stop at the service station. We ventured into Starbucks as there was no other choice and I opted for one of their new milk alternatives. A flat white with nut blend. The lady behind the counter let me read the contents of the carton and I was happy that it was unsweetened and practically zero carbs. It was very creamy and quite tasty although I have to add that the nut blend was hazelnut and cashew. Something I would not necessarily choose. It didn’t spike me so it was a lovely treat. I try and avoid soy these day and will opt for full fat milk.
 
Fair point, I know there are interactions of some drinks with meds (like citrus is reasonably well known) and I think normal milk can hinder some also so not really a surprise when I think about it

thanks for the pointer, I know it’s a little tangential to the main post but it’s interesting

Levothyroxine should always be taken an hour or so before any dairy. I rouse, naturally, around 4am daily, so take my Levothyroxine then. We're then up from about 05:30. The thyroxine issue isn't universally known either. Many GPs simply don't mention it.

Yes. We are early birds.
 
Now I've got to know why? (My T1 mother had some sort of thyroid issues so I assume that makes me at high risk, though last time they checked I was OK.)

Apologies for going off topic @Andydragon, I can start a new thread if this derails this thread. :)

I've replied to that Ellie, so won't repeat.

One thing I will say about thyroid is considered "normal" ranges vary enormously, over the globe, however euthyroid would be a TSH of 2.0 or under. In UK treatment isn't usually started until it reaches 10. An individual with significant symptoms can sometimes have a trial of meds once it breaches 5.

Our thyroids are such a cornerstone of our metabolic health it makes a lot of sense to keep tabs on it.

Sorry @Andydragon . I'll take time on the naughty step doing lines right now!
 
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