The Ultimate TCM Guide To Milks

What Your Milk Choice Says About Your Body**

At Meraki, we love helping women understand their bodies in a way that feels empowering, simple and a little bit fun. One of the easiest everyday choices you make is the milk you add to your morning drink. And believe it or not, from a Chinese Medicine perspective, your milk choice can say a lot about your digestion, hormones and overall wellbeing.

Below is a gentle guide to help you understand how different milks interact with your body, both through a Western lens and a TCM one.

Oat Milk

Creamy, comforting and delicious. It’s naturally moistening and slightly heavy, which is lovely for dry, depleted or anxious bodies. But for those who feel bloated, puffy or sluggish, oat milk may contribute to that heaviness.

If you often feel swollen after meals or hold fluid easily, this one may not be your daily soulmate.

Soy Milk

Soy can be nourishing, grounding and supportive for those who run dry or hot. But soy can also increase Damp or hormonal symptoms in women already dealing with puffiness, PMS irritability or congestion. In other words, if you’re already feeling hormonally tender, go gently with this one.

Cow’s Milk

Beautiful in theory, not always in practice. Cow’s milk is the heaviest and most Damp-forming of the milks, which means it can create bloating, mucus, sluggish digestion and even breakouts. If you tolerate dairy well, enjoy it occasionally. If not, your digestive system will tell you quickly.

Coconut Milk

Creamy, warm and nourishing. This is the comfort blanket of milks. It can be a lovely option for cold bodies, depleted energy or dryness. But because it’s richer, too much can contribute to heaviness, oiliness or digestive congestion. Think of it as an occasional treat rather than an everyday staple.

Almond Milk

Light, gentle and generally easy to digest. Almond milk is naturally cooling and can help soothe dryness. But store-bought versions often contain additives and very few almonds, so always choose a clean version. If your skin is dry or your throat is often irritated, this can be a supportive option.

Tiger nut Milk

The underrated queen. Tiger nut is a tuber, not a nut, and is naturally sweet, grounding and gentle. It’s one of the most hormone-friendly and digestion-friendly options, especially for those with bloating, IBS tendencies, or PMS flare-ups. If you’ve never tried it, it’s worth the switch.

The Takeaway

Milk isn’t just milk. It interacts with your body in ways that can either help or hinder your health. Understanding these subtle differences means you can make choices that genuinely support your hormones, digestion and energy each day.

These are common conversations we have in our Chinese Medicine consultations and treatments so we can see which is going to be the most beneficial option especially if you love your warm drink in the mornings!

With Love,

The Meraki Team