Why Does Willa's Have Less Sugar and a Lower Glycemic Index?

The Willa's Whole Oat Difference: Lower Sugar and a Lower Glycemic Index

When we dive into the world of oat milk, it is important to discuss an often-overlooked aspect: sugar content and the glycemic index. The glycemic index, a scale from 0 to 100, ranks foods and drinks based on their sugar content and how they impact blood sugar levels. Having your blood sugar spike and crash after eating or drinking foods with a higher glycemic index can make you feel tired, lethargic, and even make you crave more sugar. Understanding this scale is key to making healthier choices. Lower glycemic index foods are generally healthier as they help maintain stable blood sugar levels, while high-glycemic foods can lead to various health issues.

What makes Willa’s lower in sugar and gives it a lower glycemic index?

At Willa’s, we use the whole oat and process it minimally to create a rich and smooth taste. Willa’s Unsweetened Original has 1 g of sugar from the oats. Willa’s Barista has 3 g of sugar total. Willa’s Dark Chocolate Oat Milk is our most indulgent recipe - we use a touch of organic maple sugar to balance the flavor of the cacao. The good news is maple sugar and maple syrup contain antioxidants and have a lower glycemic index than highly processed oat sugar (maltose) and cane sugar.

Why do other oat milk brands use so much sugar and such a high glycemic index?

You may have noticed that other oat milks have a large quantity of sugar, 5 - 15 g per cup. A commonly asked question is where all this sugar comes from and where to find healthier oat milk options. It is well documented that the reason is that most oat milks (but not all!) are made from an oat sugar base rather than the whole oat groat. This process creates maltose, which has the highest glycemic index, leading to a spike in blood sugar levels. 

At Willa’s, we celebrate the natural goodness of whole grain oats - whole oat groat to be exact. 

Our oat milk, crafted from the whole oat groat rather than just oat starch, boasts a naturally lower sugar content. Willa’s Organic Unsweetened Original Oat Milk contains just 1 gram of sugar per serving, just enough to deliver that creamy, rich oat milk flavor that people are switching to from other milks. Willa’s Barista Oat Milk has 3 g of sugar, less than half the leading barista oat milk brand. This approach allows the naturally-occurring nutrients to shine, with 4 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber in every serving. Willa’s Organic Chocolate Oat Milk uses single origin Peruvian cacao from Raaka, which makes it even higher in protein (5 grams per cup!) and fiber (3 grams per cup!).

This isn't just a healthy choice; it's also a sustainable one, as we use the entire oat to minimize food waste.

And…did we mention that we use USDA Organic ingredients?

• Made with Organic Oats: Willa's is proud to use organic ingredients, which means we don't use GMOs or synthetic chemicals like fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. Glyphosate (Roundup) isn’t something our Grandmother Willa would have wanted in her oat milk!
• Organic Maple Sugar: Willa’s Raaka Chocolate Oat Milk, includes a touch of organic maple sugar to balance the flavor of the Raaka Cacao. The maple pairs beautifully with the Single Origin Peruvian cacao, offering a lower glycemic index, and antioxidants, which make it Cleveland Clinic’s preferred form of sugar.
• Raaka Single Origin Cacao: We are proud to collaborate with Raaka Chocolate, sourcing single origin Peruvian cacao directly from Indigenous Peruvian farmers. This ensures transparent trading practices, and above fair wages for farmers. This cacao has a delicious, brownie-like taste in our Dark Chocolate Oat Milk.

To learn more about Willa's practices and the ingredients that go into our oat milk, check out our blog posts: The Whole Oat and why we choose Maple Sugar as a sustainable alternative to sugar!

Looking for delicious ways to use Willa’s at home, check out our recipes here!

Stay in touch: Instagram, Tik Tok, Pinterest, Facebook. 

Still curious about Willa’s oat milk? Check out our FAQs.