
Milk is an important part of the grocery basket. It is not only a tasty product and the basis of many dishes, but also a natural source of easily digestible protein, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
There is a wide selection of milk on the shelves of stores, but what is the most delicious and why is fat content important?
What is useful milk
Lactic acid bacteria and milk fat are beneficial to the human body. Milk fat contains:
- essential fatty acids;
- mono- and polyunsaturated fats;
- lecithin;
- fat-soluble vitamins A, E, and D;
- calcium and phosphorus, which are necessary for a complete metabolism.
Natural milk also contains vitamin choline – this substance is necessary for healthy sleep and muscle activity and has a number of useful properties:
- strengthens memory;
- maintains the structure of cell membranes;
- transmits nerve impulses;
- relieves inflammation;
- takes an active part in fat metabolism.
Milk lactoglobulins have antibiotic properties and are directly related to the formation of antibodies, that is, they support our immunity.
Five more drinks that will help strengthen the immune system were described in the material.
5 drinks to boost your immune system
What is the fat content of milk
On the shelves of stores you can see milk with different percentages: 0%, 1%, 2.5%, 3.2% and so on. These numbers indicate the amount of fat contained in 100 ml of milk.
Fat content affects the taste, calorie content and properties of the product. The fatter the milk, the higher its nutritional value. For example, 0.5 l of milk with a fat content of 3.2% contains the daily intake of calcium and 30% of the daily intake of carbohydrates. Such milk has a positive effect on the intestinal microflora and helps to strengthen the immune system.
But if your body does not absorb milk fat well, it is better to choose a 1% fat product. And 2.5% milk has a slight diuretic effect, it is recommended to drink it for those who want to remove toxins from the body, get rid of edema and strengthen joints.
On average, a glass of milk with a fat content of 2.5% is 150 kcal, 8 g of fat, 13 g of carbohydrates and 8 g of protein. In a similar serving of a fat-free product – only 86 kcal, there are no fats at all, and there are about the same amount of carbohydrates and proteins as in the whole.

Photo: www.istockphoto.com
What fat content of milk is healthier
All milk can be divided into four categories of fat content.
Low fat or low fat
This category includes milk with a fat content of up to 1%. It has half the nutrients and vitamins, no calcium and vitamin D. This drink can only be chosen for medical reasons, for example, with a diet or obesity.
low fat
Milk fat content from 1% to 2%. It has a pleasant taste, a sufficient percentage of fat and an average calorie content, vitamins and nutrients are preserved in it.
medium fat
Milk fat content from 2.5% to 3.5%. This is the average fat content of homemade milk, which is chosen when buying packaged products. As a norm for the fat content of milk in a cow, an indicator of 3.4% is adopted. Such milk is recognized as the most suitable for humans. Even after processing – pasteurization and boiling – it retains the most benefits.
Milk is one of the few products that have a choleretic effect, which is why it is used in the preparation of breakfasts. This effect is provided by drops of milk fat. A fat-free product in this case will be useless in the fight against edema. If you do not experience health problems, it is recommended to drink whole milk with a fat content of 2.5-3.2%.
Bold
This is milk with a fat content above 4.5%. It is very difficult to find natural full-fat milk in stores, as manufacturers often deliberately add collected milk fat to it in order to get a high percentage. Village and farm milk in 90% of cases has just such a percentage of fat content.
And about which is better to choose butter, they told in the article.
Which butter is healthier – with 82.5% or 72.5% fat
Who should not drink milk
Despite all the benefits of milk, there are a number of reasons to limit the use of this product or exclude it from the diet:
- lactase deficiency;
- allergy to whole milk protein – casein;
- urolithiasis disease;
- obesity and metabolic problems;
- cholelithiasis.
Fill your diet with only natural and fresh products! Choose milk with a short expiration date and trusted brands. Take care of yourself and be healthy!