If you have ever wondered why our mothers always insisted on drinking milk, it is because this nutrient-rich liquid food is valued as a wholesome food required for normal growth and development. The milk we get these days are either fresh or processed dairy products obtained from farm-raised animals, which is a potent source of nutrients for human beings.
The nutritional profile of milk is incredible, it is an emulsion of fat and protein in water imbued with healthy carbs and other essential nutrients.
Milk is a source of complete protein comprising of all the nine essential amino acids. It also contains noteworthy amounts of minerals like calcium, phosphorus that supports growth and bone development. Besides these, milk also contains a rich array of vitamins like B1 and B12, commercially available milk are supplemented with vitamin D and A.
While shopping for a packet of milk, you see them in different coloured packets based on the types of milk and percentage of fat present in it, from whole milk, reduced-fat milk, low-fat milk and fat-free milk or skim milk. The amount of fat present in different types of milk does not change the nutrient profile, all of them are naturally overpowered with nutrients, rich and complete food.
Read through this article to know about the different types of milk available and choose the one that best suits your need.
Whole Milk
Whole milk comprises 3.25% of fat by weight and offers you 150 calories and 8 grams of fat and 8 gram of protein for a cup of milk. Whole milk can be added to the growing child diet that helps to promote overall growth and development.
2% Milk (Reduced Fat)
Reduced-fat milk or 2% milk means it contains 2% fat of the total weight of the milk. A cup of milk provides you 5 grams of fat and 8 grams of protein.
Low-fat Milk
The main difference between low-fat and whole milk is the amount of fat that offers in each serving. A cup of low-fat milk offers you 2.5 grams of fat and 100 calories.
Skim Milk
If you are weight watcher and want to lose some weight and cut down calories and fat, then fat-free or skim milk is the best choice for you. A cup of skim milk provides you with less than 80 calories loaded with all the essential amino acids and retains intact the high-quality protein.
Organic Milk
Organic milk is obtained from strict farming practices as laid down by the department of agriculture, which sets the standards for organic dairy farms. The cow raised in these farms have never given any hormonal or antibiotic injections.
Flavoured Milk
Flavoured milk is made by adding different types of flavours to the milk to make it more delicious and flavourful. From nuts, chocolate or any edible food flavour, colour and sugar are added to the milk to enhance the taste and it also imbued with all the essential nutrients needed for growth.
Lactose-Free Milk
Lactose-free milks are a great option for all people who are lactose intolerant. Lactose-free milk is obtained from regular milk, where the lactose sugar is hydrolysed meaning it is pre-digested that makes it lactose-free and provides all the essential nutrients as in regular milk.