Until recently, most kids grew up drinking whole milk. As you grow older, most of us switch to low-fat or skim milk for ourselves and children. In many cases, this may have not been the right thing to do.
because skim milk contains no fat, it has significantly less calories per cup. 146 cal for a cup of whole milk versus 83 for skim milk. Other nutrients including vitamin D, calcium, protein and carbohydrates are about the same. A significant nutritional difference however, is that whole milk contains 183 mg of omega-3 fatty acids and skim milk only contains approximately 2.5 mg.
Back in the 70s, health policy was based on a semi erroneous connection between saturated fat and heart disease. This led to nutritional guidelines that instruct people to reduce their saturated fat intake. Now, it would appear that the only drawback of whole milk is that it is simply higher in calories.
The negative drawback of high calorie whole milk may well be offset by its ability to reduce triglycerides, lower blood pressure, or even reduce the chance of a an abnormal heartbeat. They further may help certain mental disorders and improve brain function
For approximately half of adults, milk can be hard to digest. It is because the lactose that is found in milk is not being completely broken down, may ferment and lead to cramping or bloating. Most adults produce less of the enzyme need to digest milk after age 5. Milk with lactase enzyme added is a great solution.
Milk consumption has decreased over the past several years. In some cases, however, it has been replaced with unhealthy alternatives such as sugary drinks that contain many chemicals. When deciding what to drink with your lunch? Don’t forget good old fashion whole milk!
Ask Dr S. 