Different Types Of Milk and Their Health Benefits

No matter where in the country you are, when you head to the dairy department at your favorite grocery store you are likely to find several types of milk. While milk is one of the dairy products most families have, not everyone knows the health benefits of different types of milk. There are several types besides the traditional whole milk; there is also organic milk, soy milk, almond milk, rice milk and others. When you buy different types of milk, you will be getting different benefits that you may not be aware of. It is good to know these benefits so that you can add them to a complete diet.

Whole Milk

By far the most popular type of milk is whole milk. It is a good thing that whole milk is as popular, since it provides a lot of the things you need to keep a balanced diet such as calcium, vitamin D and also K, and proteins. Whole milk also has saturated fat, so if you want to get the benefits but not the fat, then skim milk is a good option. According to dietician and the author of the "F-Factor Diet", Tanya Zuckerbrot, you will get a lot of the same nutrition without the fat while actually getting a higher amount of calcium. Enhanced skim milk is also an option for those who feel skim milk’s consistency is watery.

Organic Milk

An option that is gaining popularity is organic milk. When people read that a product is organic, many times they do not realize that the benefits can actually change. The milk is produced by cows that are given an organic diet as opposed to regular cow feed. This process is done to ensure that you get a healthier product. The process works with organic milk, as 2 recent studies which were done at the Newcastle University found that organic milk actually has more Omega-3 fatty acids as well as more antioxidants than regular milk.

Rice Milk

The popularity of rice milk comes from the fact that, out of all the milk products in the dairy department, it is the one that most people with allergies can consume as it is made from rice and water. There is also the benefit that there is no cholesterol or saturated fat, but rice milk is also very low in protein. One of the things that people will like about rice milk is that if you leave it outside of the fridge once it is opened, you can still consume it. Rice milk can also contain additional flavors such as vanilla and chocolate for those who like a little extra in their milk.

Soy Milk

Soy milk comes as the name describes it from soy beans. There is a combination of the extract with water and some additional sweetener. The good news about soy milk is that it has zero cholesterol and almost no saturated fat. Soy milk is one of the options for people who are lactose intolerant and those looking to avoid dairy products. As far as flavors, soy milk feels somewhat thicker than regular dairy milk such as cow milk, and because it contains natural sweeteners it can also feel a bit sweeter. There is less protein in soy milk when compared to cow milk as well.