Healthiest milk?
EcmoMom22
Posts: 17 Member
I've always drank 2% because that's what my parents bought and once I moved out I just continued to purchase the same thing but now that I'm "dieting" I would like to know what's considered the healthiest milk. Skim? Non-fat? 1%? Etc.
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Replies
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There is no "healthiest milk" in a vacuum, you'll want to look at the rest of your diet. Are you meeting your fat needs with other foods? In that case, a lower-fat milk may be right for you. But for some people, milk helps them meet their need for fat, so switching to skim wouldn't necessarily be "healthier."11
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Whichever one of the choices fits into you calorie budget for the day. The term healthy applies to the entire selection of food that you eat thru the course of the day/week and not really to a particular item within the food choices.3
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The milk that you enjoy to drink. If you like 2% then drink it. Doesn't it only have 130 calories?
You can eat and drink what you like just as long as you're counting calories. Calories are king for weight loss.2 -
Okay, let me rephrase that question then because that's not exactly the answer I'm looking for.
Which milk choice is lowest in fat, calories, carbs etc. etc.?0 -
cerise_noir wrote: »The milk that you enjoy to drink. If you like 2% then drink it. Doesn't it only have 130 calories?
You can eat and drink what you like just as long as you're counting calories. Calories are king for weight loss.
I don't enjoy milk at all but I'm making myself start drinking it or at least using it with my shakes everyday.0 -
I would recommend 1% for dieting and health perspective. Less saturated fat is always better. You probably want to reduce the fat in your diet, and its really easy to reach daily max (9 cal's per gram).2
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Okay, let me rephrase that question then because that's not exactly the answer I'm looking for.
Which milk choice is lowest in fat, calories, carbs etc. etc.?
You should be able to find database entries for all types of milks in the MFP database so you can compare. Typically removing the fat from milk removes some of the calories.
If you don't enjoy milk at all though, don't assume you have to drink it. There are other ways to meet whatever nutritional need it's meeting for you and you may enjoy some of those more. It's worth considering. Life is too short to eat stuff you hate.3 -
A smaller amount of anything will give less of everything. No foods should be seen as healthy or unhealthy in isolation. There are more or less healthy (or healthful) diets, but what those are, depends on the person who's eating.
Personally, i switched to full fat (3.9%) milk when I started my weight loss "journey", and I'm still using that.2 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Okay, let me rephrase that question then because that's not exactly the answer I'm looking for.
Which milk choice is lowest in fat, calories, carbs etc. etc.?
You should be able to find database entries for all types of milks in the MFP database so you can compare. Typically removing the fat from milk removes some of the calories.
If you don't enjoy milk at all though, don't assume you have to drink it. There are other ways to meet whatever nutritional need it's meeting for you and you may enjoy some of those more. It's worth considering. Life is too short to eat stuff you hate.
I need to use it to mix with my shakes, it's either milk or water and milk gives it just a tad better flavor than water but I wanted the least amount of anything nutritional wise. I'll look it up in the database if I have time and can figure it out.
I'm brand new here so I figured it'd be faster and easier to just ask here on the forum, I thought somebody would give me a direct answer.2 -
I like the Hood Simply Smart skim. It tastes better then others that I have tried.1
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If you only are looking to add it to shakes, go with an almond or cashew milk. Yummy flavor with protein and without any saturated fat.10
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1% will be lower fat and lower calorie than 2%. Skim is fat free. Carbs will be about the same, perhaps 0.5g more per serving in skim milk. Keep in mind you do need fat in your diet and should be aiming to hit your fat goal every day.
There are other options for your shakes - nut milk, soy milk, juice... I even make a shake with diet root beer from time to time (stirred, not shaken!). I like how milk tastes and want the protein, but if you don't enjoy milk, it might be worth pursuing other options.
ETA: I'm not usually much for organic, but the organic milk I buy tastes way better than the non-organic kind, IMO.1 -
I use almond or cashew unsweetened milk for my shakes, I rarely drank milk before so I'm not missing it5
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I'm a big fan of raw whole milk, but it can have a lot of fat. You won't find anything better for protein, healthy enzymes, and taste though!
If you're just using it for shakes and are obsessed with calories, just use water and choke it down.2 -
I use almond milk4
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I use almond milk too
Way less calories than 'normal' milk and you can get in in bulk for quite cheap at costco I try to stick with the unsweetened kind, mixed with my protein powder, it's almost like a treat! 5 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Okay, let me rephrase that question then because that's not exactly the answer I'm looking for.
Which milk choice is lowest in fat, calories, carbs etc. etc.?
You should be able to find database entries for all types of milks in the MFP database so you can compare. Typically removing the fat from milk removes some of the calories.
If you don't enjoy milk at all though, don't assume you have to drink it. There are other ways to meet whatever nutritional need it's meeting for you and you may enjoy some of those more. It's worth considering. Life is too short to eat stuff you hate.
I need to use it to mix with my shakes, it's either milk or water and milk gives it just a tad better flavor than water but I wanted the least amount of anything nutritional wise. I'll look it up in the database if I have time and can figure it out.
I'm brand new here so I figured it'd be faster and easier to just ask here on the forum, I thought somebody would give me a direct answer.
The problem here is that you're looking at nutrition in a vacuum. There is no direct answer because "healthiest" is going to be relative to the context of your diet as a whole.
You can't just go off of this has more fat and that has less fat, etc...because fat is an essential nutrient...you have to have a fair amount of dietary fat for proper nutrition...where you get that fat is up to you.
For myself, I drink 1% because I get most of my fats from things like avocados, nuts, nut butters, and I saute or roast most of my veggies in oil...I don't need the fat from full fat dairy to to get my requisite fats...nor do I want to spend the calories on full fat dairy...I'd rather have an avocado. Other people may benefit from full fat dairy if they're not into nuts and avocados and such...in that case, full fat dairy would be beneficial from a healthy/nutritional standpoint.
Unless you're really just talking about junk food, matters of nutrition don't tend to be black and white and there often isn't a direct answer.7 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Okay, let me rephrase that question then because that's not exactly the answer I'm looking for.
Which milk choice is lowest in fat, calories, carbs etc. etc.?
You should be able to find database entries for all types of milks in the MFP database so you can compare. Typically removing the fat from milk removes some of the calories.
If you don't enjoy milk at all though, don't assume you have to drink it. There are other ways to meet whatever nutritional need it's meeting for you and you may enjoy some of those more. It's worth considering. Life is too short to eat stuff you hate.
I need to use it to mix with my shakes, it's either milk or water and milk gives it just a tad better flavor than water but I wanted the least amount of anything nutritional wise. I'll look it up in the database if I have time and can figure it out.
I'm brand new here so I figured it'd be faster and easier to just ask here on the forum, I thought somebody would give me a direct answer.
Nobody is trying to be *indirect* with you. It's just that there isn't an answer to the question of which milk is the healthiest, not in the way that you mean. It all depends on the rest of your diet and what your needs are. If you're looking for something that is the lowest in calories and gives a bit of flavor to your shakes, have you considered plant milk? Some of the almond milks are very low in calories (the one I use for my smoothies has about 40 calories per cup). If you're just looking on the calorie side, it's something else to consider.5 -
janejellyroll wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »Okay, let me rephrase that question then because that's not exactly the answer I'm looking for.
Which milk choice is lowest in fat, calories, carbs etc. etc.?
You should be able to find database entries for all types of milks in the MFP database so you can compare. Typically removing the fat from milk removes some of the calories.
If you don't enjoy milk at all though, don't assume you have to drink it. There are other ways to meet whatever nutritional need it's meeting for you and you may enjoy some of those more. It's worth considering. Life is too short to eat stuff you hate.
I need to use it to mix with my shakes, it's either milk or water and milk gives it just a tad better flavor than water but I wanted the least amount of anything nutritional wise. I'll look it up in the database if I have time and can figure it out.
I'm brand new here so I figured it'd be faster and easier to just ask here on the forum, I thought somebody would give me a direct answer.
Nobody is trying to be *indirect* with you. It's just that there isn't an answer to the question of which milk is the healthiest, not in the way that you mean. It all depends on the rest of your diet and what your needs are. If you're looking for something that is the lowest in calories and gives a bit of flavor to your shakes, have you considered plant milk? Some of the almond milks are very low in calories (the one I use for my smoothies has about 40 calories per cup). If you're just looking on the calorie side, it's something else to consider.
I haven't ever tried anything but cows milk but quite a few people mentioned almond milk so I think I'll try that!
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janejellyroll wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »Okay, let me rephrase that question then because that's not exactly the answer I'm looking for.
Which milk choice is lowest in fat, calories, carbs etc. etc.?
You should be able to find database entries for all types of milks in the MFP database so you can compare. Typically removing the fat from milk removes some of the calories.
If you don't enjoy milk at all though, don't assume you have to drink it. There are other ways to meet whatever nutritional need it's meeting for you and you may enjoy some of those more. It's worth considering. Life is too short to eat stuff you hate.
I need to use it to mix with my shakes, it's either milk or water and milk gives it just a tad better flavor than water but I wanted the least amount of anything nutritional wise. I'll look it up in the database if I have time and can figure it out.
I'm brand new here so I figured it'd be faster and easier to just ask here on the forum, I thought somebody would give me a direct answer.
Nobody is trying to be *indirect* with you. It's just that there isn't an answer to the question of which milk is the healthiest, not in the way that you mean. It all depends on the rest of your diet and what your needs are. If you're looking for something that is the lowest in calories and gives a bit of flavor to your shakes, have you considered plant milk? Some of the almond milks are very low in calories (the one I use for my smoothies has about 40 calories per cup). If you're just looking on the calorie side, it's something else to consider.
I haven't ever tried anything but cows milk but quite a few people mentioned almond milk so I think I'll try that!
I love it -- if you're in the US, I like the Califia Farms brand. They have a few lower calorie options and I really enjoy the taste.1 -
cerise_noir wrote: »The milk that you enjoy to drink. If you like 2% then drink it. Doesn't it only have 130 calories?
You can eat and drink what you like just as long as you're counting calories. Calories are king for weight loss.
I don't enjoy milk at all but I'm making myself start drinking it or at least using it with my shakes everyday.
I wouldn't waste calories on it then.
I do a smoothie in the morning quite often, and usually use cashew or almond milk (low cal, or if I make it myself, healthy fat) or else greek yogurt or some other sort of yogurt, or a combination. I like milk okay, but it's not really worth the calories for me.
If you want to compare based on calories, fat, carbs, etc. (although being lowest in those things is not the same thing as being healthiest), pull them on on MFP. Obviously skim is going to be lowest in fat and calories, most dairy milks are about the same in terms of carbs, skim will be slightly higher in protein (and per calories, of course).2 -
Unsweetened almond milk is 30 calories and like 1g carb and 1g fat.3
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I like coconut milk as well as almond milk as alternatives, and use soy milk with my morning cereal each day for the prostate benefits. For cow's milk, I won't use anything lower than 2% -- and for yogurt, I eat a half cup whole milk (4%) Greek yogurt with berries and some granola for crunch every day as a snack.1
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It depends on the almond milk. New Barn unsweetened is 90 calories for a cup, with 8 g of fat and 3 g of protein. I assume it's because it has more actual almonds in it, vs. being flavored with them only. Almonds are high in fat. Homemade cashew milk is similar, as you actually include the cashews.1
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My favorite is Fairlife nonfat. 80 calories for 8 oz., 13g protein, 6g carbs and it doesn't taste thin/watery like regular nonfat milk.2
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Okay, let me rephrase that question then because that's not exactly the answer I'm looking for.
Which milk choice is lowest in fat, calories, carbs etc. etc.?
Skim (fat free) milk is the lowest if you mean actual cow's milk. But Almond milk is even lower. You might give that a try since you don't like regular milk anyway.1 -
Cashew or almond milk, unsweetened but flavored with vanilla. So amazing in cereal and sooooooo much calorie savings. I haven't drank regular milk in about a year and I don't miss it at all. Cashew milk is soooo creamy and only 25 calories per cup versus 90 calories a cup of skim milk, or higher if you go with 1% or 2%. This was seriously one of my greatest discoveries, personally.3
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full fat milk. Pasteurized or unpasteurized if you trust the source. Skip ultra-pasteurized. If you want less calories per volume, add water.
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Soymilk.2
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I drink whole milk with my coffee and cereal but I use almond milk for everything else. The almond milk reduces calories for smoothies, oatmeal, cooking, protein shakes.1
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