Full cream milk, usually called whole milk in the United States and Canada, has the highest saturated fat content of all milk varieties. Saturated fat from animal products has been both condemned and praised in recent decades in regards to health. The mainstream medical community contends that saturated fat should be minimized and largely replaced by unsaturated fats to reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease and obesity. Whole milk also contains lactose, which can't be digested by a significant percentage of the population.
Commercial Milk
The most common type of commercially consumed milk is produced by the mammary glands of cows. Raw, unprocessed milk contains numerous nutrients that depend on the species of cow and how they are fed, but generally it contains significant amounts of saturated fat, protein and calcium. The fat content of milk is derived from butterfat, which is entirely removed from commercially processed milk and then added back in specific percentages to make different milk products, as cited in the "Dictionary of Food Science and Technology." The butterfat contains vitamins A, D, E and K. Commercial milk is also homogenized to kill bacteria and increase shelf life.
Whole Milk
Whole milk contains 3.5 percent butterfat, which is a saturated fat. According to "The Healthy Whole Foods Counter" by Annette Natow, an 8 oz. glass of whole milk has 146 calories and contains slightly less than 8 g of fat, whereas the same amount of skim milk provides 86 calories and contains 0.44 g of fat. Thus, whole milk contains about 16 times the fat content of skim milk, but not even twice the calories. As such, drinking whole milk is not so much a calorie issue as it is a fat consumption issue. However, growing children, malnourished people and athletes require more calories and a higher percentage of fat to be healthy. The primary issue centers on the type of fat.
Saturated Fat
Saturated fats are found primarily in animal-based foods such as red meat, butter and whole milk, although coconut oil and some nuts are high in saturated fats also. Unsaturated fats are found more often in vegetable material such as olive oil, but also in some species of fatty fish. Many agencies such as the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration urge you to limit your intake of saturated fat to less than 10 percent of your calories to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. According to MedlinePlus, a diet high in saturated fats can lead to high LDL cholesterol, which can clog your arteries and lead to atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and stroke. Common recommendations include consuming skim milk instead of whole milk, salmon instead of red meat and olive oil instead of butter.
Lactose Intolerance
Whole milk, like all milk varieties, contains lactose sugars, which partially account for milk's slightly sweet taste. To break down lactose sugar in your intestines, you need to produce sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase. Without enough of it, undigested lactose essentially ferments in your gut as bacteria feed from it and produce gas as a byproduct. The symptoms of lactose intolerance include diarrhea, intestinal gas, abdominal cramps and bloating. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, up to 50 million Americans may be lactose intolerant, including 75 percent of Native Americans and African Americans, and 90 percent of Asian Americans.
References
- "Dictionary of Food Science and Technology: 2nd Edition"; International Food Information Service; 2009
- "The Healthy Whole Foods Counter"; Annette B. Natow et al; 2008
- MedlinePlus: Fat Types
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Digestive Disorders: Lactose Intolerance
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