Buttermilk is the liquid that remains after most of the cream, or fat, is removed from whole milk to make butter. Contrary to what its name may imply, buttermilk is not high in butter, and it is not necessarily fattening when you use it in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Buttermilk is a source of many essential nutrients, such as calcium, potassium and protein.
Calorie Balance
Your calorie balance, or the balance between the calories you consume and the calories you expend, determines whether you lose weight, gain weight or maintain your current weight. You will gain weight if you eat more calories than you burn, regardless of their source. You gain about 1 lb. of body fat when you eat an extra 3,500 calories more than you expend, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Low-fat buttermilk provides 137 calories per cup.
Drinking Your Calories
A potential disadvantage of buttermilk for weight control is that it is a source of liquid calories. Liquid calories, even from nutritious sources such as milk or juice, are typically less filling than calories from solid foods, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This means that milk and buttermilk may be more fattening than solid low-fat dairy products, such as cottage cheese, hard cheese or yogurt.
Buttermilk as an Ingredient
Instead of promoting weight gain, buttermilk can actually help you reduce your calorie intake if you use it instead of butter in baking recipes or instead of cream in your tea or coffee. Butter has about 1,600 calories per cup, and heavy cream has more than 800 calories per cup. Some uses of buttermilk are more likely to be fattening. For example, buttermilk biscuits made with shortening are high in calories and fat, and breakfast with buttermilk pancakes, sugary syrup and butter is a high-calorie way to start your day.
Other Information
A balanced diet includes three servings of low-fat dairy products per day, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Choices for a serving include a cup of low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt, 1 1/2 oz. of low-fat cheese or a cup of buttermilk counts as a serving. Adequate calcium intake may help you control your weight, according to the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, and a cup of buttermilk supplies 350 mg calcium, or 35 percent of the daily value.
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