Milk can come from many different species of animal, with cow, sheep, and goat milk being the most popular. There are also many "milk alternatives" available now, such as soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, hemp milk and more. Cow's milk also comes in many varieties including flavored varieties like strawberry or chocolate, lactose-free milks, milk with added omega-3s, hormone free or organic milks and reduced fat milk. And there are even some who drink human milk! (personally I'm a coconut girl)
One cup of milk is considered one serving. The nutritional breakdown of milk depends on the fat content. Whole milk, with 32.5% fat contains 146 calories, 8 grams of fat, 13 grams of carbs and 8 grams of protein in one cup. One cup of nonfat or skim milk has about 86 calories, 0 grams of fat, 12 grams of carbohydrate and 8 grams of protein
Milk is a source of 9 essential nutrients:
- Calcium: Builds healthy bones and teeth; maintains bone mass
- Protein: Serves as a source of energy; builds/repairs muscle tissue
- Potassium: Helps maintain a healthy blood pressure
- Phosphorus: Helps strengthen bones and generate energy
- Vitamin D: Helps maintain bones
- Vitamin B12: Maintains healthy red blood cells and nerve tissue
- Vitamin A: Maintains the immune system; helps maintain normal vision and skin
- Riboflavin (B2): Converts food into energy
- Niacin: Metabolizes sugars and fatty acids
Interesting fact: Cleopatra took milk baths to help her skin stay soft and glowing.
I don't like drinking milk on it's own. In tea, coffee, cereal, or a milk shake yes but on its own? Noooo. Mr D used to have a glass of milk and a Mars Bar haha!!
ReplyDeleteI, sadly, am not a milk drinker unless I have hot milk with honey. My mom drinks milk like it is going out of business and , even though she has had 2 hip replacements due to osteoarthritis her bone density is quite good for an 86 yr old. I believe it is due to milk. Why do so many teenage boys drink milk like no tomorrow but teenage girls don't-Shouldn't it be the other way around??
ReplyDeleteI like milk in my cereal but that's it. Maybe an icy cold glass with cake or cupcakes. I get my calcium from cheese.
ReplyDeleteI'm using the almond milk on my cereal....the real dairy based product would half kill me.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE milk, but milk HATES me! That really sucks because one of my favorite things is ice cream. I always have some Lactaid or something like it in my pocket. So, instead of milk, I use light vanilla soy milk. I don't drink it, but it's great in cereal.
ReplyDeleteThe Husband and I are alternating between hemp and coconut milk at the moment. Hemp tastes the best of all the alternative milks that we've tried. Every time I drink rice milk, I wonder if it just the throw-away water from washing rice before cooking it.
ReplyDeleteThe View from the Top of the Ladder