Milk is one of food the most consumed in the world. 85% of world production corresponds to cow’s milk, although there is also goat’s and sheep’s milk. With regard to cow’s milk, it can be found whole, semi-skimmed and skimmed. But what are the differences between them? And above all, which one is the healthiest?
Whole, half or skimmed milk
The earliest historical records of milk consumption date back to 4000 BC in ancient Babylon.. However, it was not until the 19th century that, thanks to the improvement in its preservation through pasteurization, it became popular as a food for adults and children. It has great nutritional value and provides vitaminsminerals and proteins that the body needs to function properly.
differences
It was not until the 1970s that skimmed and semi-skimmed milk appeared. in response to a growing demand for low-fat, low-calorie foods.
The main difference between the different types of milk that exist is the percentage of fat. The contribution of the rest of the nutrients is practically the same. Whole, skimmed and semi-skimmed foods contain vitamins, proteins and minerals, among which calcium stands out.
The truth is that all milk is skimmed and balanced when it hits the plant. For milk to be considered whole, the minimum fat percentage must be 3.5%. Meanwhile, the semi-skimmed has a fat percentage that varies between 1.5% and 1.8%, and the skimmed less than 0.1%.
How logical, the percentage of fat directly influences the number of calories. The whole provides 66 kilocalories per 100 grams, while the semi-skimmed has 45 kilocalories and the skimmed 35 kilocalories.
All three types of milk are very healthy. In the case of skimmed milk, by eliminating virtually all fat, certain vitamins are lost, such as A, D and E. However, most manufacturers fortify the milk with these vitamins.
A very important thing to keep in mind is that Several studies have shown that fats are essential for the absorption of calcium.That is. Therefore, those who need to strengthen their bones or who suffer from diseases such as osteoporosis should consume whole milk.
To this it must be added that nutritionists recommend whole milk even for those on a weight loss diet. And it is that, fat provides a feeling of satiety.