World Milk Day – Types of Milk and the Amazing Benefits you can get from them

June 1 is marked and celebrated as World Milk Day every year. This particular day aims to spread more and more awareness about including milk and dairy products in the diet regularly.

Milk is a rich source of protein, calcium, vitamins D and B12. It is nutritiously essential for good bone health. Perhaps, milk is also regarded as a “complete protein” since it contains all nine types of essential amino acids for the body to function at an optimal level. Apart from these, it is also a good source of Vitamin A, magnesium, zinc and thiamine.

There have been many varieties of milk other than cow’s milk (animal milk). The rising popularity of plant-based milk now opens up a few options for vegans and those who are lactose intolerant. Well let’s take a look at the nutritional benefits of different kinds of milk and how these dairy products are good for your body.

Animal Milk

• Cow’s Milk – Cow milk is an excellent source of calcium, protein, vitamin D, potassium and phosphorus. It contains 8 grams of protein, 12 grams of carbohydrates per cup and 300mg of calcium, which constitutes 30% of the recommended daily intake for adults.
• Buffalo Milk – Buffalo milk makes 12% of the total milk production in the world, and is even healthier than cow milk because it has a lower concentration of cholesterol. It also has a higher concentration of amino acids, selenium and zinc, and antioxidants.
• Goat Milk – Goat milk is a great substitute for cow’s milk. Having a higher digestibility, more alkaline, less fatty, and higher tolerability than cow milk due to higher casein content. Goat milk in all has a high therapeutic value in human nutrition too.

Plant Milk

• Almond Milk – Almond milk is its high dose of vitamin E, an antioxidant that combats inflammation and stress, helps protect against heart disease and cancer, and improves bone, eye, and brain health. Plus, it contains a mineral called zinc, which keeps your skin glowing and prevents hair loss.
• Soy Milk – Soy milk is obtained from soybeans or soy protein isolate, and is considered to be the best substitute for cow milk because of its nutritional value. It has a creamy mild taste and contains the same protein, fat and carbohydrate levels as cow milk and encompasses all essential amino acids.
• Coconut Milk – Coconut milk is prepared with water and the white flesh of coconuts. It lacks nutritional value than all non-dairy milk varieties, but is used extensively in the Indian subcontinent. Loaded with MCT’s that is known to improve blood cholesterol levels and aid weight loss.
• Rice Milk – Rice milk is a dairy-free milk made from rice. It is also low in fat and contains a higher level of carbohydrate than cow’s milk and is marked by individuals who are lactose intolerant. Far from cow’s milk, rice milk doesn’t contain cholesterol which makes it healthy for your heart.

Over to you:

This World Milk Day, let’s make an effort to understand its essence that milk consumption is a necessity and widen the horizon of our definition of different types of milks and make the right choice suited for health conditions.