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29 March 2024

Full-fat versus low-fat milk: What should you drink?

Published
By Sneha May Francis

After looking into the wide selection of milk available on the shopping racks, and helping you choose the one that matches your body, we, at Emirates24|7, now shift gear to tackle the often debated topic of whether fat is good in our diary diet.

According to Dr Rimmy Bedi, dietician at the UniCare health centre at Burjuman, choosing low-fat over full-fat does benefit adults as it stops injecting unnecessary fat into our body.

“Full-fat milk has high saturated fat and, as a result, is high in calories. I recommend adults to drink low-fat milk instead.” She details how low-fat version retains all the nutritional benefits without the excess fat.

“It (low-fat) also reduces the risks linked to heart diseases, obesity and other health problems.”

For children, however, Dr Bedi suggests full-fat option, unless “the child is overweight and not physically active”.

While most families in the UAE buy fresh milk, there’s a sizeable population that stocks on long-life milk.

The carton milk, as it’s popularly referred to, is also cheaper compared to the bottled, fresh variety.

“The major difference is in the method of processing,” explains Dr Bedi.

“The long-life milk is first heated to a high temperature for few seconds which results in denaturation of the whey protein, making it less available to the human body.”

The nutritional value for both is almost same, Dr Bedi says, adding that pasteurization does not impact it.

She informs that long-life milk is also safe to give children.

Highlighting the importance of including milk, in whichever form and variety, Dr Bedi informs that it is the “perfect package of nutrients and vitamins”.

Apart from the high calcium content, milk “contains phosphorus, potassium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin A, niacin and riboflavin.

“It is an important source of protein as each glass contain almost 8 grams. This protein helps in building muscles and maintains healthy nails and hair.”