Is Skim Milk Actually Good For You?

When you were a kid, you may have rolled your eyes whenever your mom told you to "drink your milk." However, she said this to you for good reason. According to MedicalNewsToday, dairy milk contains a number of key nutrients that contribute to good health and a balanced diet, although the nutrition can vary depending on the type of milk you consume. Ideally, focusing on dairy milk that doesn't contain unhealthy additives, such as sugar, is a good place to start (assuming you do not have any dairy allergies or are lactose intolerant). If you are allergic to dairy or are lactose intolerant, dairy milk is not ideal and you should look for the best alternative for your situation, such as lactose-free milk or plant-based milk.

Dairy milk is possibly best known for being an excellent source of calcium. The Mayo Clinic recommends that adults get between 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day. Whether you drink a glass of whole milk or a glass of skim milk, you will be getting a good amount of calcium. Skim milk is actually a bit higher in calcium, as well as in protein and potassium, compared to whole milk (via MedicalNewsToday).

However, whole milk may turn out to be better for you than skim milk in the long run.

One big reason you may have decided to drink skim milk over whole milk is due to the higher fat content of whole milk. However, your body needs fat, and the amount of fat in a serving of whole milk is not as high as you think. According to Delish, you will typically only find a little over 3% of fat in a serving of whole milk. In addition to your body needing some fat, the fat in the milk will keep you feeling full for longer. This will also help curb cravings you might otherwise have for something containing sugar or carbs. 

Additionally, skim milk is not good to use in cooking or baking because it is missing the fat content. Fat adds richness and moisture to the meals you make. Why risk having all your hard work go to waste because you thought cooking or baking with skim milk would save you calories?

Studies have shown that high-fat dairy products like whole milk may even contribute to lowering body weight. If you've been forcing yourself to drink skim milk in lieu of whole milk, you can feel good about making the switch to whole milk as part of a well-balanced, nutrition-focused diet (via Healthline).