It’s a major debate of the nutrition world that’s rumbled on for years: What’s healthier – full fat, or semi-skimmed milk?
Now, scientists from the University of Toronto believe they have the answer.
According to their three-month study, in which participants ate full-fat dairy products three times a day, the supposedly calorific foodstuffs led to surprising benefits.
While consuming full-fat dairy made no difference to weight gain compared to a control group, it did lead to lower blood pressure and a boost in bone-building calcium, protein and vitamin D.
The experts say their findings suggest older adults in particular, who are at risk of brittle bones, should incorporate full-fat dairy products into their daily diet.
Opting for full fat is an easy switch as a product most of us consume every day, they say.
But is drinking twice the fat of the semi-skimmed alternative – and 30 extra calories – really healthy for the rest of us?
Here, we reveal which milk you should be opting for, and the surprising benefits of creamy treats you’ve long thought are bad for you.
There has been a sharp decline in Britons drinking cow’s milk in recent decades – but now experts say full-fat dairy may be better for us than once thought
Whole milk contains essential vitamins low fat versions don’t have
Whole or full-fat milk is, unsurprisingly, the most calorific milk, with 132 calories and 4.7g of saturated fat (the type that’s bad for the heart) per 200ml.
In comparison, a small glass of semi-skimmed contains just over 2g of saturated fat and 100 calories.
Skimmed versions have barely a gram of fat and just 74 calories.
However, the full-fat option is still only four per cent fat, highlights registered nutritionist Grace Kingswell. There’s 2g more saturated fat in a chunk of cheddar cheese.
And when it comes to milk and dairy, Kingswell says the risk of a few extra calories and fat is worth the abundance of nutritional benefits.
‘I would never not recommend full-fat milk or yoghurt,’ she says. ‘It contains far more of the nutrients we need compared to the lower-fat versions.’
In fact, it’s the fat content that is responsible for the health benefits.
‘The fat contains all the beneficial vitamins – A, D, E and K, which the low fat versions don’t have,’ Kingswell adds.
Jersey milk has a superior nutritional profile compared to standard cow’s milk, containing approximately 18–20 per cent more protein and 20 per cent more calcium
‘It’s also more satiating which means you feel fuller for longer and are less likely to snack.’
The vitamins she mentions – which are fat-soluble, meaning they can only be absorbed when eaten with fats – help support everything from healthy vision and immunity, to well-functioning blood vessels.
Britons are most likely to be deficient in vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium, making whole milk a useful nutritional bonus, Kingswell explains.
And then there’s the calcium which, at 236mg, is interestingly roughly the same as the quantity in semi-skimmed, but more than you’ll find in most everyday staples.
This is because calcium is found in the water-based portion of milk, not the fat.
Studies suggest some one in ten adults aged 16 to 49 don’t get enough calcium in their diet, increasing their risk of serious conditions like osteoporosis as they age.
It’s not only our bones that need calcium; it’s also important for muscle function, and helping your blood to clot.
Semi-skimmed milk could help protect against anxiety and depression
Semi-skimmed milk is the most popular option in the UK, chosen by around 80 per cent of people.
Kingswell says it’s far from a poor choice, given the 240mg of calcium in a small glass.
However, the lack of fat means you’ll miss out on a significant chunk of the healthful vitamins in the full-fat version.
But semi-skimmed options may serve other, more surprising benefits, research suggests.
In 2024, researchers from Southern Medical University in China found those who regularly drank semi-skimmed milk over a 13-year period were around a third less likely to be diagnosed with anxiety.
They were also 16 per cent less likely to be depressed, when compared with people who drink no milk at all, according to their analysis of health data from 357,500 UK adults.
Interestingly, the same benefit wasn’t seen in those who drank full-fat or skimmed milk.
The researchers suggested this could be due to the higher quantity of the amino acid tryptophan in semi-skimmed milk, which converts into serotonin, a brain chemical that manages mood, appetite, and pain.
Health experts have advising parents against giving children under five vegan milk alternatives due to their high sugar content and low levels of calcium
Skimmed milk still carries bone benefits
Skimmed is the lowest-calorie and lowest-fat option with just 0.2g of saturated fat per serving.
Somewhat surprisingly, it also contains the most amount of calcium, 244mg per 200ml glass, which can be explained by the fact skimmed varieties contain the highest quantity of water.
Scientists have found that getting an extra 300mg of calcium per day, equivalent to a large glass of milk, may reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer by 17 per cent.
Its protective effect comes from calcium binding to carcinogenic compounds in the gut, such as bile acids and free fatty acids, reducing their potential to damage the colon lining.
However, skimmed milk contains less vitamin D than full-fat milk, which helps the body absorb the crucial nutrient.
It’s for this reason that Kingswell suggests opting for higher fat content milk, instead.
What about creamy gold-topped jersey milk?
As the crème de la crème of supermarket milks, gold-top milk offers more nutritional benefits than standard cow’s milk, containing approximately 18-20 per cent more protein and 20 per cent more calcium.
This milk is unhomogenised, meaning it hasn’t been mechanically processed to break up the fat globules, so the cream can naturally rise to the top.
It is also richer in essential vitamins A and D, phosphorus, and omega-3 fatty acids.
However, experts point out that these nutritional gains are relatively modest, while the risks for heart health are significant when consumed regularly.
There’s around 160 calories in a 200ml glass of Graham’s Gold Top with Cream, and nearly 7g of saturated fat – nearly half the recommended daily intake for women, and 50 per cent more than the fat in full-fat milk.
Nutritionist Grace Kingswell says an occasional glass won’t do much harm, but using Gold Top as your milk of choice is likely to lead to weight gain – as one glass is the calorie equivalent of two chocolate digestive biscuits.
Too much saturated fat is a known risk factor for a host of cardiovascular problems, including potential heart attacks and stroke.
Limit your oat lattes
Experts say that those opting for ‘plant-based’ dairy-free alternatives may be missing out on key nutrients – and consuming more sugar.
Cow’s milk contains protein and fat, which slow down digestion and limit the speed at which the sugars that naturally occur in milk are absorbed into the bloodstream.
This keeps blood sugars stable, reducing the risk of hunger pangs that fuel the urge to snack.
Plant-based milks, however, are higher in carbohydrates and lower in fat, meaning the sugars are absorbed more quickly, leading to spikes and crashes.
This pattern can, over time, increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, studies show.
For example, a 100ml glass of the popular brand Oatly contains around 4g of sugar – which naturally occurs in the oats – but just 1g of protein, which is three times less than the amount in cow’s milk.
‘Oat milk is predominately carbohydrate with little to no fat or protein to support blood sugar regulation,’ Kingswell says.
‘The sugars in oat milk hit the bloodstream pretty quickly as it’s highly processed, wreaking havoc with blood sugar levels.’
Plant-based alternatives are often fortified – where vitamins and minerals are added to enhance its nutritional value – but experts warn they often lack its naturally high protein content.
Non-dairy alternatives are also often processed with added ingredients such as vegetable oils, stabilisers and emulsifiers that have been linked to a range of health problems.
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