Right from the birth of a baby, milk is considered an essential food choice throughout his/her entire life. Infants and babies live on just milk for the obvious reason that it fulfills all the body’s protein, vitamins, and other necessary elements of energy required for the fundamental development of the human body. Milk contains humongous amounts of minerals and vitamins that include Vit A, B12, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iodine, zinc, Vit D, Vit B1. In addition to these, milk is said to contribute around 30 to 50 percent of a human body’s calcium needs.

Types of milk

Milk is not just one form. With the advancements in process and food, several types of milk are made available to suit different diet requirements. The most popular types of milk are:

1. Cow milk

Cow milk is the most conventional and regular form of milk that is directly derived from cows. Cow milk is said to be low-fat milk that is highly nutritious with, on average, 18g/l soluble protein, 45g/l lactoglobulin, and roughly 4.8% lactose.

2. Almond milk

Almond milk is derived from almonds. It is an alternative form of milk that is plant-based and hence gaining momentum in preference for consumption. It is consumed by people who are vegans or lactose intolerant since it does not contain lactose. It has zero cholesterol, 0.59 g of protein, 1.1 grams fat, and 0.58 grams carbohydrates. It can be made at home using soaked almonds that are to be blended with some amount of water and other ingredients of choice.

3. Soy milk

Soy milk is yet another form of plant-based milk that serves, almost, the same purpose as almond milk does but with different protein and vitamin values that it possesses. It contains 54 calories per 100g, 3.8g of protein, 1.8g of total fats, and calcium, iron, vitamin B-6 in low amounts. It is derived from soaked soya where the milk is strained and extracted.

4. Oat milk

Oat milk is another form of plant-based milk that is extracted from oats. Just like how rolled oats are high in fiber, oat milk contains as much fiber as its main form has. It contains almost no calories and is beneficial in curing heart problems and problems related to digestion.

5. Whole milk

Whole milk is the regular form of extensively available milk that is consumed by most of the population. It has around 3 to 4% fat by weight.

6. Raw milk

Raw milk, as the name suggests, is the rawest form of milk that is directly derived from the cow. Raw milk is said to be dangerous and harmful as it does not undergo pasteurization to kill bacteria and other harmful living organisms present in it.

7. 2% reduced-fat milk

The difference between whole milk and reduced-fat milk is that whole milk contains around 3.5% fat whereas reduced-fat milk contains just 2% fat by weight.

8. Skim milk

Skim milk contains fewer calories as compared to normal milk. But the good thing is that the same amount of skim milk has the same amount of vitamins, minerals, and protein as whole milk contains. Therefore, skim milk is said to be a healthy alternative for people who want to cut down on calories keeping their other requirements for milk intact.

9. Organic milk

Organic milk is similar to the milk that is derived from cows but differs from the fact that the milk-producing cows are treated with antibiotics. Milk that comes from a cow that is free of antibiotics does not contain any form of their traces and hence it is named organic.