The key difference between skim milk and whole milk is that skim milk is milk without fat content, whereas whole milk is milk with fat content.
Both types of milk contain nutrients in almost the same amounts except the fat content. Skim milk is also identified as non-fat milk, though it has about 0.01% of fat. Whole milk, which is also called full cream milk, is tastier and high in calories. Drinking whole milk makes it easier to absorb fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E and K in milk.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Skim Milk
3. What is Whole Milk
4. Skim Milk vs Whole Milk in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Skim Milk vs Whole Milk
What is Skim Milk?
Skim milk is milk without its fat content. It has only around 0.01% fat. Because of this lower fat content, skim milk has fewer calories and less cholesterol. Therefore, this is good for weight loss, people with weak cardiovascular health and those who have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It is ideal for elderly people since it prevents cholesterol build-up. It can even be given to children above two years. But it is not recommended for pregnant women or those who plan to get pregnant as skim milk can impair ovulation.
Milk
Skim milk is produced by removing the fat content from the whole milk and then fortifying it with vitamin A and vitamin D. It also has extra proteins. In the earlier days, this was done by allowing the milk to settle and then ‘skimming’ the fat off its top. Drinking skim milk makes people gain all the other necessary nutrients for their bodies without milk fat. The removed fat is used to make a variety of dairy products like butter and cheese. Because of the absence of fat in skim milk, it may be tasteless.
An 8 oz serving of skim milk has,
- Protein: 8.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.3 g
- Calcium: 349 mg
- Potassium: 419 mg
- Cholesterol: 5 mg
- Sodium: 130 mg
What is Whole Milk?
Whole milk is cow’s milk from which fat has not been removed. This is also known as full cream milk. Because of the fat content in whole milk, it is thicker, creamier and tastier than other types of milk. There are two types of fats in this: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Over one-third of its fatty acids are Omega-3. Therefore, it is filled with healthy fats. Whole milk is recommended for children, teenagers and also for bodybuilders. Consuming whole milk is riskier for people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases but this has less risk of developing adult-onset diabetes. Drinking whole milk helps people absorb the fat-soluble vitamins present in milk, which include vitamins A, D, E and K.
An 8 oz serving of whole milk has:
- Protein: 7.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Calcium: 276.1 mg
- Potassium: 349 mg
- Cholesterol: 24 mg
- Sodium: 98 mg
What is the Difference Between Skim Milk and Whole Milk?
The key difference between skim milk and whole milk is that skim milk is milk without fat, while whole milk is milk with fat content. Therefore, whole milk is creamier and tastier than skim milk. Moreover, skim milk is good for people planning to lose weight, elderly people, people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases, while whole milk is good for young children, people who are underweight, frail or patients recovering from surgeries.
The following infographic lists the differences between skim milk and whole milk in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Skim Milk vs Whole Milk
Skim milk is milk without fat content. It only has about 0.01% fat in it. Because of this, it may be tasteless. The removed fat is used in making various dairy products like cheese and butter. Skim milk is good for people planning to lose weight, elderly people, people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases. It is low in calorie content. Skim milk is not recommended for pregnant women or children under two years. Whole milk is milk with its fat content. It is creamier and tastier because of the fat in it. It is high in calorie content and good for young children, people who are underweight, frail or patients recovering from surgeries. It also minimizes the risk of adult-onset diabetes. Thus, this is the summary of the difference between skim milk and whole milk.
Reference:
1. “Skimmed Milk.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Aug. 2021.
2. Dove, Laurie L. “What ‘Percentage’ Is Whole Milk?” HowStuffWorks, 25 Jan. 2017.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Milk-is-poured-into-a-glass” (CC0) via Libreshot