What are the advantages and disadvantages of drinking regular fat milk?
All types of milk, including both regular and reduced-fat varieties are rich in essential nutrients, including bone-building calcium and protein. If you’re generally healthy, choosing the right type of milk is a matter of preference.
Last updated 31/01/2025
Within the dairy supermarket aisle there is an ever-increasing choice of milk to choose from. Thankfully, the Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend all types of milk to be enjoyed every day as part of a balanced diet.[1]
Milk, yoghurt and cheese are rich sources of calcium and other minerals, protein, and vitamins, including B12. Eating these foods can protect us against heart disease and stroke, can reduce our risk of high blood pressure and some cancers, may reduce our risk of Type 2 diabetes and may contribute to stronger bones.[2]
Here are some helpful tips to help you choose the right milk for you:
Regular-fat milk
The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend consuming dairy foods, “mostly reduced fat” varieties, every single day for good health. These recommendations apply to the general population, or everyday Aussies who are generally healthy with no chronic conditions. However, the National Heart Foundation’s updated guidelines recommend either regular-fat or reduced fat varieties for generally healthy people. So if you’re healthy, with no history of heart disease or high cholesterol, and you prefer the taste of regular fat milk – the science says you can go for it.[3]
Reduced-fat milk
Reduced or ‘low-fat’ milk (less than 1.5% fat) and ‘skim’ milk (less than 0.15% fat), like regular-fat milk, provide calcium, protein and other essential nutrients, however with lower fat and kilojoules. The updated National Heart Foundation guidelines recommend reduced-fat dairy for people with a history of heart disease or with high blood lipids/cholesterol.[4]
If you need individualised advice on choosing the best type of milk, it's always a good idea to speak to your GP, or a dietitian who will tailor their recommendations to your age, gender, lifestyle and health conditions.
References
[1] National Health and Medical Research Council. Australian Dietary Guidelines Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia; 2013.
[2] National Health and Medical Research Council. Australian Dietary Guidelines Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia; 2013.
[3] Dietary Position Statement Dairy & Heart Healthy Eating [Internet]. Available from: https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/getmedia/54b5c4af-d1ba-40aa-ab08-b7c7ac41b8e9/Nutrition_Position_Statement_-_DAIRY.pdf
[4] Dietary Position Statement Dairy & Heart Healthy Eating [Internet]. Available from: https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/getmedia/54b5c4af-d1ba-40aa-ab08-b7c7ac41b8e9/Nutrition_Position_Statement_-_DAIRY.pdf
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