10 Healthiest Milk And Milk Alternatives For Toddlers And Kids

3. Cow’s Milk (whole, 3.25% fat)

Serving Size – 240ml

Calories – 148

Fat – 8g

Protein – 8g

Carbs – 12g

Cow’s milk may not top our list of healthiest milk and milk alternatives for toddlers and kids as the healthiest milk to drink, but it undoubtedly remains one of the top choices, despite the influx of recent challengers trying to topple it. While there is a ready availability of varying amounts of fat in cow’s milk, whole milk should be the primary option for toddlers and young children, unless they are already struggling with weight issues. Milk allergies and lactose intolerance are the greatest stumbling blocks when it comes to consumptions of cow’s milk, though lactose-free milk is now common (the enzyme lactase, which lactose intolerant people lack, is added directly into the milk to facilitate lactose’s breakdown). Given that cow’s milk is natural, the bioavailability of its minerals and nutrients tends to be higher than some of the previous options, with one study showing that the calcium in calcium-fortified soy milk was only absorbed at 75% of the rate at which the calcium in cow’s milk was. Cow’s milk is high in fat, protein, potassium, calcium, and vitamins D and B-12. Dean Foods Co (NYSE:DF) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:WMT)‘s Great Value brand are among those which sell lactose-free cow’s milk.

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