Which is better for you, whole or low fat milk? When people ask this question they are usually told low fat milk because of the reduction in calories and fat. What most people do not know is that whole milk is better for you up to a certain age or under certain circumstances. According to http://pediatrics.about.com/od/milk/i/05_milk_2.htm, whole milk is best for you from the time you are born until you are two years of age. The reason for this is while you are growing you need the fat provided from whole milk. But the older you get the less you need whole milk, except with certain situations. It is shown that when you get older, and if you are not underweight, whole milk can provide extra calories that can add to weight and fat gain. A few circumstances allow people to continue to drink whole milk, if they are underweight or if they are picky eaters who are at a healthy weight. It is shown that most of the time the extra calories from whole milk will not make a difference. But for people who are older, have a slower metabolism, or consume a lot of excess calories whole milk is not a good choice. According to http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/nutrition/whole_milk_vs_lowfat.html, most people who consume three eight ounce glasses of milk will reach their limit of saturated fat for a whole day. So while milk, or calcium based products, are essential to our physical health a high consumption can be detrimental as well.

I agree with what the experts say on milk. As a younger child, whole milk is essential to our growth and development, but once we reach a certain age low fat or skim milk is what is healthier and more beneficial. The numbers show how many more calories come from whole milk than low fat milk and that can make a huge difference. Of course, naturally, there are exceptions of people who can go their entire life drinking whole milk. But, I believe that low fat milk is more beneficial to you as you age because you are getting your calcium intake without the extra calories and the older you get the less likely you are to maintain a high metabolism.