Dairy & Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Milk Nutrition Information

Milk has almost all the nutrients that a human body needs for a sound health. This fact makes the daily intake of milk (at least a glass), very important.

Carbohydrates : 250 gm of milk contains approximately 13 gm of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates found in milk are in a di-saccharide (made of two sugar units) form called lactose. It is also sometimes referred to as milk sugar. One molecule of lactose is made of one molecule of glucose and fructose each. There is no dietary fiber or starch found in milk.

Fats : The fat content in 250 gm of milk is 2.5 gm. Out of this 2.5 gm of fats, 1.7 gm is saturated fats while the rest is unsaturated. The amount of monounsaturated fats is 0.7 gm and that of polyunsaturated fats is 0.1 gm. Milk is also rich in essential fatty acids. The amount of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids present in 250 gm of milk is 73.2 mg and 9.8 mg respectively.

Proteins : 250 gm of milk has 8.2 gm of proteins. The proteins mainly present in milk are casein and whey proteins. The amount of casein is 0.2 grams and that of whey proteins is 0.0252 grams. Milk has alpha-s1, alpha-s2, beta and gamma casein. In the category of whey proteins, milk has beta-lactalbumin, immunoglobulin and blood serum albumin. Milk also has fat globule membrane proteins and certain enzymes.

Vitamins : Milk is a very rich source of vitamins. 250 gm of milk meets approximately 44% of your body's daily requirement of vitamins. The amount of vitamin A is 478 IU, vitamin D is 127 IU, vitamin K is 0.2 mcg, riboflavin is 0.5 mg, niacin is 0.2 mg, folate is 12.2 mcg, vitamin B6 is 0.1 mg, vitamin B12 is 1.1 mcg, betadine is 1.5 mg, pantothenic acid is 0.9 mg and that of choline is 43.2 mg. Milk lacks vitamin C, E and B1.

Minerals : 250 gm of milk has 290 mg of calcium , 6.3 mcg of fluoride, 0.1 mg of iron, 8.1 mcg of selenium, 26.8 mg of magnesium, 1.0 mg of zinc, 232 mg of phosphorus, 107 mg of sodium and 366 mg of potassium. Copper is absent in milk. You will get all these minerals by drinking a single glass of milk.

Others : 250 gm of milk has some other essential components of your diet as well. It has 12.2 mg of cholesterol and 220 gm of water. You can make out from the milk nutrition facts that the fat content of milk is low. Still, it is somewhat fattening. Nowadays, there is a trend of drinking skimmed milk. The skimmed milk is formed by removing the fat present in the cream of the milk. The fat present in skimmed milk is not more than 0.5% of what is present otherwise. It is a myth that skimmed milk has low calcium content. Most of the calcium present in milk, is bound to water molecules. Removal of fats has no effect on the calcium content of the milk. Therefore, it is safe to use skimmed milk. By knowing the milk nutrition facts, you must have understood the significance of drinking milk everyday. It is almost equal to a balanced diet. Make sure that you are drinking at least a glass of milk daily. This will not only fulfill your nutritional requirements but also make your body strong and more resistant to diseases. Milk gives you a healthy life.

Butter nutritional Information

Butter is churned cream, so it contains a high amount of saturated fat. While it is a natural product, unlike many margarines produced by the chemical manipulation of oils, butter contains very few nutrients. Before adding butter to your next slice of bread, consider the dietary and healthy implications.

Fat and Calories : One tbsp. of butter contains 100 calories. About 99 percent of these calories come from fat. The tbsp. contains 11 g of fat, 7 g of which are saturated. The American Heart Association recommends limiting your saturated fat intake to less than 7 percent of total daily calories. For a 2,000-calorie diet, this is about 15 g. One tbsp. of butter also contains 30 mg of cholesterol, or about 10 percent of the recommended daily limit.

Vitamins : One tbsp. of butter contains few vitamins. It does provide 7 percent of the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin A, based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Vitamin A is important to vision health. Butter also has a small amount of vitamin E, with 2 percent of the RDA, and vitamin K, with 1 percent of the RDA.

Sodium : Unsalted butter often tastes better in baked goods. It provides just 2 mg of sodium per 1-tbsp. serving. Salted butter contains 81 mg of sodium per serving. The Institute of Medicine recommends limiting your daily sodium intake to 1,500 mg per day.

Ghee Nutrition Information

Ghee is clarified butter and has been used in Indian cooking throughout history, much the same way butter and margarine are used in American cooking. Ghee is oil that offers important nutritive benefits.

Calories and Fat : Ghee contains 112 calories per tbsp. and 33 mg of cholesterol. The total fat content is 12.7 g, of which almost 8 g are saturated fat, 3.7 g monounsaturated fat and .5 g polyunsaturated fat. Ghee provides many essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6 that provide anti-inflammatory properties, regulate DNA production and assist with cellular communication.

Nutrition : The protein content of ghee is .04 g per tbsp., which includes 17 amino acids, essential for good health. Ghee contains 3 percent linoleic acid, an antioxidant. Ghee provides 393 IU of vitamin A per tbsp., including 105 mcg of retinal and 25 mcg of beta-carotene. Other vitamins include .36 mg vitamin E per tbsp., 1.1 mcg of vitamin K, and small amounts of riboflavin and pantothenic acid. Minerals in ghee include 1 mg of calcium and potassium per tbsp.

Health Benefits : Ghee is a good choice for the lactose intolerant because all the milk proteins are removed during the clarifying process, making it lactose free. Although ghee contains a high amount of fat -- about 65 percent saturated 25 percent monounsaturated and about 5 percent polyunsaturated -- fats are essential to life and are needed to assimilate vitamins A, D, E and K, and help nourish the skin, hair and cell membranes. Fats promote a healthy body temperature, help nourish and protect internal organs and the brain and store energy. Since ghee lacks hydrogenated oils, it is a healthy fat choice for cooking, according to Physical Nutrition.

Skimmed Milk Powder Nutrition Information

Skim-milk powder, which has had fat as well as water removed, is available in almost any supermarket, and can be a good addition to your healthy lifestyle.

Nutrients : One-third cup of powdered skim milk has 80 calories, .2g of total fat, .1g of saturated fat, 4mg of cholesterol, 123mg of sodium, 11.7g of sugar, no fiber and 7.9g of protein. That is less than 1 percent of the daily value for fat, exactly 1 percent of the daily value for saturated fat, 4 percent of the daily value for carbohydrates and 5 percent of the daily value for sodium.

Vitamins and Minerals : One-third cup of powdered skim milk has 276.2mg of calcium, which is well-known for its role in bone health. The same amount also has 382.6mg of potassium, which can help keep your blood pressure under control, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Some brands are also fortified with vitamin A and vitamin D.

Health Benefits : Powdered milk has less fat than 1 percent, 2 percent or whole milk, which can help you keep your fat intake under control. It is less expensive than fluid milk, according to Mary Webber, author of "The Frugal Family's Kitchen Book." Also, powdered milk is shelf stable, so you won't have to worry about it going bad.

Whole Milk Powder Nutrition Information

Whole milk powder is a form of instant, dry, whole milk that is a fortified with vitamins A and D. It is intended for children over the age of one year old and is not an appropriate substitute for infant formula. The powder is a nutrient rich, full-fat milk option that can be found in open market, malls, shopping complex etc.

Calories : Whole milk powder contains 150 calories per serving. A serving is considered 1/3 cup dry or 1 cup prepared. The powder is prepared using warm water, which adds no additional calories. Children ages 2 to 8 require two 1-cup servings of dairy foods each day to help promote bone growth. Whole milk powder meets half of their daily dairy needs.

Fat : A serving of whole milk powder provides 9 g total fat. According to the Children's Nutrition Research Center, it is recommended that children ages 2 to 8 consume 33 to 62 g of total fat each day to help provide the body with essential fatty acids that are needed for proper growth and development. A serving of whole milk powder meets approximately 1/4 of the daily recommended fat intake for children.

Carbohydrates : Whole milk powder provides 12 g carbohydrate per serving. The carbohydrates in the powder are made entirely of sugar. Sugar is found naturally in milk in the form of lactose. Lactose sugars are broken down by enzyme lactase in the digestive system. Lactase helps break the sugars down into glucose so that it can be used by the body for energy.

Protein : Dairy products are a rich source of protein. A serving of whole milk powder provides 8 g protein. Other foods high in protein include lean meats, beans, nuts and soy. Adequate protein helps children to build and repair cells, muscles, tissues and organs.