Is one really healthier than the other?
If full fat keeps you from craving and adding other “bad” calories like sugar to your day then I would say that full fat is healthier, other than that it is negligible amounts of more trans fats and calories.
If you drink a L of milk it would be about 2-300 more calories of full fat depending on how low fat it is.
Full-fat dairy products contain more calories and fat than their low-fat counterparts. However, some research suggests that the fat in full-fat dairy may not be as harmful as previously thought. In fact, some studies suggest that full-fat dairy products may be associated with a lower risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
It depends on your personal health goals and dietary needs. Full fat dairy may have more calories and saturated fat, but it’s also richer in nutrients and can keep you feeling more satiated. Low fat dairy may be a better choice if you’re trying to limit calories and saturated fat. Ultimately, it’s important to choose the option that works best for your individual needs.
This is another example of look at what the government is saying to eat and do the opposite. Full fat dairy is untouched the way we have been eating before nutritional guidelines. Once we start tinkering with things you know what happens. Our poor school kids can’t get a break on this either as it is banned in schools ( of all things to ban).
From 15 randomised controlled trials (RCTs): “greater reduction in saturated fat caused greater reductions in cardiovascular events.”
Hooper L, Martin N, Jimoh OF, Kirk C, Foster E, Abdelhamid AS. Reduction in saturated fat intake for cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Aug 21;8(8):CD011737. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011737.pub3. PMID: 32827219; PMCID: PMC8092457.
I think the source is the most important, then if you require more saturated fat then obviously full fat, if you just want to “snack” as an extra “dessert”, then maybe low fat. I guess you always have to adjust according to your current needs.
FWIW, Sigma nutrition Radio had an episode on that with a guest who studied the question thoroughly. I don’t remember the specifics, but the interview was concluded by the guest stating that he had switched to low fat for him and his family, based on the results (which were not all black and white)
I’m a little unsure, but I’ll go with… full fat, grass-fed, and processed, but some processes are better than others. I am leaning away from butter as a pillar food but a little butter and sour cream is fine. I like cheeses better; particularly certain ones. Real parmesan, or other hard cheeses, cave cheeses like bleu. I was just reminded how dairy helps block oxalates.
It’s a little bit of a philosophical position; but respect the cow and the food. (I eat them, too; so if this is virtue signaling I just ruined it)
I think it depends on what you are doing with fat, and why you’re having the dairy. We’re lumping a lot of products together into one category, and saying which side is better for a lot of different people.
Specifically: if you are eating carbs, you might want to avoid fat for longevity.
I say with dairy eat/drink what you prefer. I prefer low-fat yogurt because I grew up on it. I also prefer almond milk. But if you prefer full fat yogurt and whole milk, it is more nutrient dense. I think whole food sources like milk, you shouldn’t worry so much about. The amount you likely consume in one day isn’t going to make or break you. Just watch for overconsumption of cheeses, don’t eat full fat ice cream and milk chocolate every day. Wouldn’t concern yourself over milk and yogurt and cottage cheeses unless you’re consuming mountains of it daily.