Importance of Fresh Milk to

Health
Written by Jan Annigan; Updated December 17, 2018

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Fresh milk is a rich source of several essential nutrients, including protein, calcium, phosphorus,
vitamin A and vitamin D. Reduced-fat fresh milk in particular, because it lacks the fat content of
other dairy products such as whole milk, offers health benefits -- yet fewer of the risks associated
with consuming saturated fat and cholesterol. Including three servings of fresh milk in your diet each
day can help you maintain muscle mass, strengthen your bones, support a favorable body
composition and improve your circulatory health.
Protein
In addition to being essential for tissue repair, enzyme and hormone synthesis, immune system
support and energy production, protein provides the structure of your muscle fibers. The proteins in
fresh milk are especially helpful because they contain all the essential amino acids, the protein
building blocks you lack the ability to make and must therefore include in your diet. In addition, the
two predominant milk proteins – casein and whey – play important roles in muscle building. Your
gut digests and absorbs casein relatively slowly, allowing for a steady release of amino acids into
your bloodstream to nourish your growing muscles in a sustained manner, while whey proteins enter
your system fairly quickly. Whey not only gives your muscle fibers a quick nutrient boost but also
supplies branched-chain amino acids that can help with muscle recovery following a workout.
Bone Health
Your body needs a continual supply of calcium and phosphorus to maintain a robust skeletal system.
Fresh milk provides both these minerals and, in fact, is one of the best food sources of these
nutrients. Your bones contribute to your physical structure and allow movement, and they also serve
as a backup source for calcium and phosphorus. Having a reserve of these minerals is important
because they play critical roles in muscle contraction, nerve transmission, cellular communication
and circulatory health. However, if your dietary calcium and phosphorus are low and your body
keeps pulling them from your bones, you may eventually compromise the integrity of your skeleton.
Drinking fresh milk, which also contains the vitamin D that assists with calcium absorption, can help
keep your bones strong.
Body Composition
Dairy products such as reduced-fat fresh milk can help you decrease body fat and accelerate the
burning of your fat stores as a fuel source. The calcium content of these foods affects your cells'
calcium concentration, which in turn regulates fat metabolism, allowing you to burn more lipids
when your calories are low but preventing you from packing on fat when your calorie intake
increases. In addition, the branched-chain aminos in the whey portion of fresh milk work in concert
with calcium to create this fat-burning effect, making dairy products preferable to calcium
supplements as a means to help manage your weight and improve your body composition.
Cardiovascular System
The vitamins and minerals in fresh milk might help lower your risk of developing cardiovascular
disease. Vitamin A, for example, functions as an antioxidant and can fight inflammation, a
contributor to heart disease. Calcium and vitamin D can help keep blood pressure within a healthy
range, and drinking low-fat fresh milk can help prevent obesity and elevated cholesterol levels, both
of which are risk factors for heart and circulatory disorders.