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Milk used to be easy. There was two percent whole milk and some other variations of cow's milk with different fat contents. But in recent years, Americans looking to buy milk may have found themselves overwhelmed by the number of options.
Whether almond, goat, or even the standard cow's milk, many Americans expect milk to be a nutritious complement to their coffee or other foods. People with children often want to make sure they choose a milk with exceptional nutritional values that will help them live happy, healthy lives.
However, because many Americans have difficulty reading nutrition labels and each type of milk makes its own claims, it can be difficult for the average person to make the right decision at the grocery store.
Nutritionists tell DailyMail.com that Americans need to consider their own diet and what vitamins and minerals they already get from other sources when making their decision.
But they also have a few recommendations on what to avoid.
Luke Corey (left), an RD at the Mayo Clinic, said milk is the standard diet, but everyone should make the decision about which milk to use based on their own diet. Bridget Murphy Hussain (right), RD at NYU, said she recommends drinking at least 1% milk to help absorb vitamins and minerals
Luke Corey, an RD at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, told DailyMail.com that the question of which milk to drink is a "challenging question to answer."
He said the reason why a person uses or drinks milk is the key factor.
When it comes to nutrition, he recommends classic cow's milk.
“Dairy milk is the standard from a nutritional perspective,” he said, pointing out the high levels of calcium, potassium, protein and fat in milk, which many people don’t get enough of elsewhere in their diet.
"It's difficult to rely on alternative [nutrients] that you get from other sources."
But pure nutrition isn't the only reason to drink milk. It is a common ingredient in baked goods and is even added to many other drinks.
Oat milk and almond milk have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their smoother texture, becoming a favorite for people who like milk in their coffee.
However, both have little nutritional value, Bridget Murphy Hussain, RD at NYU Langone Health, told DailyMail.com.
While oat milk has become a popular dairy product in recent years, particularly for coffee drinkers, it offers little nutritional value (file photo)
Corey points out that sweetened forms of milk should be avoided because of their high sugar content.
Like Corey, Hussain agrees that a person's choice of milk should depend on their personal nutritional needs, but she recommends one or two percent dairy milk as the standard.
She notes that the body needs fat to absorb vitamins and minerals, and that the recent "little" or "no" fat craze could actually be damaging people's calcium levels. The body uses fat to absorb vitamin D when it is then needed to properly absorb calcium.
However, Corey warns that there are dangers in consuming too much of a good thing.
"You have to remember that ... too much fat, too many carbohydrates can be harmful. It's unlikely that you can overconsume these nutrients, but it's certainly possible," he said.
People who drink milk alone should only stick to about one or two glasses per day.
Both Hussain and Corey say they primarily use two percent milk in their daily lives, but will use oat milk in coffee and other foods.