Question:
Is milk a good source of protein?

I was shocked to see that milk has 10 grams of protein per cup (2%). I know that milk has fat, but is it a good source of protein? I know that a lot of people are lactose intolerant, but fortunately I am able to handle it. I have never really heard of anyone speaking much about milk so I was wondering what your thoughts on it were? Thanks!    — Jen S. (posted on October 1, 2001)

October 1, 2001
my surgeon's nutritionist advises any patients who can tolerate it to drink at least two cups of skim milk per day, which adds almost 20 gm. of protein per day to your diet. If you add no sugar added carnation instant breakfast, it adds about 22 gm. per day. I try to drink as much milk as I can, often adding protein powder to it to increase the protein grams.
   — Maria H.

October 1, 2001
Yes it does have alot of protein, but I believe it also has a fair amount of sugar. :( Even the Rich Skim seems to.
   — Danmark

October 1, 2001
The only thing I would say is to remember that in addition to protein milk also has about 12 grams of carbs per cup. If you're trying to achieve the hi protein/lo carb diet too much milk may undermine that. Personally I don't drink milk, not because of the carbs but because I really don't like it (never have). I eat lots of cheese and meats to get my protein. In moderation I don't think it would hurt especially since you can tolerate it :)
   — ctyst

October 2, 2001
No, it's not a good source of protein. It is an excellent source of sugar, though. As an adult, we lose the ability to extract either protein or calcium from milk in a predicatable quantity. RNY have lost the ability to digest anything normally, which included acid and digestive enzymes. That's OK, as it is part of what we paid for. So, if we cannot get AT the protein & calcium in it, all we do get is the sugar, which does not need to be digested in order to absorb. The same is true of most food protein sources. The trypsin & pepsin that are in the lower stomach that normally break down foods are now locked away. A bit of this gastric cocktail trickles down, but never again will the food be immersed in a "vat of digestion", which makes nutrients more absorbable. Since it then becomes just a glass of sugar, you may find that it just makes you hungry and crave more sugars.
   — vitalady