Consuming milk and milk products provides health benefits. People who have a diet rich in milk and milk products can reduce the risk of low bone mass throughout the life cycle. Foods in the milk group provide nutrients that are vital for health and maintenance of your body. These nutrients include calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein.

Milk products that are consumed in their low-fat or fat-free forms provide little or no solid fat. Why is it important to make fat-free or low-fat choices from the milk group? Choosing foods from the milk group that are high in saturated fats and cholesterol can have health implications. Diets high in saturated fats raise bad cholesterol levels in the blood. The bad cholesterol is called LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. High LDL cholesterol, in turn, increases the risk for coronary heart disease.

Many cheeses, whole milk, and products made from them are high in saturated fat. To help keep blood cholesterol levels healthy, limit the amount of these foods you eat. In addition, a high intake of fats makes it difficult to avoid consuming more calories than are needed.