You may not think of milk as a health food, but with more protein and vitamins than other milks, ultrafiltered milk boasts a ton of potential benefits. Ultrafiltered milk is essentially that has gone through an extra filtration process, Caroline Susie, a registered dietitian based in Dallas and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells TODAY.com.
That process creates a product with a higher concentration of protein and far less lactose (milk sugar) than regular cow's milk, she explains. For a health-conscious crowd, that extra protein and less sugar is undoubtedly appealing. For others, the texture and taste of ultrafiltered milk is also a draw.
“You get a creamier and, some would say, more delicious outcome by doing this extra filtration,” Susie says. But is ultrafiltered milk actually healthier for you? It depends on your individual dietary needs and health goals, dietitians say. Ultrafiltered milk is cow's milk that has undergone an additional filtration process.
That process involves separating the components of milk by pressing it through a semi-permeable membrane, Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian with the Cleveland Clinic Center for Human Nutrition, tells TODAY.com. Water, lactose and some minerals are able to pass through the filter while larger components — like protein — are left behind, she explains.
Through this process, manufacturers are able to create a product that's almost "nutritionally ideal," Zumpano says. "You're filtering .
