Ultra-Filtered Milk: Dietitian Review
Written by: Sarah Hester, MS, RD
What is Ultra-Filtered Milk?
Ultra-Filtered Milk is a relatively new type of product available on the market but the technology behind it is not new at all. Ultrafiltration is a common technology used in the food industry when making cheese and yogurt, fruit juice, wine, coffee products, whey protein powders and is the process used to purify water. Heck, even some of our body’s organs use this same process to keep things in balance (thank you, kidneys!).
Ultrafiltration is the process of putting something through a membrane or filter under pressure so it separates into its individual components. In the example of milk, the process separates all the many building blocks found in dairy like protein, water, lactose and the many vitamins and minerals.
What are the benefits of UF milk?
Because the milk has been separated into individual components, food scientists can then combine the components back together to make a new product. Ultra-Filtered (UF) Milk is an example where all the components, excluding a majority of the lactose, are combined back together. The result is a beverage that is nearly free of lactose (which may give some tummy troubles). Brands like Fairlife® who produce UF milk add the enzyme lactase into the milk after filtration to further break down any remaining lactose just for good measure. Fairlife® UF milk is also higher in protein and still contains all the beneficial vitamins and minerals found in dairy!
Can Ultra Filtered Milk Help Me Lose Weight?
Protein is a key macronutrient to help you lose weight! Protein helps to maintain muscle mass which helps to increase your metabolism and keeps us satisfied so our bodies aren’t constantly craving foods. Check out our blog post detailing how protein can aid in weight loss here. Our team of Registered Dietitians work with clients every day on identifying their individual needs for protein and suggestions on how to reach that goal. Milk is a great way to get a boost of protein and it is very versatile, but you may find the higher protein and lower lactose make-up of Ultra-Filtered milk better fit your lifestyle and weight loss goals. Book a discovery call today and see if our services fit your needs.