Tag: Milk carbohydrates

According to the American Heart Association, carbohydrates found naturally in nutritious foods like milk and fruit are different from added sugars. The question of whether the carbs in milk are good or bad is a common point of confusion for those monitoring their intake, especially for blood sugar management.

Milk is not a one-sugar product, as the primary carbohydrate, lactose, is merely one component of a more complex saccharide profile. In fact, while lactose is the most abundant, milk also naturally contains other carbohydrates, including smaller amounts of glucose, galactose, and, most notably, a diverse group of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in breast milk. This multi-faceted composition has significant implications for nutrition and infant health.

Globally, dairy milk is consumed by billions of people and its primary carbohydrate is not starch. Naturally produced milk is not a starchy drink, as its carbohydrates are composed of a simple sugar called lactose. Any presence of starch would indicate a product has been adulterated or contains additives.