unsaturated fatty acids of grass and grain into
saturated fatty acids, the milk fat of ruminant
animals is the most highly saturated of our
common foods. Only coconut oil beats it.
Saturated fat does raise blood cholesterol
levels, and high blood cholesterol is
associated with an increased risk of heart
disease; but the other foods in a balanced diet
can compensate for this disadvantage (p. 253).
The box below shows the nutrient contents
of both familiar and unfamiliar milks. These
figures are only a rough guide, as the
breakdown by breed indicates; there’s also
much variation from animal to animal, and in
a given animal’s milk as its lactation period
progresses.
The Compositions of Various Milks
The figures in the following table are the
percent of the milk’s weight accounted for
by its major components.