Following a diet high in protein-rich foods is important for your health. It’s because this nutrient fuels your muscles and helps keep your energy levels up throughout the day. So, it’s no wonder that it’s crucial for your health.

The best sources of protein are complete proteins. As you may know, most of such foods are animal products.
But are all animal products complete proteins? How about milk? Is it a complete protein?
Table of Contents
Is milk a complete protein?
Since milk is an animal protein, it’s a complete protein. Because of that, it provides you with all the amino acids your body needs to function properly. Milk is also a great source of protein on its own, making it a great addition to any diet.
Drinking milk, especially whole milk, or including it in your meals can help you load up on various minerals and vitamins as well.
So, while some people are worried about milk’s negative health effects, there’s nothing to worry about as long as you do it in moderation.
Why is milk a complete protein?
Milk is an animal protein, which means that it provides you with the nine amino acids your body can’t create on its own.
These amino acids are considered essential, as they’re needed for your overall health and wellbeing.

So, by supplying these nine amino acids to the 11 that your body already produces, milk is a very good source of protein.
Can you make milk an even better source of protein?
Milk is already a complete protein on its own, so you don’t need to do much to improve the quality of the protein it contains.
But serving milk with whole grains like oats can help you get more fiber into your diet.
Oats also contain several minerals that milk doesn’t. So, it’s a good idea to make sure food pairings to ensure that you’re getting the best out of the foods you’re eating.
It can also be beneficial to soak protein sources like chicken breast or drumsticks in milk before cooking them.
Doing so for only a few minutes will help tenderize the meat while adding some minerals to your food.
Are all kinds of milk complete protein?
If you want to consume milk that’s a complete protein, you can safely drink all kinds of milk. All of them contain the nine essential amino acids necessary for a food to be considered a complete protein.

Most types of milk, even if they have reduced fat levels, contain the same amount of protein. So, you’re still getting enough of each of the nine essential amino acids.
But make sure to check the nutritional label because some types of milk are protein-fortified.
This means that they might contain more protein than regular milk, but this protein doesn’t come from animals.
As a result, this type of milk doesn’t provide you with enough of each amino acid.
While some flavored milk can be a source of complete protein, it’s much lower in amino acids and higher in sugar. So, it might also be best to avoid these.
What’s more, remember that only milk derived from animals is a complete protein. Most plant-based milk types aren’t sources of complete protein.
So, if you drink these, make sure to have them with other foods that together create a complete protein.
Is milk good for you?
Milk contains calories from all three macronutrients: carbs, protein, and fat. This means that it’s nutritionally balanced. One glass of whole milk provides you with 16% of your daily recommended need for protein.
This is quite a lot considering the calories that one glass comes with.

A single serving of milk is also a particularly good source of riboflavin. Also known as vitamin B2, riboflavin helps your body break down carbs, proteins, and fats in order to create energy.
This vitamin also helps with the development and function of the skin, lining of the digestive tract, and much more. So, it’s important to include riboflavin-rich foods in your diet.
One of the most common reasons people drink milk is to up their intake of calcium. This is an important mineral for a wide variety of processes, including maintaining and building strong bones.
As a result, drinking milk can help reduce your risk of osteoporosis and other bone-related issues.
Additionally, vitamin D, vitamin K, phosphorus, and magnesium enhance the absorption of calcium, and milk contains all of these.
Also, your heart and muscles need calcium. So, getting enough each day helps prevent heart disease, muscle spasms, and high blood pressure.
Even though a single glass of milk contains quite a lot of sugar, studies actually show that drinking whole milk (and only whole milk) can help reduce the risk of obesity in children as well as adults.
Milk also contains conjugated linoleic acid, which boosts weight loss. This is because it promotes fat breakdown and stops your body from producing any excess fat as well. So, if your goal is weight loss, drinking some milk can be beneficial.
On top of that, milk can lower your blood pressure thanks to the potassium it contains. This mineral also offsets the negative effects of sodium on your blood pressure levels, reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
A glass of milk provides you with 349 mg of potassium, which makes milk a high-potassium food. So, if you want to up your intake of this mineral, adding milk to your diet is a great way to do it,

What’s more, milk is incredibly easy to add to any diet. You can drink it on its own or add it to various dishes, such as muesli, oats, and cereal.
So, there are unlimited options for incorporating milk into your diet.
Conclusion
As an animal protein, milk is a complete protein, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids.
It also provides you with a lot of protein in a single serving, making it an even better source of protein.
In addition, milk is rich in several minerals and vitamins, such as vitamin D, riboflavin, calcium, and phosphorus, which are all important for your health. So, adding some milk to your diet can bring you lots of benefits.
Sources: Nutrition Data, PMC, and National Library of Medicine