Milk is available in many varieties, including whole milk, 2% milk, 1% milk, skim milk, flavored, powered, lactose-free, evaporated, condensed, and buttermilk.

Milk is an excellent source of calcium and good source of other essential nutrients, including vitamin D, potassium, vitamin B12, riboflavin, phosphorus and protein.
An 8-ounce glass of milk contains 300 mg of calcium, or about one-third of the daily recommended calcium intake for adults under the age of 50. In the U.S., cow's milk is uniformly fortified with vitamin D to a level of 25% of the Daily Value per 8-ounce serving.

The fat content of milk significantly affects its caloric level. In the U.S., whole milk provides about 144 calories and 8-9 grams of fat per 8-ounce serving. The same size serving of 2% milk contains about half as much fat (about 5 grams) and 120 calories per 8-ounce serving. Skim milk is virtually fat-free and contains about 88 calories per
8-ounce serving.

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