There are not a lot of studies out there directly linking bad eye health to saturated fat content in milk. One 2020 study published in the International Journal of Cardiology Hypertension looked at the possible association between excessive milk consumption and carotid atherosclerosis (carotid artery disease) and found a link in the elderly population surveyed based in China.
The conversation about saturated fat content in milk is mixed. There’s whole milk, low-fat milk, and skim milk, also known as fat-free or non-fat milk. One cup of whole milk has about 4.5 grams of saturated fat, while skim milk contains less than 1 gram. Low-fat milk might sit somewhere in between.
According to the American Heart Association, we should limit saturated fat to no more than 6% of our daily calorie intake. So if you eat 2,000 calories in a day, 120 of those can be from saturated fat. According to registered dietitian nutritionist Jennifer McDaniel (via Food Network), the conversation about reducing saturated fat content in our diet might not have to include milk. “Data suggests that milk fat compared to saturated fat from meat may not be associated with negative health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease,” explained the expert. What does this mean for milk and eye health, specifically?