How many ounces is a gallon of milk?

In this brief guide, we will be answering ‘how many ounces is a gallon of milk?’ also other ways you can measure milk and look into milk’s profile.

How many ounces is a gallon of milk?

There are 128 (U.S.) fluid ounces of milk in a gallon of milk and 160 (U.K) fluid ounces of milk in a gallon of milk. The difference is due to the size, U.K gallons tend to be 20% larger than U.S. gallons (1).

Easy conversion chart for 1 gallon of milk

Following is a chart that shows a gallon is equal to how many pounds, ounces, liters and kilograms of milk (1).

For further reading on biochemistry or processing of milk, please refer here.

What is the nutritional profile of milk?

The FDA defines “milk” as the “lacteal secretion obtained from one or more healthy milk-producing animals, e.g., cows, goats, sheep, and water buffalo…” Because of the rise in popularity of plant-based non-dairy milks, the FDA has initiated plans to enforce a federal standard of identity defining milk that would exclude food products extracted from plants (2). 

Milk contains a good amount of macros – carbohydrates, proteins and fats and sufficient amounts of micro’s – vitamins and minerals. The following chart shows the nutritional profile for a serving of milk (2).

What are the health benefits of milk?

Secreted by the mammary glands of female mammals to nourish their young ones, is considered an important food source for all humans, either as fresh fluid or processed into any dairy product.

Milk is considered to be a complete source of nutrients and therefore is so crucial for any age group. Its health benefits are a lot but first, let’s have a look at its nutritional profile. 

Epidemiologic studies confirm the nutritional importance of milk in the human diet and reinforce the possible role of its consumption in preventing several chronic conditions like cardiovascular diseases, some forms of cancer, obesity, and diabetes (3). 

Following are some benefits of consuming milk:

Bone health

Milk is the best calcium source. This calcium strengthens your bones and teeth. It also supports muscle movement and nerve signals. 

Milk consumption has been previously associated with a higher bone density. This effect could be attributed to calcium, but milk supplies a varied array of minerals and other components like peptides and conjugated linoleic acid, which could play a positive role in bone mass, lower prevalence of fractures, and osteoporosis prevention (3).

Milk manufacturers often fortify milk with Vitamin D, this Vitamin D works synergistically with calcium and phosphorus to strengthen bones and teeth.

Heart health

Milk is a source of potassium that aids the blood vessels to dilate and reduces blood pressure. 

The effect of milk fat upon cardiovascular diseases (CVD) due to the saturated fat content is controversial. Several prospective cohort studies that included data regarding milk consumption previously to the 1980s, thus referring to whole milk as well as the conclusions presented in some recent meta-analyses and reviews where no convincing data was found suggesting a pejorative role of milk consumption in CVD risk regardless of fat content (3).

Cancer prevention

Calcium with vitamin D may help protect against cancer. Based on research, calcium protects the gut lining and lowers the risk of many types of cancer.

Milk contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a group of octadecadienoic isomers derived from linoleic acid, which result from biohydrogenation reactions performed by ruminant animal’s gastrointestinal microbes. This group of fatty acids has deserved additional attention due to its health benefits in the cardiovascular system and immune function, as well as in its anticancer properties and hypolipidemic effects (3).

Combats depression

Vitamin D supports the production of serotonin – a hormone that stimulates mood, appetite and sleep. It has been shown that one of the actions of vitamin D is to induce the expression of the serotonin-synthesizing gene tryptophan hydroxylase 2 while repressing the expression of tryptophan hydroxylase 1. Both tryptophan hydroxylase 1 and tryptophan hydroxylase 2 play a role in serotonin synthesis. Vitamin D may thus prevent depression by maintaining normal serotonin levels (4).

Muscle building

Since milk is a rich source of proteins that contains all the essential amino acids and it’s the primary building block of the body, therefore, drinking milk supports muscle building. Milk proteins are frequently considered the best protein source taking into account the essential amino acid score and protein-digestibility corrected amino acid score. The amino acid profile is quite different between the two fractions: Whey is especially rich in branched chain amino acids, i.e., leucine, isoleucine, and valine as well as lysine, whereas casein has a higher proportion of histidine, methionine, and phenylalanine (3).

Weight gain

Adding whole milk into your diet may aid in gaining weight. However, some studies have suggested that milk whey proteins can exert interesting effects in glycemic control and insulin response, as well as in satiety, which would help decrease excessive food intake and thus prevent weight gain (3).

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis of the knee currently has no cure but researchers have linked drinking milk to reduced progression. Whey proteins of milk prevent inflammation (3).

Is milk safe for everyone?

Despite being nutritious with a complete dietary profile, some people can’t digest or altogether can not consume it.

Lactose intolerance

Milk sugar referred to as lactose is not easily digested by many individuals. For them, a new product; lactose-free milk was introduced that has lactase enzyme (the enzyme needed to break down lactose) which pre digest lactose, making it easier to digest . This enzyme is connected to small intestine mucosa membrane and after lactose is hydrolyzed, the two monosaccharide glucose and galactose are absorbed and transported to the liver through the portal vein where galactose is converted to glucose (3).

Milk allergy

Milk allergy or hypersensitivity is linked with milk proteins. It can be characterized as an immunologic-mediated adverse reaction to cow milk protein and it can be developed in the neonatal period or during the first years of life. Normally, it tends to remit during childhood and is quite uncommon in adults (3). This may cause symptoms ranging from wheezing, asthma, diarrhea, vomiting and gastrointestinal distress. In severe cases can lead to anaphylaxis. 

Milk or milk alternatives

Following are some commonly seen milk or milk alternatives you find in your supermarts.

• Whole milk
• Fat-free milk
• Low-fat milk
• Lactose-free milk
• Pasteurized milk
• UHT treated milk
• A2 milk
• Almond milk
• Oat milk
• Soy milk
• Coconut milk
• Cashew milk
• Hemp milk
• Rice milk

Many other options are also depending upon where you purchase.

Other FAQs about Milk that you may be interested in.

Can you substitute almond milk for evaporated milk?

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered ‘how many ounces is a gallon of milk?’ Also, there are other ways you can measure milk and have looked into milk’s profile.

Hope you found this guide helpful. If you have any questions or comments please let us know.

Citation

1. Weights and Measures. National Institute of Standards and Technology.
2. Milk. The Nutrition Source. School of Public Health. University of Harvard. 2022.
3. Pereira, Paula C. Milk nutritional composition and its role in human health. Nutrition, 2014, 30, 619-627.
4. Berridge, Michael J. Vitamin D and depression: cellular and regulatory mechanisms. Pharmacol rev, 2017, 69, 80-92.