Heavy Cream vs. Milk
Nutrition comparison of Heavy Cream and Milk
Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?
We compared the nutritional contents of
heavy cream
versus
milk
(100g each)
below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].
For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in heavy cream and milk:
- Both heavy cream and milk are high in calcium.
- Heavy cream is an excellent source of Vitamin A.
- Milk has 13.1 times less cholesterol than heavy cream.
- Milk has 13.5 times less trans fat than heavy cream.
- Milk has more niacin and Vitamin B12.
USDA sources for nutritional information: Heavy Cream (Cream, fluid, heavy whipping) and Milk (Milk, reduced fat, fluid, 2% milkfat, with added vitamin A and vitamin D) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.
Calories and Carbs
calories
Heavy cream is high in calories and milk has 85% less calories than heavy cream - heavy cream has 340 calories per 100 grams and milk has 50 calories.
For macronutrient ratios, heavy cream is much lighter in protein, much lighter in carbs and much heavier in fat compared to milk per calorie. Heavy cream has a macronutrient ratio of 3:3:94 and for milk, 26:38:36 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.
Macro Ratios from Calories:
| Heavy Cream | Milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 3% | 26% |
| Carbohydrates | 3% | 38% |
| Fat | 94% | 36% |
| Alcohol | ~ | ~ |
carbohydrates
Both heavy cream and milk are low in carbohydrates - heavy cream has 2.8g of total carbs per 100 grams and milk has 4.8g of carbohydrates.
The carbs in heavy cream and milk are both made of 100% sugar.
sugar
Heavy cream and milk contain similar amounts of sugar - heavy cream has 2.9g of sugar per 100 grams and milk has 5.1g of sugar.
Protein
protein
Heavy cream and milk contain similar amounts of protein - heavy cream has 2.8g of protein per 100 grams and milk has 3.3g of protein.
Fat
saturated fat
Heavy cream is high in saturated fat and milk has 95% less saturated fat than heavy cream - heavy cream has 23g of saturated fat per 100 grams and milk has 1.3g of saturated fat.
trans fat
Milk has 13.5 times less trans fat than heavy cream - heavy cream has 1.2g of trans fat per 100 grams and milk has 0.09g of trans fat.
cholesterol
Milk has 13.1 times less cholesterol than heavy cream - heavy cream has 113mg of cholesterol per 100 grams and milk has 8mg of cholesterol.
Vitamins
Vitamin C
Heavy cream and milk contain similar amounts of Vitamin C - heavy cream has 0.6mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and milk has 0.2mg of Vitamin C.
Vitamin A
Heavy cream is an excellent source of Vitamin A and it has 647% more Vitamin A than milk - heavy cream has 411ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and milk has 55ug of Vitamin A.
Vitamin D
Heavy cream has 29% more Vitamin D than milk - heavy cream has 63iu of Vitamin D per 100 grams and milk has 49iu of Vitamin D.
Vitamin E
Heavy cream and milk contain similar amounts of Vitamin E - heavy cream has 0.92mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and milk has 0.03mg of Vitamin E.
Vitamin K
Heavy cream and milk contain similar amounts of Vitamin K - heavy cream has 3.2ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and milk has 0.2ug of Vitamin K.
The B Vitamins
Milk has more niacin and Vitamin B12. Both heavy cream and milk contain significant amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6 and folate.
| Heavy Cream | Milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Thiamin | 0.02 MG | 0.039 MG |
| Riboflavin | 0.188 MG | 0.185 MG |
| Niacin | 0.064 MG | 0.092 MG |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.495 MG | 0.356 MG |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.035 MG | 0.038 MG |
| Folate | 4 UG | 5 UG |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.16 UG | 0.53 UG |
Minerals
calcium
Both heavy cream and milk are high in calcium. Milk has 82% more calcium than heavy cream - heavy cream has 66mg of calcium per 100 grams and milk has 120mg of calcium.
iron
Heavy cream and milk contain similar amounts of iron - heavy cream has 0.1mg of iron per 100 grams and milk has 0.02mg of iron.
potassium
Milk has 47% more potassium than heavy cream - heavy cream has 95mg of potassium per 100 grams and milk has 140mg of potassium.
Antioxidants and Phytonutrients
Omega-3 and Omega-6
omega 3s
For omega-3 fatty acids, heavy cream has more alpha linoleic acid (ALA) and DPA than milk per 100 grams.
| Heavy Cream | Milk | |
|---|---|---|
| alpha linoleic acid | 0.128 G | 0.008 G |
| EPA | 0.009 G | ~ |
| DPA | 0.02 G | ~ |
| Total | 0.157 G | 0.008 G |
omega 6s
Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, heavy cream has more linoleic acid than milk per 100 grams.
| Heavy Cream | Milk | |
|---|---|---|
| other omega 6 | 0.047 G | 0.004 G |
| linoleic acid | 1.294 G | 0.062 G |
| Total | 1.341 G | 0.066 G |
Customize your serving size
The comparison below is by weight, but sometimes 100g isn't that intuitive of a measurement for food. View a custom portion comparison (e.g. cups, oz, package).
You can try adding or subtracting the amount of either Heavy Cream or Milk .
Note: The specific food items compared are: Heavy Cream (Cream, fluid, heavy whipping) and Milk (Milk, reduced fat, fluid, 2% milkfat, with added vitamin A and vitamin D) .
Heavy Cream g
()
|
Daily Values (%) |
Milk g
()
|
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCAL % |
|
5% | calories | 5% |
|
KCAL % | |
| G % |
|
5% | carbohydrates | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | dietary fiber | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | sugar | 5% | G | |||
| G % |
|
5% | total fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | saturated fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | monounsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | polyunsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | trans fat | 5% | G | |||
| MG | 5% | cholesterol | 5% | MG | |||
| MG % |
|
5% | sodium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| 5% | Vitamins and Minerals | 5% | |||||
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin A | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin C | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| IU % |
|
5% | Vitamin D | 5% |
|
IU % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | calcium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | iron | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | magnesium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | potassium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | thiamin (Vit B1) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | riboflavin (Vit B2) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | niacin (Vit B3) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin B6 | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | pantothenic acid (Vit B5) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | folate (Vit B9) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin B12 | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin E | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin K | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| G % |
|
5% | protein | 5% |
|
G % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | biotin (Vit B7) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | choline | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | chlorine | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | chromium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | copper | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | fluoride | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | iodine | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | manganese | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | molybdenum | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | phosphorus | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | selenium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | zinc | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| G | 5% | Water | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Starch | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Alcohol | 5% | G | |||
FAQ
Does heavy cream or milk contain more calories in 100 grams?Heavy cream is high in calories and milk has 90% less calories than heavy cream - heavy cream has 340 calories in 100g and milk has 50 calories.
Does heavy cream or milk have more carbohydrates?
By weight, both heavy cream and milk are low in carbohydrates - heavy cream has 2.8g of carbs for 100g and milk has 4.8g of carbohydrates. the carbs in heavy cream and milk are both made of 100% sugar.
Does heavy cream or milk contain more calcium?
Both heavy cream and milk are high in calcium. Milk has 80% more calcium than heavy cream - heavy cream has 66mg of calcium in 100 grams and milk has 120mg of calcium.