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.
Detailed nutritional comparison of heavy cream and milk is analyzed below. You can also visualize the nutritional comparison for a custom portion or serving size and see how the nutrition compares.

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.

Image of Heavy Cream src
Image of Milk src

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

carotenoids

Carotenoids are micronutrients commonly found in plants and some animal products. An example is beta-carotene, the notable carotenoid which is a popular source of Vitamin A.[4][5]

For specific types of carotenoids,

Heavy Cream Milk
beta-carotene 72 UG 4 UG

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 %
calories
KCAL %
G %
carbohydrates
G %
G %
dietary fiber
G %
G sugar G
G %
total fat
G %
G %
saturated fat
G %
G monounsaturated fat G
G polyunsaturated fat G
G trans fat G
MG cholesterol MG
MG %
sodium
MG %
Vitamins and Minerals
UG %
Vitamin A
UG %
MG %
Vitamin C
MG %
IU %
Vitamin D
IU %
MG %
calcium
MG %
MG %
iron
MG %
MG %
magnesium
MG %
MG %
potassium
MG %
MG %
thiamin (Vit B1)
MG %
MG %
riboflavin (Vit B2)
MG %
MG %
niacin (Vit B3)
MG %
MG %
Vitamin B6
MG %
MG %
pantothenic acid (Vit B5)
MG %
UG %
folate (Vit B9)
UG %
UG %
Vitamin B12
UG %
MG %
Vitamin E
MG %
UG %
Vitamin K
UG %
G %
protein
G %
UG %
biotin (Vit B7)
UG %
MG %
choline
MG %
MG %
chlorine
MG %
UG %
chromium
UG %
MG %
copper
MG %
UG %
fluoride
UG %
UG %
iodine
UG %
MG %
manganese
MG %
UG %
molybdenum
UG %
MG %
phosphorus
MG %
UG %
selenium
UG %
MG %
zinc
MG %
G Water G
G Starch G
G Alcohol 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.