Heavy Cream vs. Whole Milk
Nutrition comparison of Heavy Cream and Whole 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
whole milk
(100g each)
below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].
For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in heavy cream and whole milk:
- Both heavy cream and whole milk are high in calcium.
- For omega-3 fatty acids, heavy cream has more dpa than whole milk.
- Heavy cream is an excellent source of Vitamin A.
- Whole milk has 10.3 times less cholesterol than heavy cream.
- Whole milk has more niacin and Vitamin B12.
USDA sources for nutritional information: Heavy Cream (Cream, fluid, heavy whipping) and Whole Milk (Milk, whole, 3.25% milkfat, with added vitamin D) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.
Calories and Carbs
calories
Heavy cream is high in calories and whole milk has 82% less calories than heavy cream - heavy cream has 340 calories per 100 grams and whole milk has 61 calories.
For macronutrient ratios, heavy cream is lighter in protein, much lighter in carbs and much heavier in fat compared to whole milk per calorie. Heavy cream has a macronutrient ratio of 3:3:93 and for whole milk, 21:32:48 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.
Macro Ratios from Calories:
| Heavy Cream | Whole Milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 3% | 21% |
| Carbohydrates | 3% | 32% |
| Fat | 93% | 48% |
| Alcohol | ~ | ~ |
carbohydrates
Both heavy cream and whole milk are low in carbohydrates - heavy cream has 2.8g of total carbs per 100 grams and whole milk has 4.8g of carbohydrates.
The carbs in heavy cream and whole milk are both made of 100% sugar.
sugar
Heavy cream and whole milk contain similar amounts of sugar - heavy cream has 2.9g of sugar per 100 grams and whole milk has 5.1g of sugar.
Protein
protein
Heavy cream and whole milk contain similar amounts of protein - heavy cream has 2.8g of protein per 100 grams and whole milk has 3.2g of protein.
Fat
saturated fat
Heavy cream is high in saturated fat and whole milk has 92% less saturated fat than heavy cream - heavy cream has 23g of saturated fat per 100 grams and whole milk has 1.9g of saturated fat.
trans fat
Whole milk has less trans fat than heavy cream - heavy cream has 1.2g of trans fat per 100 grams and whole milk does not contain significant amounts.
cholesterol
Whole milk has 10.3 times less cholesterol than heavy cream - heavy cream has 113mg of cholesterol per 100 grams and whole milk has 10mg of cholesterol.
Vitamins
Vitamin C
Heavy cream and whole milk contain similar amounts of Vitamin C - heavy cream has 0.6mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and whole milk does not contain significant amounts.
Vitamin A
Heavy cream is an excellent source of Vitamin A and it has 793% more Vitamin A than whole milk - heavy cream has 411ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and whole milk has 46ug of Vitamin A.
Vitamin D
Heavy cream and whole milk contain similar amounts of Vitamin D - heavy cream has 63iu of Vitamin D per 100 grams and whole milk has 51iu of Vitamin D.
Vitamin E
Heavy cream and whole milk contain similar amounts of Vitamin E - heavy cream has 0.92mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and whole milk has 0.07mg of Vitamin E.
Vitamin K
Heavy cream and whole milk contain similar amounts of Vitamin K - heavy cream has 3.2ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and whole milk has 0.3ug of Vitamin K.
The B Vitamins
Whole milk has more niacin and Vitamin B12. Both heavy cream and whole milk contain significant amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6 and folate.
| Heavy Cream | Whole Milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Thiamin | 0.02 MG | 0.046 MG |
| Riboflavin | 0.188 MG | 0.169 MG |
| Niacin | 0.064 MG | 0.089 MG |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.495 MG | 0.373 MG |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.035 MG | 0.036 MG |
| Folate | 4 UG | 5 UG |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.16 UG | 0.45 UG |
Minerals
calcium
Both heavy cream and whole milk are high in calcium. Whole milk has 71% more calcium than heavy cream - heavy cream has 66mg of calcium per 100 grams and whole milk has 113mg of calcium.
iron
Heavy cream and whole milk contain similar amounts of iron - heavy cream has 0.1mg of iron per 100 grams and whole milk has 0.03mg of iron.
potassium
Heavy cream and whole milk contain similar amounts of potassium - heavy cream has 95mg of potassium per 100 grams and whole milk has 132mg of potassium.
Antioxidants and Phytonutrients
Omega-3 and Omega-6
omega 3s
For omega-3 fatty acids, heavy cream has more DPA than whole milk per 100 grams. Both heavy cream and whole milk contain significant amounts of alpha linoleic acid (ALA).
| Heavy Cream | Whole Milk | |
|---|---|---|
| alpha linoleic acid | 0.128 G | 0.075 G |
| EPA | 0.009 G | ~ |
| DPA | 0.02 G | ~ |
| Total | 0.157 G | 0.075 G |
omega 6s
Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, heavy cream has more linoleic acid than whole milk per 100 grams.
| Heavy Cream | Whole Milk | |
|---|---|---|
| other omega 6 | 0.039 G | ~ |
| linoleic acid | 1.294 G | 0.12 G |
| Total | 1.333 G | 0.12 G |
Customize your serving size
The comparison below is by common portions, e.g. cups, packages. You can also see a more concrete comparison by weight at equal weight (by grams) comparison.
Note: The specific food items compared are: Heavy Cream (Cream, fluid, heavy whipping) and Whole Milk (Milk, whole, 3.25% milkfat, with added vitamin D) .
Heavy Cream g
()
|
Daily Values (%) |
Whole 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 % |
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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 whole milk contain more calories in 100 grams?Heavy cream is high in calories and whole milk has 80% less calories than heavy cream - heavy cream has 340 calories in 100g and whole milk has 61 calories.
Does heavy cream or whole milk have more carbohydrates?
By weight, both heavy cream and whole milk are low in carbohydrates - heavy cream has 2.8g of carbs for 100g and whole milk has 4.8g of carbohydrates. the carbs in heavy cream and whole milk are both made of 100% sugar.
Does heavy cream or whole milk contain more calcium?
Both heavy cream and whole milk are high in calcium. Whole milk has 70% more calcium than heavy cream - heavy cream has 66mg of calcium in 100 grams and whole milk has 113mg of calcium.