Is full fat dairy healthy?

Last updated 31/01/2025

The fat in dairy foods varies depending on the product. Regular milk and yoghurt have a fat content of about 3 to 4%, while foods like cheddar cheese contain 33% fat. The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend choosing mostly reduced fat dairy foods (i.e. yoghurt, milk, cheese), which means 50% of the dairy foods you eat should come from reduced fat varieties.¹ This recommendation is not related to any health benefits of reduced fat compared to full fat dairy foods, rather it focuses on adhering to an overall daily calorie or energy limit.

The Heart Foundation of Australia have recently updated their guidelines on dairy and heart healthy eating and advise that for the general population, full fat dairy products can be enjoyed every day. For people with high blood cholesterol or existing heart disease, higher fat dairy products should be limited.²

When it comes to individual nutrients such as fat, we eat them as part of a whole food, so it's important to look at the total benefits of that food and the presence of other essential nutrients. In the case of full fat dairy foods, the presence of nutrients such as calcium, protein, vitamins and other minerals work together to promote positive health.

Eating enough milk, cheese and yoghurt (either full fat or reduced fat) has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer and the metabolic syndrome. There are also other benefits of consuming dairy for bone health and dental health.¹