Organic milk seems to contain a better ratio of the heart-healthy fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6, according to a new study from Washington State University, Fox News reports.

In a study published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers tested nearly 400 samples of organic and conventional milk.  They were able to determine that while conventional milk contains an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 5.8, organic milk has a ratio of 2.3; and the lower the ratio, the better for your health.

Milk and omega-3 fatty acids

While the ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in a person’s body is thought to be 2.3-to-1, the ratio in most Western diets is between 10-to-1 and 15-to-1, according to the study’s authors.  As study author and WSU research associate Donald R. Davis said, this can be attributed to long-standing confusion about the role omega-6 fatty acids play in our health. 

As Americans began to consume more foods high in omega-6 fatty acids – such as vegetable oil, which is prevalent in processed foods – the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in their bodies has become increasingly higher, potentially putting their health at risk.

Organic milk seems to offer a better ratio of fatty acids because it comes from pasture-fed cows, according to Davis.

Notably, Davis and his colleagues performed their research using full-fat milk, and they warned that the health benefits of milk would decrease for people consuming lower-fat or skim varieties.