Apparently, breast milk isn't just for babies anymore -- and experts warn of health risks.
There is a rising trend of adults who are buying breast milk off of websites and online discussion forums and drinking it themselves, according to CBS News. Some of the claims being made to adult breast-milk drinkers are: breast milk is "more digestible than cow's or other milk and contains immune-building properties"; breast milk is a "'superfood' that can help bodybuilders"; and breast milk can have "curative powers" for cancer patients, CBS News reports. Doctors find these claims to be bogus, according to CBS.
Dr. Sarah Steele of Queen Mary University of London wrote an editorial for the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, saying in part that "the health claims do not stand up clinically" and the raw human milk that people are purchasing online "poses many health risks."
While experts say consuming breast milk may not be good for adults, the American Pregnancy Association says that “breast milk contains the perfect combination of proteins, fats, vitamins and carbohydrates for newborn development.” This isn’t the case for adults since “nutritionally there is less protein in breast milk than other milks,” the organization says.
Steele adds that even if women who sell their milk online disclose information on their diet and lifestyle habits, there are still many factors they don't list. Traces of prescription drugs, illegal drugs or alcohol can end up in breast milk. And, previous research found bacterial food-borne illnesses and diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, and syphilis can be found in breast milk if it "isn't properly sanitized or stored."
Read more at CBS News.
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