Breast milk is very important for babies, but what happens when parents drink it?
This question was triggered by Kourtney Kardashian's post on 'Instagram', where she wrote that she drinks breast milk when she doesn't feel well .
However, there is no scientific evidence for the benefits of breast milk for adults, on the contrary, it carries risks.
However, breast milk as specified by the WHO has many benefits for the child's body, improving the structure of the mouth, protecting it from gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory tract infections or allergies, and for the mother's body, preventing breast cancer. and ovaries and protecting bones from osteoporosis. Thus, it does not appear to have the same benefits for adults.
Risks for adults who drink breast milk
Dr.Sierra Woods, nurse practitioner interviewed by UsaToday.com, explained that drinking breast milk from adults has more risks than benefits , for various reasons. First of all, the body of newborns digests mother's milk, unlike adults . Also, the milk that newborns drink is specific to their needs and changes over time depending on the nutrients that babies have and not adults: babies need it more .
In addition, it specified that, since there is no scientific evidence for the risks or benefits of breast milk, mothers or fathers who wish to drink it can drink it, but making sure that it is safe to consume .
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine on the risks of consuming breast milk by adults, the main health problem seems to be related to its lack of pasteurization . According to researchers, in fact, as with all foods, raw breast milk can be contaminated by chemical agents present in the environment and able to change its composition , making consumers sick.
Furthermore, according to this research conducted in 2015, breast milk can expose consumers to infectious diseases such as cytomegalovirus , hepatitis B and C , HIV and syphilis , if the body from which the milk comes is infected and the mother does not is subjected to specific, ongoing tests.
Breast milk , compared to cow's milk, contains less protein and therefore has fewer benefits for adults .
Does breast milk heal the skin?
The Kardashian sisters, during the filming of the show 'The Kardashians', in addition to drinking breast milk, talked about the benefits of it for the skin.
Kim Kardashian explained that she treats irritated skin by massaging it with breast milk.
A study was conducted for this statement of hers. Although the study showed that in some cases the application of breast milk soothed irritated skin, there is not enough evidence to support the thesis that breast milk can cure skin problems.
On this topic, dermatologist Shariu Lipner said that if the eczema is serious, the application of breast milk can infect the skin more .
