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Breast Milk as Health Food: A New Trend
Breast Milk to ease effects of Chemotherapy
 Adult cancer patients are taking breast milk in an attempt to to boost their
immune systems and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. A milk bank in
California has quietly supplied 28 adult patients in the past four years with
donated breast milk. The Mothers' Milk Bank, one of six in the United States,
distributes the milk mainly to premature and low-birth-weight babies but also
gives it to adults with a doctor�s prescription.
Cancer specialists in Britain and America were sceptical about the treatment,
saying that there was little or no hard evidence that it worked. Some of the
patients - who drink several ounces of milk a day to ease the ravages of their
drugs - said, however, that it had led to big improvements in their general
health, and had a powerful anti-cancer effect.
One recipient, Howard Cohen, a computer consultant from Palo Alto, said that his
twice-weekly "smoothies" made with breast milk and fruit had helped put his
prostate cancer into remission and allowed him to avoid more invasive treatment,
such as surgery. Mr Cohen first took breast milk after he was diagnosed in 1999.
His wife read an article about Swedish research on breast milk and cancer cells.
A friend who was breast-feeding at the time gave him some of her milk, and Mr
Cohen found that his levels of prostate-specific antigen, a warning sign for
prostate cancer, dropped back to normal.
His urologist was sceptical but not opposed to Mr Cohen�s self-treatment so long
as it had no adverse effects. Mr Cohen has undergone regular blood tests and
screenings in the past two-and-a-half years and there have been no signs of
cancer, though his doctor has pointed out that some prostate cancers grow so
slowly that it is possible that the breast milk made little or no difference.
He dismissed concerns that drinking breast milk could even be harmful. "You give
this stuff to newborn babies,'' Mr Cohen said. "It can't be toxic.'' Breast
milk�s benefits for babies are well-documented. Research shows that it helps
fight infection, improves immune system function, increases intelligence and
combats obesity in later life. Little research has, however, been carried out on
the medicinal effects for adults.
In 1995 Swedish researchers, whose work caught Mr Cohen�s attention, isolated a
protein in mothers' milk that seemed to kill cancer cells in a test tube and are
still trying to develop a drug that takes advantage of that protein. Many
doctors remain sceptical about the value of breast milk for adults, however.
They point out that many chemicals will kill cancer cells in a test tube without
having a hope of becoming viable treatments.
Dr Michelle Melisko, a consultant oncologist at the University of California-San
Francisco, said that mothers' milk was probably unlikely to harm her patients
but she did have some concerns. Some viruses could be passed through breast milk
- a potentially serious threat to patients whose immune systems have been
weakened by cancer treatments - and she had advised them against using it.
"I�d say the same thing I say to all my patients who want to do alternative
things: I don't know how it�s tested,'' Dr Melisko said. Dr Margit Hamosh,
however, a biochemist and human breast milk specialist at Georgetown University,
said that breast milk contained compounds "that might definitely help in people
who have compromised immune systems."
David Kerr, the professor of clinical pharmacology and cancer therapeutics at
Oxford University, said: "This is quite bizarre, completely anecdotal and
probably complete bunkum.
"It probably won't do any harm but it�s unlikely to do any good either. "People
with cancer and their families of course want to leave no stone unturned when it
come to looking for a cure, and who am I to stand in their way? "I do warn,
however, that there are many charlatans out there. And I think there are several
rules to stick by: the product should not cost an arm and a leg; it shouldn't do
undue harm, and it shouldn't interfere with the conventional treatments."
It is being reported that some grown men think that ingesting breast milk will
lift their endurance during workouts as well as giving them various other health
benefits. They believe the milk is contributing to their health and making it
better overall.
Jason Nash, age 55, declared that he thought breast milk could be just as
healthy for adults as it is for infants. He got a taste for it after his first
child was born. He believes it has kept him well for a number of years. However
other men drink breast milk purely for sexual desires. One man, who wanted to
remain anonymous, stated that it was only a fetish for him and that was it.
There might be grains of truth to the claim that breast milk has health benefits
for grown-ups. In fact a couple of research studies have stated that the milk
might have a compound which fights cancer but other scientists disagree about
the health aids.
David Kerr, who is a professor of pharmacology and cancer therapeutics at Oxford
University, explained that adult men drinking breast milk is very bizarre, based
on total hearsay and probably complete nonsense. He added that it most likely
would not do any kind of harm but it was not likely to do any good as well.
A person buying another individual�s body fluids, especially from strangers,
comes with a major chance of health risks. Research studies have shown that
nearly 65 percent of samples obtained from breast milk sharing websites were
tainted with staph; just over 35 percent of the samples were infested with
strep; and about three quarters had various other types of bacteria inside.
When breast milk is healthy and disease-free, it is made up of fats, proteins
and carbohydrates. It also contains cells which are known as leukocytes. These
are to aid in fighting infection. The hormones, cells, antibodies and enzymes
are what make breast milk the best. These ingredients are items that cannot be
put into any type of baby formula.
However on the downside, in modern breast milk there is also dangerous chemicals
such as mercury, perchlorats, arsenic, lead, PCB�s, DDT, benzene, dibenzofurans
and trichloroethylene. Female breasts and the tissue which makes them up are
basically like sponges. The tissue is fatty and it absorbs up chemicals that are
around in the environment.
Even with all the above, breast milk seems to be fine for babies to drink but it
is not easy to find for anyone else. To begin with, an individual has to
discover a female who is lactating, and one who is willing to give up breast
milk which will not be needed for a child. There are several women who do not
experience any problems making enough milk to feed their babies and also having
extra to give away but many are unable to do so. Basically making breast milk
and also breastfeeding are both hard work. Breast milk itself is valued at
around $2.50 to $3.00 per ounce. With that said, if some women actually discover
they have a surplus, does this mean it is okay for them to sell it?
Some grown men think that ingesting breast milk is lifting their endurance
during workouts as well as giving them various other health benefits. They
believe the milk is contributing to their health and making it better overall.
Based on various studies and researches about breast milk consumption by adults
as detailed above. Women Fitness is of opinion that it should be consumed by
adults only under doctors advice or under their supervision.
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Dated 18 March 2015
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