Mothers Milk

[George K]

Things you never knew about lactation.

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1704067360926134292.html

For example:

it has been demonstrated that breast milk leukocytes respond dynamically to maternal as well as infant infections, and that reverse flow of milk
from the infant mouth back into mum delivers signals that morph the milk to the child’s needs

the mother of a premature baby produces milk with more fats and secretory immunoglobulin the latter protect the baby until the development of the immune system

Animal studies show the composition of milk even changes when daughters or sons are fed.

Milk even changes throughout the day,

Breast milk contains melatonin, the sleep hormone, and tryptophan, an amino acid that contributes to its production. These components fluctuate in a cyclical pattern that may aid in regulating infants' sleep and wakefulness.

[Mik]

pretty smart system, this nature.

[George K]

@Mik said in Mothers Milk:

pretty smart system, this nature.

Yup, and every time we, in our arrogance, announce "We figured it out!" we are proven wrong. Look at the fascinating work on the gut microbiome. It affects everything from nutrition, to weight, to (perhaps) mood.

[Mik]

And every time we try to short-circuit it we fail in one way or another.