People do weird things for "gains." You've seen the guys at the gym chugging raw eggs or buying unpasteurized milk from a farm an hour away because they heard it builds muscle faster. But lately, a much stranger trend has bubbled up in bodybuilding forums and niche wellness circles. People are actually buying human milk online. They’re looking for the benefits of drinking breast milk for adults, convinced it’s a "superfood" that can bypass the limitations of regular cow's milk or protein powders.
It sounds like a miracle cure.
The logic is pretty simple on the surface: if this stuff can turn a tiny, seven-pound human into a walking, talking toddler in a year, imagine what it could do for a grown man trying to bench 300 pounds. Or a cancer patient trying to rebuild an immune system. But honestly? The reality is way more complicated than the hype you’ll find on a Reddit thread.
Is breast milk actually a "liquid gold" for grown-ups?
Breast milk is undeniably incredible. It’s a biological masterpiece containing antibodies, stem cells, enzymes, and hormones specifically calibrated for a human infant. It’s got secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA), which coats the gut and protects against pathogens.
But here is the catch.
You aren't a baby. Your digestive system is vastly different from a newborn’s. An infant’s stomach is less acidic, which allows those precious antibodies to pass through into the system relatively intact. In an adult? Your stomach acid is a localized pool of destruction. It’s designed to break down proteins. Most of those specialized immune-boosting proteins in breast milk are simply digested as regular old protein by the time they hit an adult's small intestine.
Furthermore, the nutritional profile isn't actually "better" for an adult athlete. Let’s look at the numbers. Human milk is high in fat and lactose (sugar) because babies need massive amounts of energy for brain development. It’s actually quite low in protein compared to cow’s milk or a standard whey shake. If you’re drinking it for muscle growth, you’re basically paying a premium for a high-sugar, low-protein beverage.
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The "HAMLET" Factor
There is, however, one area where researchers are genuinely excited. It’s called HAMLET (Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made Lethal to Tumor cells). This is a molecular complex discovered by researchers at Lund University in Sweden. In lab settings, this specific complex has shown a remarkable ability to kill tumor cells while leaving healthy cells alone.
Dr. Catharina Svanborg, who led much of this research, found that this complex could help with bladder cancer when instilled directly into the bladder. But—and this is a big "but"—drinking a glass of breast milk isn't the same as a targeted medical treatment. The concentration matters. The delivery method matters. Just because a component of the milk has anti-cancer properties in a petri dish doesn't mean a latte made with human milk is going to cure a disease.
The massive risks no one mentions
If you’re scouting for the benefits of drinking breast milk for adults on the "gray market," you are playing a dangerous game.
Unlike the regulated milk banks that supply neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), the stuff sold on classified sites or social media isn't tested. It’s not pasteurized. It’s just... milk from a stranger.
A study published in the journal Pediatrics analyzed 101 samples of breast milk purchased online. The results were terrifying. Roughly 74% of the samples were contaminated with high levels of bacteria, including Salmonella and E. coli. Some samples even showed traces of Staphylococcus.
Why? Because milk is a biological fluid. If the person pumping doesn't have sterile equipment, or if the milk sits in a warm USPS truck for two days, it becomes a petri dish.
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- Infectious Diseases: Viruses like HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and Syphilis can be transmitted through breast milk.
- Pharmaceutical Contamination: You have no idea what medications or supplements the donor is taking.
- Illicit Substances: Nicotine, alcohol, and drugs pass directly into the milk supply.
Digestion and the "Gut Health" Argument
Some proponents claim the benefits of drinking breast milk for adults center around gut healing, specifically for people with Crohn’s disease or IBS. The idea is that the human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)—which act as prebiotics—can reshape the adult microbiome.
HMOs are fascinating. They are the third most abundant solid component in human milk, and humans can't even digest them. They exist purely to feed Bifidobacteria in the gut. While there is emerging research into synthetic HMOs for adult gut health, drinking raw milk from a donor is an incredibly inefficient (and risky) way to get them. You’d be better off taking a targeted prebiotic supplement that doesn't carry the risk of Hepatitis.
The Bodybuilding Myth
Let's talk about the gym culture. Some bodybuilders swear by it. They call it the "greatest supplement ever."
But if we look at the macronutrient breakdown, it just doesn't hold up.
- Human Milk: ~1% protein.
- Cow’s Milk: ~3.5% protein.
- Whey Isolate: ~90% protein.
If your goal is hypertrophy, you are literally choosing the least efficient protein source available. The "growth factors" like IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) are present, sure, but they are also present in cow's milk in different concentrations. Most of these hormones are broken down during digestion anyway.
The placebo effect is a hell of a drug. If you spend $10 an ounce on a "secret" supplement, you’re probably going to train harder. That doesn't mean the milk is doing the heavy lifting.
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Real experts weigh in
Dr. Sarah Steele, a public health expert at Queen Mary University of London, has been very vocal about this. She argues that the "superfood" branding of breast milk for adults is not only scientifically flimsy but also ethically dubious.
When adults buy up the supply of human milk, it can drive up prices or decrease availability for the people who actually need it: infants whose mothers cannot produce enough. There is a limited supply of this resource. Using it to try and get a slightly better pump at the gym when a premature baby in a NICU could use it for actual survival is an ethical quandary that many in the "wellness" community choose to ignore.
What should you do instead?
If you’re looking for the purported benefits of drinking breast milk for adults, like improved immunity or gut health, there are safer, more effective routes.
- Colostrum Supplements: Bovine colostrum (the "first milk" from cows) contains many of the same growth factors and immunoglobulins but is processed for human consumption and is legally regulated.
- Targeted Prebiotics: If you want the benefits of HMOs, look for supplements containing 2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL). It’s the same stuff, minus the risk of viral infection.
- High-Quality Protein: Stick to whey or plant-based isolates if you're trying to build muscle. The amino acid profile is better suited for adult needs.
Actionable Takeaways
If you are still considering trying breast milk as an adult, keep these safety protocols in mind.
- Avoid "Milk-Sharing" Sites: Never buy milk from unverified individuals on the internet. The risk of bacterial contamination is nearly 75%.
- Check for Pasteurization: If you do find a source, it must be flash-heated or pasteurized to kill pathogens, though this also degrades some of the beneficial enzymes.
- Consult a GI Specialist: If you're looking at this for Crohn's or Colitis, talk to a gastroenterologist about HMO trials or specific prebiotic protocols instead of self-medicating with biological fluids.
- Acknowledge the Cost-Benefit: At $5 to $10 per ounce, it is one of the most expensive and least efficient ways to get nutrients.
The fascination with human milk makes sense. It's the first thing we eat; it’s the definition of "natural." But biology is specific. Breast milk is a bespoke product designed by a mother for her specific baby. Once you move past infancy, the biological "key" no longer fits the "lock" of your digestive system in the same way. Focus on evidence-based nutrition that’s actually designed for an adult metabolism.