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Not Just For Breastfeeding: Weird, Wacky And Wonderful Alternative Uses For Breast Milk

The idea of drinking it yourself or applying it to your skin may make you shudder, but breast milk is completely natural and bursting with beneficial properties

We all know that breast milk is great for babies to drink. It supports their development, makes their bones strong and may even give them an intelligence boost.

But you probably didn’t know how many other odd yet undeniably amazing uses it may have – for both children and adults. There's a reason why Kim Kardashian, Myleene Klass and Jennifer Aniston have all tried it.

Breast milk isn't just for feeding babies... [Rex]
Breast milk isn't just for feeding babies... [Rex]



There are a whole host of home remedies that use breast milk to cure various minor ailments – just keep in mind that there’s no medical backing behind many of these alternative uses and unscreened fresh breast milk can contain various infections.

Donate It
Whether you’ve finished breastfeeding your baby and are still producing milk or simply have an excess of it, you can donate to milk banks in UK hospitals who give it to mums unable to provide their own baby with milk. Find out more from the United Kingdom Association for Milk Banking.

Sell It
There’s a growing trend for women to sell their breast milk – and a lot of money can be made from it. But there are concerns over whether it’s safe and hygienic for another, unrelated, person to drink so it’s definitely best to purchase screened pints. Visit Only The Breast for more information.

Drink As A Fitness Supplement
Move over protein shakes – the trend for bodybuilders to drink breast milk is continuing to grow.

Some fitness fanatics believe the growth hormones in the milk aid strength training while others say the 60:40 ratio of whey to casein proteins helps bodybuilders bulk up faster than when drinking cow’s milk.

Some fitness fanatics drink breast milk to bulk up [Rex]
Some fitness fanatics drink breast milk to bulk up [Rex]



Clears Ear And Eye Infections
Some mums claim they’ve used their breast milk to treat their baby’s conjunctivitis as well as other eye and ear infections. There’s been a couple of study’s conducted on this but the milk used in this instances was colostrum (the first milk that a new mum produces before the ‘real’ milk comes), which is much higher in antibodies than regular breast milk.

Heals Cuts And Scrapes
Breast milk acts as a natural antiseptic, so it can be applied topically to help soothe irritated skin areas.

Use As A Skin Soother
There have been reports of breast milk magically soothing and clearing up a whole host of skin complaints, including nappy rash, baby acne, sunburn, eczema and cradle cap, to name a few. Apply a few drops to the affected area a couple of times a day until it clears up.

Some parents believe breast milk soothes nappy rash [Rex]
Some parents believe breast milk soothes nappy rash [Rex]



Acts As A Sleep Aid
Scientists have found that breast milk contains ingredients that are suited to a baby’s nutritional needs at certain times of the day – so giving a baby breast milk before putting them down for the night may help them sleep.

Cook With It
Yep that’s right. This one may completely gross you out but there is the option to substitute breast milk for cow’s milk in your food – or drinks.

Mum Abi Blake become famous for mixing her own breast milk in numerous dishes, claiming she’s the “Nigella Lawson of breast milk cookery.”

Mix up a milkshake, make some breast milk chai latte cupcakes or even throw it even in with your homemade lasagna. Yum...?

[Mum Sells Her Breast Milk To Pay For Children’s Christmas Presents]

[Myleene Klass Drinks Her Own Breast Milk ‘Because Her Dad Did When She Was Growing Up]