This episode aims to be the most comprehensive video compendium on the biology of breast milk ever recorded. Looking at the converging clinical and animal evidence of the impact of breast milk paints a complex and beautiful mosaic of developmentally supportive effects that range from allowing the mother to act as a “compensatory” immune system to possibly supporting the development of entire organ systems through the integration of maternal stem cells found in breast milk.
Short attention span? Skip to your favorite topic by clicking one of the time points below.
Episode highlights:
3:02 – Breast milk composition and production
5:50 – Human milk oligosaccharides in breast milk establish the infant gut microbiome
11:39 – Omega-3 fatty acids and other components in breast milk boost brain development
14:05 – Vitamins and minerals in breast milk
17:56 – Breast milk stem cells and multi-organ microchimerism
18:45 – Harmful substances transferred to infant via breast milk
23:54 – The effects of breastfeeding on the infant’s immune system
27:08 – Effects on intelligence
30:27 – Breastfeeding as a benefit to maternal health
▶︎ Get the episode’s show notes
▶︎ View the in-depth FoundMyFitness breast milk topic page:
▶︎ See the full interview with Drs. Erica and Justin Sonnenburg
▶︎ Did you enjoy this episode? If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, check out a preview of our very first Aliquot episode: Aliquot #001: Pregnancy & Child Development. It features a compilation of pregnancy and child development-related topics taken from several Q&A episodes over the last couple of years.
