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Human breast milk sold online presents dangerous health risks to consumers

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The growing trend of selling breast milk online may not be as beneficial as believed.

The growing craze of human breast milk sold online has concerned many health experts. According to them, there is no scientific evidence found stating that drinking human breast milk can help restore health, as believed by some fitness communities and those suffering from various chronic diseases. Experts claim that consuming the product may actually present more health risks.

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Highlights

By Talia Ramos (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
6/22/2015 (8 years ago)

Published in Health

Keywords: Human Breastmilk, Superfood, Belief, Health Risks, Diseases, Unpasteurized, Less, Virus, Bacteria, Dangerous, Craze, Online

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - "Potential buyers should be made aware that no scientific study evidences that direct adult consumption of human milk for medicinal properties offers anything more than a placebo effect," said Sarah Steele, a specialist at the global health and policy unit at Queen Mary University of London.

Steele noted that it is even more dangerous when people replace a healthy, balanced diet for the milk they believe is a super food, written in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

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Experts add that consuming raw and unpasteurized raw human breast milk can put them at risk for diseases like HIV and syphilis. Some believe the milk contributes to health boosting and fighting off diseases, even erectile dysfunction, according to Reuters.

According to Steele, the nutritional value of the human breast milk is even less protein content than animal milk. There's also the danger of improper sanitation to consider.

A lot of harmful microorganisms and viruses can be found in breast milk when the woman fails to properly sanitize during the milk production, by improper sterilization of the equipment used, and during the prolonged storage and transportation, Steele explained.

"While many online mums claim they have been tested for viruses during pregnancy, many do not realize that (such) screening needs to be undertaken regularly. Sexual and other activities... may expose the women to viruses that they may unwittingly pass on to consumers," said Steele.

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