What Are the Benefits of Homemade Breast Milk Yogurt for Babies?

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Posted: 03 Sep 2014 08:00 AM PDT

Over the past few years, a renewed interest in natural parenting has spread like wildfire thanks in part to publicity created by many health-obsessed celebrities. Books, magazines, and websites have risen significantly, each one focused on increasing awareness around natural childbirth, nutrition, and other holistic parenting techniques. With all of this ongoing discussion, some interesting new ideas are bound to spring forth once in a while. Perhaps one of the most unusual of these ideas that has created quite a stir is making homemade yogurt from…wait for it — breast milk. It may sound bizarre at first, but then again, maybe it really isn’t such an odd idea after all.

The Potential Benefits of Breast Milk Yogurt for Infants

When nourishing a growing baby, most people imagine giving the infant fresh milk and soft, pureed foods. Yogurt, while somewhat common, doesn’t always pop up on the radar while making an eating plan for a baby. Regardless of any trepidation you might have, yogurt, particularly breast milk yogurt, may be a healthy addition to your baby’s meals. Yogurt itself provides a host of beneficial bacteria (termed “probiotics”) that aid in balancing the digestive system, ^[1] regulating mood, ^[2] and aiding proper immune system health. ^[3] Breast milk also provides a high amount of lauric acid, a type of fatty acid responsible for fighting off infections and viral bacteria. ^[4]

The second-best food source of lauric acid is coconut oil, and some research has determined that this natural oil may also be helpful for supporting cardiovascular health. ^[5] Various other fatty acids, like omega-3 fatty acids, are also found in breastmilk, and are mainly responsible for proper brain development. The combination of lauric acid and probiotics in breast milk yogurt may help skyrocket the nutritional value of an infant’s diet. ^[6] Research shows that a baby’s nutritional status affects the child somewhat throughout the duration of their life. Not only are their dietary habits typically set during the baby's first few years, their metabolic state is also arranged during this time based on what the baby consumes. Here are the key nutritional components that make breast milk desirable for growing infants:

Protein
Lauric acid
Monounsaturated fat
Omega-3 fatty acids
Calcium
Conjugated linoleic acid

On its own, breast milk also contains natural levels of beneficial bacteria. ^[7] This bacteria grows during yogurt making, helping to provide a natural source of probiotics for the infant.

One Final Thought

Making baby food at home requires extreme care, knowledge, and healthy safety implementations in order to produce a clean, safe product for your infant. Breast milk yogurt should be produced in a sanitary environment and only if the mother (or other caretaker) knows precisely what they are doing. Working alongside a professional may be advised. If concerned about the safety of making breast milk yogurt, don’t worry. There are still plenty of viable food options available for infants that can be explored. I suggest doing some personal study on the art and science of making organic, homemade baby food at home, and also suggest that mothers speak to their pediatrician to determine the best ways to go about producing their homemade formulas and meals. What are your thoughts about making and feeding breast milk yogurt to a baby? Please let us know in the comments! -Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM