One of the characteristics that all mammals, from the tiniest bat to the biggest whale as well as human beings, have in common is that they breastfeed their newborns with breast milk. This act is essential for the development of a healthy life for the offspring, as it is through the ingestion of breastmilk that mothers can keep their young ones nourished and help create antibodies. The period and benefits of breastfeeding may differ depending on the animal species. In humans, for example, according to the lactation specialist and former president of the International Lactation Consultant Association Dr. Griswold (nd) that gave an interview to UNICEF, “because of the changes that are a result of the development of babies, they will start weaning, naturally, around the first year or so.” The benefits of breastfeeding are for both infants and mothers.
Breastfeeding, for babies, can reduce the risks of:
• child mortality;
• diabetes;
• child obesity;
• respiratory problems such as asthma;
• gastrointestinal infections;
• allergies;
• diarrhea;
• bone fractures and osteoporosis.
The benefits of breastfeeding for mothers include:
• reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer;
• Helping reduce stress; and
• helping the uterus return to its original size.
Why do the human species drink milk from other animals?
To understand how human beings began to consume the milk of other animals, we need to go back to about 10,000 thousand years ago, when the people of that time began to stop living as nomads and began to settle in just one place and produce their plantations. After realizing that animals suckled their offspring, similarly to humans, they decided to start raising livestock and, thus, obtain milk from cows, goats, and sheep to breastfeed their children. It did not take long for them to learn that the milk obtained from these animals was rich in nutrients for both newborns and adults and that the fermentation of milk, transforming it into cheese, would be a way of preserving it for prolonged consumption.
However, when we stop to observe other mammals, we can see that it is not common to have animals drinking milk after the nursing phase. This happens because, as offspring develop, they end up losing lactase, which is the enzyme that is present in all newborn mammals and serves to break down lactose, a type of sugar present in milk, in adulthood. This fact also occurs with human babies, but due to the constant consumption of milk from other animals, humans end up suffering genetic changes making them able to maintain these enzymes even after weaning from breastmilk.
Why is dairy consumption considered controversial?
The consumption of cattle’s milk and its derivatives has been the subject of great discussions with many controversies. Several studies were done to find out the real benefit that dairy has for human beings.
Some studies showed that the consumption of dairy products results in the formation of a healthy skeletal system because milk contains calcium and magnesium, substances that help bone development. However, according to Brown (2019), “studies show that the consumption of foods rich in calcium does not necessarily result in good bone formation or prevention of future bone fractures.”
Another study conducted with milk showed some concerns that many people linked the consumption of saturated fat in milk with the development of heart disease. Experts observed this correlation with people who drank nearly a liter of milk a day. However, experts say that people who consume a lot of milk do not maintain a healthy diet and that it is okay if consumed in moderation.
Many people are in doubt whether it would be better to change cow’s milk for alternatives, such as soy milk, almonds, coconut, oats, and others, especially for those with lactose intolerance. However, the results obtained by studies carried out with people with this condition did not show great differences between when soy milk or regular milk is consumed.
Conclusion
The consumption of dairy products or non-dairy products does not differ if it is consumed in moderation. The choice is directly related to the types of nutrients that will best benefit each one individually. There is no need to stop drinking milk, but for those concerned about the environmental problems caused by raising livestock, there is the possibility of getting these nutrients through other products.
References
Dey, R. n.d., Why do mammals produce milk? Do all mammals produce milk?, ONLY ZOOLOGY, viewed 4 October 2021, https://onlyzoology.com/why-do-mammals-produce-milk-do-all-mammals-produce-milk/
Griswold, M n.d., Breastfeeding: Mini Parenting Master Class, UNICEF for every child, Viewed 4 October 2021, https://www.unicef.org/parenting/food-nutrition/breastfeeding-class
Brown, J. 2019, Is it better to drink cow’s milk or a dairy-free alternative?, BBC Future, viewed 5 October 2021 https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191123-what-milk-is-best-cows-dairy-free-alternative
