Bodybuilders Are Now Drinking Human Breast Milk. WTF!

So apparently, drinking breast milk is a thing now.

As in milk from a human breast. The same stuff you drank as a baby when you were regularly shitting your pants and crying all day.

Chugging mama milk for massive gains is apparently the newest “supplement” that several bodybuilders are using to increase muscle mass, arguing that it has special properties and ingredients that make it superior to any food or supplement.

“I think the idea behind drinking breast milk for muscle growth is that it’s incredibly calorie and nutrient dense, and it has some additional healthy substances,” says Brian St. Pierre, a sports dietitian with Precision Nutrition. “Breast milk is designed to rapidly grow a human baby, so maybe people think a similar effect will happen to fully grown humans?”

One cup of breast milk has about 10 grams of fat, 16 carbs and 2 grams of protein (5 less than whole milk), for a total of 170 calories (20 more than whole milk), as well as vitamins and minerals of course. “Interestingly, there are also several growth hormones in breast milk,” says St. Pierre. “Although I’m not sure that they actually benefit a human adult in any way.”

Scientists and trainers agree that taking in more nutritious calories than you burn, eating enough protein, and regularly performing smart workouts are what drives muscular growth. So, yes, adding a nutrient and calorie dense liquid to your diet can help you gain muscle as long as you’re training. No question. But breast milk? Not the smartest idea, says Marc Halpern, a registered dietitian based in Salt Lake City.

First, it’s hard to come by, says Halpern. You can’t just pick up a gallon of breast milk at the local super market on the way home from work. Many bodybuilders buy their milk off somewhat sketchy websites like Craigslist, or they barter with a pregnant woman (talk about awkward conversations). Second, breast milk is expensive, averaging about $1.50 an ounce, according to The Human Milk Banking Association of North America, an organization that banks milk for mothers who cannot produce breast milk.

Finally, breast milk is only as good as the diet and general health of the person who produces it, explains Halpern. “Breast milk generally isn’t regulated—if the woman has a terrible diet the breast milk will be terrible quality,” he says. “And diseases like HIV can be transmitted through breast milk.” What’s more, because you’re oftentimes buying the milk off of people who may pump it in their homes and not a controlled, sterile environment, the milk can be contaminated.

Science agrees: A recent study in the journal Pediatrics found that of 101 samples of breast milk purchased online, 63 percent tested positive for staphylococcus, 36 percent for streptococcus, and 3 percent for salmonella.

You work harder to get ahold of this supplement, pay an exorbitant amount for it, and put yourself at risk of sickness by taking it. Some guys could probably rationalize all of that if breast milk really helped them pack on mass. Just look at the popularity of steroids.

But, most importantly, there’s just no evidence to suggest that breast milk is a magic muscle builder, says St. Pierre.

“Could breast milk help you build more muscle? I don’t think anyone knows, and it’s never been studied, but all you’re going on is very rare anecdotes from online forums (note: a terrible source). Is it possible? Of course. Is it likely? No. Are there easier and cheaper ways to get nutrients that help you put on muscle? Absolutely. This stuff probably just isn’t special, and it’s not worth the hassle, risk, or money.”

An easier, cheaper nutrient and calorie-rich liquid is a Super Shake, says St. Pierre. In a blender combine: four to eight ounces of liquid like water or milk (cow’s, almond, or soy), a scoop of whey protein, a handful of fruit (like a banana or berries), a handful of vegetables (like spinach of kale), a thumb size portion of healthy fat (like peanut butter), a few ice cubes. Blend.