Scientists have discovered that a nursing mother's breast milk can be flavored by the foods she eats.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark asked 18 lactating mothers to provide a sample of breast milk before and after eating flavored capsules. The capsules contained compounds that give caraway seed, menthol, banana and licorice their flavor. The milk was analyzed by high-tech machinery: a dynamic headspace analysis and a gas chromatography mass spectrometry.
The findings suggest that flavored breast milk may be beneficial to babies - preparing them to try new foods as they grow up.
Lead researcher of this study, Helen Hausner, told New Scientist magazine: "It's not like if the mother eats apple pie the baby thinks 'mmmm, apple pie,' but it may make them more accepting of the flavor of other foods."
In the study, all four flavors tested disappeared from the women's breast milk eight hours after they ate the capsules. Different flavors took varying amounts of time to appear in breast milk: two hours for caraway; two to eight for menthol; one hour for banana and two hours for licorice.
wowOwow wants to know: have you ever noticed that your baby reacted to anything you ate?
More from wowOwow.com
Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends
Explore news, videos, and much more based on what your friends are reading and watching. Publish your own activity and retain full control.
To get started, firstLogin with Facebook
Banana flavored breast milk?
By The Staff at wowOwow.com | Parenting – Mon, Jul 28, 2008 10:15 PM EDT- How to handle a toxic boss17 hours ago
- What your manager won't ever tell you Mon, May 21, 2012 7:34 PM EDT
- 7 fashion don'ts at the officeTue, May 22, 2012 2:05 PM EDT
- 5 chic and easy summer hairstylesTue, May 22, 2012 11:59 AM EDT
- How to read the new sunscreen labelsTue, May 22, 2012 4:24 PM EDT
- Vogue's guide to getting great-looking legsTue, May 22, 2012 10:34 AM EDT
- Best and Worst Choices at a BarbecueWed, May 23, 2012 10:36 AM EDT
- Why Going on Vacation Can Save Your HealthWed, May 23, 2012 6:40 PM EDT
- How to Be More Confident15 hours ago
- Create a Gardening HavenTue, May 22, 2012 7:25 PM EDT
- 3 Surprising Ways Your House is Making You FatWed, May 23, 2012 9:35 AM EDT
- 7 Ways to Turn a Closet into Your Home OfficeTue, May 22, 2012 5:54 PM EDT
- Style lessons from Carrie UnderwoodThu, May 3, 2012 11:31 AM EDT
- Best & worst foods for your skin at every ageMon, Apr 23, 2012 5:42 PM EDT
- Hairstyles to hide your flawsFri, Apr 27, 2012 2:56 PM EDT
- Create a Gardening HavenTue, May 22, 2012 7:25 PM EDT
- 3 Surprising Ways Your House is Making You FatWed, May 23, 2012 9:35 AM EDT
- 7 Ways to Turn a Closet into Your Home OfficeTue, May 22, 2012 5:54 PM EDT
Follow Shine
Join us on Pinterest
CHEAT SHEET
DAILY SHOT VIDEO
We apologize. An error has occurred. Please try again.


7 comments