The Latest in Bodybuilding Trends: Craigslist Breast Milk?

Some people are willing to do whatever it takes to make gains. Apparently this include drinking the breast milk of strangers.

It's no secret that the world of bodybuilding is one that involves extreme dedication and meticulous consideration of every calorie one puts into his or her body. It's about maximizing the strength and efficiency potential of nutrition so that you can reach your body's full potential. So it's no surprise, then, that some bodybuilders have turned to a very unusual source for nutrients: human breast milk.

According to the UK's Royal Society of Medicine, breast milk's growing reputation as a so-called "superfood" is resulting in a booming market for the sale of raw human breast milk.

So, what's the problem? An adult produces breast milk, decides to make a little extra cash, and someone looking for those precious enzymes and proteins to enhance their diet wants to send that cash to them in exchange for a completely natural product. What's the big deal?

Well, says the report from the Royal Society of Medicine:

The lack of pasteurisation and testing not only indicates a bacterial risk but breast milk also exposes consumers to a host of infectious diseases, including cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and C, HIV-1/2, HTLVI&II and syphilis.

Well, that doesn't sound like you're optimizing your nutrition at all! In fact, the same report goes on to describe the problems and illnesses that one can acquire from breast milk due to food-borne issues related to improper storage.

So next time you buy breast milk, stay off of Craigslist and stick with buying it from a trusted, tested source. Or maybe just have a protein shake or two and call it a day.