Milk, human
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
Human milk is the natural, nutrient-dense fluid produced by lactating mothers, designed as the sole source of nutrition for infants. It has a sweet, slightly salty, and creamy taste with a thin, watery consistency that can vary in color and thickness. While the provided nutritional data appears as zeros, human milk is rich in fats, lactose, proteins, antibodies, and essential vitamins and minerals tailored for infant development.
💚 Why it's loved
People cherish it as the perfect, natural food for babies, offering unparalleled nutritional and immunological benefits. It is also valued in some cultures for its symbolic representation of motherhood, nourishment, and community.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
For adults or older children, it is not a practical or common food source due to social norms, availability, and its specific design for infant digestion. Some individuals may experience digestive discomfort if consumed later in life, as lactase production typically declines after weaning.
Key benefits
- Provides optimal, complete nutrition for infant growth and brain development
- Contains antibodies and immune factors that protect against infections and diseases
- Promotes healthy gut microbiome development in infants
- Reduces risks of allergies, asthma, and obesity later in life
- Facilitates maternal-infant bonding and uterine recovery postpartum
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The composition of human milk dynamically changes throughout a single feeding session—foremilk is more watery to quench thirst, while hindmilk is creamier and higher in fat to promote satiety.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Potatoes, mashed, prepared from granules, without milk, whole milk and margarine — USDA does not publish this profile for Milk.
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 1.3 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.09 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.71 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.40 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 2.0 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 2.0 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.4 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 1.3 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.08 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 3.0 mg |
| Phytosterols | 14.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Potatoes, mashed, prepared from granules, without milk, whole milk and margarine — USDA does not publish this profile for Milk.
| Tryptophan | 0.02 g |
| Threonine | 0.09 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.11 g |
| Leucine | 0.17 g |
| Lysine | 0.15 g |
| Methionine | 0.04 g |
| Cystine | 0.02 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.10 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.09 g |
| Valine | 0.13 g |
| Arginine | 0.08 g |
| Histidine | 0.05 g |
| Alanine | 0.07 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.25 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.39 g |
| Glycine | 0.05 g |
| Proline | 0.15 g |
| Serine | 0.10 g |
FAQ
Is human milk nutritionally complete for adults?
No. While nutrient-rich for infants, its composition is not balanced or sufficient for adult nutritional needs, which require higher amounts of protein, iron, and other micronutrients.
Why does the nutritional data sometimes show zeros?
This is likely a data entry error or placeholder. Human milk typically contains about 170 kcal, 10g carbs, 7g fat, and 1g protein per 100g, with significant variation.
Can human milk be donated or sold?
Yes, pasteurized donor human milk is available through regulated milk banks for medically vulnerable infants. Informal sharing or sale exists but carries safety risks.