Eating organic meat and dairy has a beneficial effect on mothers’ breast milk, increasing the amount of healthy fatty acids, according to a study of 312 breastfeeding women in the Netherlands.

Women who ate dairy and meat products that were mostly (90 percent or more) organic, had significantly higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in their breast milk.

CLA is a fatty acid that is thought to be anti-carcinogenic, anti-atherosclerotic, and anti-diabetic. It also boosts the immune system and is beneficial for body fat composition. Among newborns, CLA is thought to promote immune system development.

By eating organic, the researchers point out, mothers can therefore influence the supply and quality of fatty acids they give to their infants.

There is a growing body of evidence that organic foods are, in fact, healthier than conventionally grown varieties. Cows that are pasture-fed, for instance -- at least a part-time requirement to meet organic standards -- produce milk with higher levels of unsaturated fatty acids and CLA.

Meat from pastured animals, or grass-fed meat, is also known to contain higher levels of antioxidants and CLA.

Additional studies examining the effects of newborns fed by breastfeeding mothers who eat organic are underway.

British Journal of Nutrition June 2007, 97: 735-743 

Cornucopia Institute July 24, 2007

Dr. Mercola’s Comment:

The healthier a new mom eats, the healthier her breast milk will be, plain and simple. It makes perfect sense that eating food from organic, grass-fed sources would lead to more incredibly beneficial CLA in breast milk because grass-fed animals have from three to five times more CLA than grain-fed animals.

Of course, the opposite also holds true. Not-so-healthy compounds, like prescription and over-the-counter-drugs, can also be transferred to a newborn via breast milk. Even environmental pollutants like rocket fuel and perfumes have found their way into breast milk.

Even if a mother doesn’t eat organic, breastfeeding is still the best way to feed a newborn. The benefits a baby receives from this natural practice are endless, and new moms stand to benefit from breastfeeding too.

Although I agree wholeheartedly with the researchers conclusions about organic meat, I am not a fan of organic dairy. Why? Because even though it’s organic, it’s still pasteurized. For the healthiest dairy out there, seek out raw, not organic, varieties.

Interestingly, diet is not the only thing that impacts a woman’s breast milk. Emotions, even laughing, also influence its composition.

If you can’t breastfeed, the next best option would be to make this healthy infant formula using raw milk -- soy infant formula should always be avoided.

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