Milk is a natural secretion from the mammary glands of all mammals, primarily meant to nourish their young. Milk has unique nutritional properties that make it a valuable food source. The secretion produced just after birth is called colostrum, which contains the mother’s antibodies that protect the newborn from diseases. The composition of milk varies among animals based on their nutritional requirements. In some cases, one animal’s milk can be substituted with another, with cow milk being the most common substitute for human infants and the main source of milk for human consumption.
Key Takeaways
- Though cow milk and human milk have similar compositions, there are some noticeable differences.
- Human milk is thinner and sweeter than cow milk and contains higher amounts of antibodies specific to human infants.
- Human infants can digest human milk more easily than cow milk, and feeding a baby solely on cow milk can lead to adverse effects such as kidney diseases and anemic conditions.
