It’s no secret that competitive bodybuilders constantly look for an edge over their opponents. Their quest to become ever more muscular and shredded gave rise to ste***d use. However, even after using PEDs to push their physiques to the limit, some have turned to using unconventional and questionable performance enhancers.

Many bodybuilders have used medical drugs like Viagra and Cialis as pre-workout. However, few practices can hold a candle against dirking breast milk for gains. Yes, you read that right. Bodybuilders have created enough demand for human breast milk to be sold on the dark web and black markets.

What led bodybuilders to consume breast milk?

It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact reason why bodybuilders gravitated toward human breast milk. However, the trend started as early as the mid-2010s, when the topic popped up on online bodybuilding forums. “It isn’t common, but I’ve known people who have done this,“ former competitive bodybuilder Brett Schoenfeld told ABC News.

In fact, drinking breast milk became popular enough to feature in the 2020 Netflix documentary (Un)Well. The documentary featured amateur bodybuilder James Ritenour. JJ explained that “breastmilk did well for me in the past,“ and he was willing to try it again. The common explanation is its nutrient density.

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Breast milk is crucial for a newborn’s growth. It helps a newborn attain gut maturity, provides essential nutrients for growth, and enough calories, and even helps with brain development. Men’s Health revealed that breast milk is more calorie-dense than regular cow’s milk.

Many bodybuilders believe that the growth benefits extend to muscle building. However, experts believe a baby needs breast milk, but an adult doesn’t reap additional benefits. In fact, on paper, breast milk is inferior to cow’s milk in protein content, a crucial muscle-building aspect.

How does it compare to cow’s milk?

The National Library of Medicine revealed the nutritional information of 100 ml of breast milk. The Liquid Gold for newborns contains 65 calories, 6.7 gm carbohydrates, 3.8 gm fats, and 1.3 gm protein. 65 calories is higher than “semi-skimmed,“ milk’s 49 calories. However, it contains 2.1 gm less protein than regular cow’s milk.

So, a bodybuilder drinking breast milk will deplete a day’s calorie budget while consuming much less protein compared to cow’s milk. This would be especially problematic during a cut when bodybuilders significantly cuts down calorie intake in order to get shredded. On paper, breast milk is worse, yet the dark web and black markets are alive.

In 2022, The New York Post reported that Mila De’brito made $13,000 selling breast milk in the UK. The report originally appeared in The Sun, which picked it up after the mother of one posted on TikTok. De’brito showed a pouch of her breast milk, which she labeled “Liquid Gold.” However, the UK woman isn’t the only one.

The Independent reported that Rafaela Lamprou, from Cyprus, made £4,500 selling breast milk. “It started with men who were interested in bodybuilding. They say it is good for building muscle mass,“ the then-24-year-old told The Independent. However, experts say bodybuilders are putting themselves at risk for no reward.

Are bodybuilders putting themselves at risk?

“There is nothing specific in breast milk that will cause adults to gain muscle mass,“ Dr. Jacques Mortiz of Mount Sinai Roosevelt, New York, told ABC News. Bodybuilders are also putting their health at risk by buying breast milk from the dark web or black market for supplementary purposes. Experts say there is a high chance the product may be contaminated.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital conducted a study that showed even parents who buy breast milk online for its intended purpose are taking a risk. The story found that 10% of the 101 samples were adulterated with cow’s milk or baby formula. Even more worrying was the fact that 75% contained harmful bacteria and viruses.

Bodybuilders who buy it from the dark web may be buying even worse quality milk. Furthermore, “If the woman has a terrible diet the breast milk will be terrible quality,“ registered dietitian Marc Halpern told Men’s Health. Besides these risks, breast milk is also significantly more expensive, selling at up to $10 per gallon, according to ABC News.

Hence, while some bodybuilders might believe that adults can grow muscle through breast milk consumption, no scientific study supports such a claim. Additionally, they are also putting their health at risk by buying it from an unregulated network. However, former competitive bodybuilders like Brett Schoenfeld don’t think it’ll stop any time soon.