Researchers find possible new benefit to breast milk

There may be another, not-so-well-known benefit to breast milk, and it could help prevent gut problems like Colitis and Crohn's Disease.

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic collected breast milk samples from 40 women and isolated a compound commonly known as hyaluronic acid.

The team found the compound was effective in treating mice with inflammatory bowel disease. It also helped ward off salmonella bacteria.

"It's such an attractive thing because it's not an antibiotic. What it does is turn on the body's innate, inborn mechanisms to protect itself," said Carol De La Motte, Ph.D.

The research is still in the early stages...but they will also be looking to see if it can work against other types of bacteria.

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