To set the record straight: we adore Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague, but the boxer’s recent statement about drinking his partner’s breast milk has more than raised some eyebrows… especially since Tommy claimed it has made his arm muscles “double in size” (much to the shock of his dad, John Fury).
Tommy got into it during an episode of the BBC podcast What The Fury?!, while chatting to about unusual foods people have tried.
“I’ve drank breast milk,” he admitted, before explaining he’d tried some after Molly-Mae gave birth to their daughter, Bambi. The couple recently welcomed a son, Midas, too.
“So, I remember when Molly had just given birth to Bambi, I did have a little taste,” he said. “Do you know that’s a real growth hormone? Do you know how much goodness is in that breast milk?”
John was clearly unconvinced, replying: “Oh dear… I’d rather eat six tarantulas.”
But Tommy doubled down on the claim, saying: “Listen that breast milk is good for you, my arms doubled in size.”
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He went on to say: “Power went through the roof, added another inch on my arms. It was fantastic. Real HGH there. Human growth hormone. It’s one of the best things you can drink.”
While the conversation has sparked plenty of debate online (and Tommy is far from the only person who has floated the idea of breast milk as a muscle-builder; there are forums online which appear to show bodybuilders recommending it to one another), medical experts say there’s no solid evidence that drinking breast milk offers muscle-building benefits for adults.
Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, told Cosmopolitan UK: “There is no good scientific evidence to suggest that drinking human breast milk helps adults build more muscle than consuming a balanced diet with adequate protein.
“Although it does contain protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and a range of bioactive compounds, the overall protein content is actually relatively low compared with many foods or supplements commonly used to support muscle growth. For an adult aiming to increase muscle mass, it would be a very inefficient way of meeting daily protein requirements.”
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Dr Wylie explains adds: “Most proteins and many bioactive substances are broken down during digestion, meaning they do not have the same biological effects in an adult body as they do in a breastfeeding baby.”
Claims that breast milk boosts athletic performance or immunity in healthy adults also aren’t backed up by robust research, according to Dr Wylie. Instead, she says the best-supported way to build muscle remains “progressive resistance training combined with sufficient dietary protein, adequate overall calorie intake where appropriate, good-quality sleep and allowing enough time for recovery between training sessions”.
She recommends adults focus on getting enough protein from foods such as lean meat, fish, eggs, dairy, beans, lentils and tofu, adding that “consistency over months is far more important than any single food or supplement.”
Dr Wylie also warns against buying breast milk from unofficial sellers online. “The existence of a breast milk black market is concerning from both a medical and a safety perspective,” she says.
“Human breast milk obtained from informal online sellers or private arrangements has not usually undergone the rigorous screening processes used by regulated milk banks. This raises the possibility of contamination with bacteria or viruses, exposure to medications or recreational drugs, or dilution and adulteration.”
She notes that some studies have found breast milk bought online may even contain added cow’s milk or other substances, meaning bodybuilders or athletes are taking potential health risks “without any convincing evidence that the product delivers the benefits they are seeking”.