Mamels life animal

On Thursday en route to Denver to hang out with some super awesome peeps during their Lactation Project Program Retreat, the newest study to be sensationalized in the manufactured, media-fueled mommy wars exploded across my twitter & facebook.  In a FB thread, Melanie Martin was making some great points so I invited her to write a guest post for Mammals Suck. Mammals Suck systematically supports moms, advocating for them to have ALL the options, be respected for whichever options fit their lives, and that ALL the options be better; better breast-feeding support, better formula, and the best breast milk science. This post addresses how the recent study does not necessarily deliver the best breast milk science. (in this case, ewoks might provide added value... for ONCE!) About Melanie, in her own words: "I’m a biological anthropologist who studies variation in breastfeeding, breast milk, complementary feeding, and infant health and development. I’m also a breastfeeding mom.&q

On January 31, 2013 I was invited to give a mini-talk to Harvard undergraduates about a "Big Idea." Although I wasn't able to talk specifically about my own research, I was able to highlight why milk is awesome, why everyone should care, and how that caring should translate in the community. I have embedded the 12 minute video and the text (minus the flubs) that goes along with it below. click video to play “Why Mammals Suck”   Imagine a magic potion. This potion includes all of your calories and water. It has fatty acids to build your brain, glucose to fuel it, amino acids to build muscles, minerals to build your bones. vitamins, immunofactors, hormones. The things you need at the times you need them. Oh, and one last thing, your mom makes it just for you. This magic potion, of course, is milk and is why mammals suck.  The synthesis of milk by mammary glands is the defining characteristic of our mammalian class- its where we get out name. Dobzhansky said “ Nothi