Nurturing houseplants
So instead of letting the milk bath water down the drain, I used some of it to water my plants.” Once every couple of weeks she dilutes leftover milk with an ounce of water and feeds it to her jade, aloe vera, Devil's Ivy and Pinstripe plants. “They are still alive and thriving.
If you have plants that need a little extra boost, try using expired breastmilk as fertilizer. The nutrients in the milk will help your plants to grow stronger and healthier. Just mix 1 part milk to 10 parts water, and use it as you would any other plant fertilizer.
Did you know it may also be good for the garden as well? Using milk as fertilizer has been an old-time remedy in the garden for many generations. In addition to helping with plant growth, feeding plants with milk can also alleviate many issues in the garden, from calcium deficiencies to viruses and powdery mildew.
As strange as it sounds, you can actually water plants with milk. Even if you can't drink it yourself, it makes for a stellar fertilizer. According to Gardening Know How, expired milk is loaded with calcium, protein, vitamins, and sugars that can help give your plants an added boost and help them grow big and strong.
Carbonated water
Carbon Dioxide is a fundamental element of the photosynthesis cycle, without which the plants can't make their own sugar. Carbonated water includes macronutrients that are needed for their development.
Breast milk is comprised of many different substances, like antibodies, omega-3 fatty acids, and stem cells, which can also be incredibly beneficial when used in different forms (think lotions, facials, soap, and more) other than just a food source.
The main risk with a leftover bottle of breast milk is bacterial contamination. When your baby feeds from a bottle, bacteria from their mouth can get into the bottle and continue to grow and multiply. If you reuse the milk from the bottle later, you risk introducing significantly more bacteria to your baby.
Skin Moisturizer: As mentioned above, breast milk is often rubbed on the breasts to moisturize dry, cracked nipples. But, it has also been used as a moisturizer to treat dry skin and eczema. And, some people say that it helps to relieve chapped lips, loosen cradle cap, and treat diaper rash.
Breast milk that is past the storage guidelines but isn't spoiled and doesn't smell “off” is generally fine. There is no research as to how long milk can be past the recommended storage time and still used for a milk bath, but in general, I would use fresh milk within a week of it expiring.
If the sunburn is localised, breast milk can be applied with cotton wool. Breast milk can relieve the pain of sunburn and promote healing. If the sunburn is on a large area of skin, a breast milk bath can also help ease the pain. A breast milk bath is exactly what it sounds like – breast milk in the bath!
'Sugar water can conversely cause damage to plants that are otherwise growing healthily by changing the way their roots absorb moisture and nutrients. Sugar water can prevent plants from getting the right nutrients from the soil and kill the plants instead of helping them.
Watering plants with milk by spraying them works best as a preventative measure, so it's best to do it before mildew takes hold. A diluted milk solution is also a great feed for plants like tomatoes and peppers, because it contains the extra calcium they need to grow well.
The refrigerated colostrum will need to be frozen within 24 hours of expressing; place the small container or capped syringe into a snap-lock bag before putting into the freezer. The frozen colostrum can be stored for three months in the freezer or 6 to 12 months in a chest freezer (see storage guidelines below).
There is currently limited research that supports the safety of refreezing breastmilk as this may introduce further breakdown of nutrients and increases the risk of bacterial growth. At this time, the accepted practice is not to refreeze thawed milk. Can I reuse previously fed milk if my baby does not finish?
We do know that for any food, refrigeration slows bacteria growth. Milk storage guidelines do not include any warnings against rewarming milk, and many moms rewarm with no issues. Just be sure to use or discard within two hours of the first warming.
Mixing freshly expressed breast milk with already cooled or frozen milk is not advised because it can rewarm the older stored milk. It is best to cool freshly expressed milk before combining it with older, previously cooled or frozen milk. It is also important to consider storage duration guidelines for breast milk.
Foods rich in Omega 3 fats, Vitamin A, proteins & B vitamins are great for baby's hair growth and Breast milk is rich in all these nutrients. Hence exclusive breast feeding for first 6 months is great for baby's hair.
It has a varied nutrient-dense profile, contains good calories and healthy antibodies which support well-being. Researchers believe those compounds may help adults with Crohn's disease, arthritis, even autism.
Breast milk, being a natural remedy, is seen to provide a safe and effective solution for these issues. The antibodies present in breast milk strengthen the hair roots and prevent hair fall, while the enzymes nourish the scalp and improve the texture of the hair.
Coffee grounds (and brewed coffee) are a source of nitrogen for plants, producing healthy green growth and strong stems. Coffee also contains calcium and magnesium — both of which are beneficial to plant health. To use coffee as a plant fertilizer, you'll need to dilute it. It should look like weak tea.
The shells also contain other minerals that help plants grow, including potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Eggshells are, therefore, an effective and inexpensive fertilizer for outdoor garden soil and houseplants.
Banana peels can be placed directly onto pot plant soil, or around the base of your garden as mulch. As they decompose, they will release nutrients into the soil to feed plants. If using banana peels in your garden, place a single layer straight on top of the soil, being sure not to let them touch the plant stem.