Okay kiddo, you know how babies drink their mom's milk when they are born, right? Well, that milk has something in it called human milk oligosaccharide (HMO). It's kind of like a special sugar that the mommy's body makes just for the baby.
HMO is really interesting because it can't be digested by the baby's body, which means it doesn't provide any calories or energy. So why is it in there? Well, it turns out that HMO is really important for the baby's health.
You see, HMO acts like a shield for the baby's body. It goes into the baby's stomach and coats the lining, protecting it from bad bacteria and viruses that could make the baby sick. Basically, it's like a super-duper immune system booster.
But that's not all! HMO also helps to feed the good bacteria in the baby's gut. Just like you need to eat healthy food to keep your tummy happy, the good bacteria in your gut need to eat a balanced diet too. HMO provides a tasty snack for them!
Scientists are still trying to figure out all the cool things that HMO can do, but what we do know is that it's super important for a baby's health. So next time you see a baby drinking milk, remember that they're also getting a secret superpower called HMO!