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milk
The liquid food secreted by female mammals from the mammary glands. It is the sole source of food for the young of most mammals at the start of life. Milk is a complete food in that it has most of the nutrients necessary for life: protein (see casein), carbohydrate, fat, minerals, and vitamins.
The composition of milk varies very much from mammal to mammal. Cows' milk contains nearly all the essential nutrients but is comparatively deficient in vitamin C and vitamin D. Human milk contains more sugar (lactose) and less protein that cows' milk.
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• BIOCHEMISTRY
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