Cooking food reduces infant mortality and facilitates early weaning, knowledge lost until the twentieth century. [1] When Eve stopped nursing her children at one year old, she fed them nuts, fruits, and juices instead of animal milk. [2] Mary did not wean Jesus until they arrived safely in Alexandria, where the family settled and Joseph's career as a contractor began. [3] Maternal affection proved too strong for infanticide after weaning. [4]
The earlier weaning of babies, thanks to the provision of cow and goat milk, led to a reduction in infant mortality and allowed mothers to bear more children. [5]