When a celebrity of Jennifer Lopez' magnitude refuses to breastfeed, hundreds of new moms can't help but make a mental note.

Hopefully, they won't follow egocentric diva's advice.

Jennifer Lopez was very vocal about her choice not to breastfeed in her People magazine interview.

The new mom to one-month-old twins Max and Emme said, “My mom didn’t breast feed and I think that was the thing for me. You read and figure out what’s the best thing for them.”

Our mothers are full of wonderful advice on babies, but a lot has changed in the past few decades. There are probably a lot of things Jennifer’s mom did with her that are now not just old-fashioned, but considered plain wrong by medical experts. The American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dietetic Association, and the World Health Organization say the best thing for babies is to be breastfed. Even the formula companies agree!

Of course, it's J.Lo's god-given right to do what she thinks is best for her. When she's alone and baby-less. But when babies come, it's only natural to think beyond your famous assets.

In fact, the real reason why J-Lo refuses to breastfeed is that she wants to keep her body in top-notch condition. She said she was training to compete a triathlon in six months because she wants her “babies to be proud” of her.

As if babies are proud that their mom spent hours with a personal trainer daily!

The singer/actress has rehired celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson to help her get in shape for the grueling challenge.

"Jennifer called Gunnar, who lives in Beverly Hills, and asked him to get on a plane as soon as possible to come to New York,” People magazine says, "J.Lo flew Gunnar first class and paid him at least $75,000″ for the “exercise emergency,” revealed the insider... Gunnar has Jennifer doing different high-cardio workout programs at her home gym for an hour to an hour and a half every day.”

If Jennifer Lopez chose not to breastfeed for personal reasons, that is her business, but it really isn’t what is best for the babies. It isn't best for hundreds of new moms who copycat celebrities in every crazy thing they do. No wonder that the U.S. has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates among civilized countries!

I have no doubt though that little Max and Emme will be nurtured - and that they will survive. But will they be healthier? Or happier knowing that their mom spent hours in a gym instead of enjoying every minute with them?

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Julie Gabriel, author of THE GREEN BEAUTY GUIDE: Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skincare, Hair Care, Makeup and Fragrances (HCI, October 2008) 

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