Breast milk is said to contain a number of benefits for the baby’s health. It contains a variety of nutrients essential for the newborn’s well-being, and also includes antibodies which cannot be medically engineered. However, there are also several advantages for the breastfeeding mother. Breastfeeding may reduce a mother's heart attack and stroke risk later in life, according to new research. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association showed that women who breastfed their babies had about a 10 percent lower risk of developing heart disease or stroke later in life. The study analysed data from 289,573 Chinese women participating in the China Kadoorie Biobank study who provided detailed information about their reproductive history and other lifestyle factors.Breastfeeding helps the mother burn extra calories faster, thereby facilitating a quicker loss of post-pregnancy weight. "The health benefits to the mother from breastfeeding may be explained by a faster 'reset' of the mother's metabolism after pregnancy," explained Sanne Peters, a research fellow at University of Oxford. Breastfeeding is the easiest and the most natural way to shed the kilos and drop the unnecessary weight for newbie mothers. It is considered a much better way, rather than resorting to other measures such as extreme dieting or vigorous exercise.(Also Read: The Longer Babies Breastfeed, the More They Achieve In Life- Major Study)
Peters further elaborates, "Pregnancy changes a woman's metabolism dramatically as she stores fat to provide the energy necessary for her baby's growth. Breastfeeding could eliminate the stored fat faster and more completely.”
This study comes after previous research indicated that mothers get short-term health benefits from breastfeeding such as weight loss and lower cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose levels after pregnancy. "The findings should encourage more widespread breastfeeding for the benefit of the mother as well as the child," said Zhengming Chen, Professor of Epidemiology, University of Oxford.Inputs from IANS
Breastfeed your way to a healthier you, and your baby will stay healthy too. Photo credits: iStock
This study comes after previous research indicated that mothers get short-term health benefits from breastfeeding such as weight loss and lower cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose levels after pregnancy. "The findings should encourage more widespread breastfeeding for the benefit of the mother as well as the child," said Zhengming Chen, Professor of Epidemiology, University of Oxford.Inputs from IANS
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