Breast is best – and not without
substantial reason. Firstly, babies who were breastfed in the early months of their lives were found to have higher IQ at 4 years of age¹. Secondly, it is nutritionally complete and has antibodies that protect the baby against a variety of illnesses and infections.
More benefits include reducing the risk of Type 1 diabetes and
childhood leukemia, and of allergies like asthma and eczema. Research even suggests that older children and adults who were breastfed as infants are less likely to suffer from heart disease, stroke, hypertension and auto-immune disease².
Breastfed babies are healthier and suffer fewer symptoms and shorter illnesses if they do fall sick.
The World Health Organization recommends feeding your baby exclusively with breast milk for 6 months³. This should be followed by continued breastfeeding and the timely introduction of adequate, safe and appropriate complementary foods.
Here’s why you should breastfeed for as long as you are able to.
*Please note that this is a simplified visual demo only intended to aid in the understanding of the
subject matter.
Risk of Overweight Among Adolescents Who Were Breastfed as Infants
A Harvard Medical School study examines the effect of breastfeeding on
obesity later in life. Thousands of girls and boys ages 9 – 14 were surveyed, along with their mothers. The researchers statistically adjusted the results to account for age, gender, sexual maturity, calorie intake, physical activity, mothers’ body mass index and other factors. It was found that infants who were breast fed for longer periods had approximately 20% lower risk of being overweight in the preteen and teen years.
Read the full research paper here
.
Birch EE et al. Visual acuity and cognitive outcomes at 4 years of age in a double-blind, randomized trial
of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty-acid supplemented infant formula. Early Hum Dev (2007),
doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2006.11.003
2.
Lucas A. “Role of nutritional programming in determining adult morbidity.” Arch Dis Child 1994; 71 (4):
288-290
3.
“World Health Organization (WHO) International Child Growth Standards, 2006.” Australian Breastfeeding
Association. Updated October 16, 2006
