A study in the UK has found that breastfeeding your babies has benefits for you after your kids are all grown up!
“We already know breastfeeding is best for babies," says Oxford University's Dr. Kristy Bobrow, lead author of the paper. "This study adds to a growing body of evidence that the benefits extend to the mother as well – even 30 years after she’s given birth." (The average age of the women in the study was 57.5)
Bobrow and her colleagues found that, for every 6 months a mother breastfeeds her baby, the mother's body mass index (BMI) later in life is 1% lower.
One percent? That's it?!
Sure, it may not seem like much, but the researchers point out that sometimes that small number can mean avoiding a lot of problems.
A one-percent reduction in BMI mean the difference between being a healthy weight and being overweight and susceptible to obesity-related conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.
Another interesting finding was that the more children a woman had, the higher her BMI decades later. However, the average BMI was significantly lower in women who breastfed than in those who had not, regardless of how many children they had.
Breastfeeding is also known to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.
"Too few people know about the significant cancer risks associated with being very overweight,” researchers caution.
Many women who have started The Hallelujah Diet to lose weight or regain their health ask us if they should continue with it if they become pregnant or if they are breastfeeding. Contrary to popular opinion, it's the healthiest thing for both baby and mother!
For more information on the science behind it, read Pregnancy, Children & The Hallelujah Diet by Hallelujah Acres Vice-President of Health, Olin Idol (ND, CNC).
What's your opinion of breastfeeding?
