Babies, Parenting, Child Health, Infant Nutrition

Baby Development – University of Pittsburgh Finds Breastfeeding Lowers Risk of Heart Attacks or Strokes

28.04.2009 | 4:15:34 pm | Posted by admin

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

Mum Mum’s has reported on numerous occasions the immense amount of health benefits breastfeeding provides mothers and babies. From creating strong, healthy bonds to reducing baby’s risk of asthma; the benefits of breastfeeding are both esoteric and clinical. At the risk of sounding redundant, a surprising new study has surfaced touting yet another health bonus where one might have least expected.

Researchers from University of Pittsburgh found that the longer women breastfeed, the lower their risk for strokes, cardiovascular disease, and heart attacks. In fact, women who breastfed for longer than a year were 10% less likely to have had a stroke, a heart attack, or developed heart disease.

baby development, parenting Heart disease the number one cause of death for women and it is imperative women stay abreast of means of prevention. It is so important that the American Heart Association celebrates “Go Red″ month every February in order to create awareness of women’s heart disease risk and encourage women to take action now.

Published in the May issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the study examined 139,681 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative study of chronic disease that launched in 1994. Post menopausal women who breastfed as little as one month had lower rates of high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and diabetes – all risk factors for heart disease.

In addition, researchers found the benefits of breastfeeding to be long term as an average of 35 years had passed since the women in the study had breastfed their babies. While many factors play a role a woman’s risk of heart disease, the study certainly provides another strong incentive to breastfeed. As the study authors note, the results should help increase workplace policies that encourage women to breastfeed their babies.

Permalink

Email this article

Printer-friendly version

About this Blog:

The Baby Mum-Mum blog discusses everything to do with babies and parenting with a focus on child health and child development. Baby Mum-Mum is a healthy, easy to digest baby rice snack that is enjoyed by babies and mothers around the world for its portability, gluten free ingredients and great taste.

Announcement:

On February 22, the FDA issued letters relating to labelling to 22 food companies, including several baby food manufacturers. We were advised by the FDA that we are not permitted to print the statements "Low in Fat" or "No added fat or oils" on our Baby Mum-Mum packaging.

Although these statements are true and each serving of Baby Mum-Mum does not contain any fat, the FDA has brought to our attention that these claims are technically not allowed on our packaging solely because the product is intended for consumption by infants and children under 4 years of age.

In the future, these claims will be removed from our packaging.

Syndicate this Blog: