Breastfeeding for Heart Health
Image by khrawlings
Most of us are already aware that breastfeeding has many benefits, just a few of which include:
- Better digestive health for baby
- Higher immunity in baby
- Perfect, complete nutrition, that is always available, always sterile, always frugal
- Less chance of osteoporosis for moms
- Protection for nursing moms from breast cancer
I was so happy to recently come across yet another reason why breastfeeding is not only the best food for babies, but also beneficial to their mamas!
Here's a little clip from an article I read the other day:
Compared with women who’d never breast-fed, those who’d done so for more than 12 months were 3.5 percent less likely to have high blood pressure, 1 percent less likely to get diabetes, 2.5 percent less likely to have high cholesterol or high triglyceride levels, and nearly 10 percent less likely to have cardiovascular disease. The researchers even saw a reduction in these diseases among women who’d breast-fed for shorter periods of 7 to 12 months.
Read Moms Who Breastfeed Gain Healthier Hearts
Want a healthier heart and cardiovascular system? Go ahead and give that sweet baby of yours all the milkies they want, and you'll both benefit!
Want to know more of the benefits of breastfeeding? Check out 101 Reason to Breastfeed Your Child!
kai, who is almost 25 months now, is just starting to self-wean. of course i want to support his independence, but i am going to miss our regular bubba time when he finally is all done!
I think I’ll go to healthy heart heaven then! I nursed 5 kids, about 1-2 years each. The later ones got a full two years.
I always feel so accomplished when I’m breastfeeding. It’s amazing how God’s design is so so perfect!
Well, I was planning to breastfeed after I have kids anyway, but those percentages are pretty low…. In other words, it only reduces your risk by a teeny little bit.
Tiffany, you’re right that some of the percentages aren’t too high (though I think a 10% reduction in cardiovascular disease is fairly significant), but it’s just another one of the benefits of breastfeeding, and they are so numerous! I really enjoy seeing scientific research come out with more and more to back up the fact that this simple way that God has given us to nurture our babies is right and good in so many ways!