(13-09-10) Mothers who fail to breastfeed double their risk of type 2 diabetes

by Jonathan Benson, staff writer

Choosing not to breastfeed your babies can have significant health
consequences. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have discovered
that mothers who do not breastfeed are twice as likely as mothers who do to get
type 2 diabetes.

Published in the American Journal of Medicine, the study of over 2,200 women
found that more than a quarter of women who do not breastfeed end up developing
type 2 diabetes. On the contrary, women who do breastfeed are no more likely to
develop the disease than women who have never had children.

The connection between type 2 diabetes and not breastfeeding seems to lie in
the belly. Women who breastfeed naturally decrease their maternal belly fat
through feeding their children, but women who do not breastfeed tend to keep
more of this fat around their midsections.

"Our study provides another good reason to encourage women to breastfeed their
infants, at least for the infant's first month of life," explained Dr. Eleanor
Schwarz, assistant professor of medicine, epidemiology, and obstetrics,
gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh.
"Clinicians need to consider women's pregnancy and lactation history when
advising women about their risk for developing type 2 diabetes."

However, the World Health Organization recommends that mothers breastfeed
their babies for at least the first two years in order to provide them with
maximum levels of immune-developing nutrition. After all, breast milk is rich
in disease-fighting antibodies and contains a rich, perfectly-balanced array of
vital nutrients that no formula can match.

Breastfeeding also helps prevent mothers from developing other diseases like
metabolic syndrome and breast cancer, so it is good for both the baby and the
mother.

"Along with providing optimal nutrition, breast milk also provides compounds
that boost babies' immune system and help protect them from bacteria, viruses
and parasites," explains the book Bottom Line's Health Breakthroughs 2007.

"In addition, breast-fed children have lower rates of childhood illnesses and
tend to be leaner than their formula-fed counterparts. And research has shown
that breast-feeding benefits mothers as well, by helping the body return to
normal faster after pregnancy."

Sources for this story include:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_relea...

NaturalNews

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.