A new study has shown that toddlers that were breastfed had lower blood pressure than those who got formula. The study shows that, after all, breastfeeding is the best.
Dr. Lori Feldman-Winter, professor of paediatrics at Rowan University’s Cooper Medical School, stated: “The reduction in blood pressure found in the study is of clinically important magnitude and surprising. I may have expected a difference to be apparent just prior to or during adolescence. Still, the fact that these differences were seen as early as three years of age indicates that breastfeeding participates in metabolic programming that spans the life cycle.”
For this study, they used data from 2400 children, part of the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development Cohort Study – it tracks the health of mothers and their children born between 2009 and 2012. Breastfed children had lower blood pressure – it didn’t matter the time spent breastfeeding.
This result came contrary to any expectations – that it didn’t matter how long the child is breastfed. There was a clear improvement in blood pressure.
Other studies have shown that breastfeeding from six months to up to one year lower the risk of obesity, diabetes, or gastrointestinal infections. It also reduces the risk of cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure in mothers.
Officials advise mothers to breastfeed in the first six months exclusively. Given all the information they gathered right after the birth, breastfeeding for one to three days in the hospital will actually come with lower blood pressure at age 3. This early, mothers produce colostrum, which is good for infants.
It is very important for mothers to understand that every drop of milk is important and relevant for the health of their baby. And the more time you breastfeed your baby, the better.
