So some of you may be wondering why a Chiropractor is writing a post about breastfeeding. Well the answer is simple, being by the Commercial Drive neighborhood, I see many new and expectant moms. As I help them relieve pain and achieve better health, the conversation always includes, "What's good for the baby?".
Many of you have heard the benefits of breast milk to a growing baby, but this recent study actually showed benefits to the cardiovascular health of the mother as well. I encourage all my female patients to breastfeed their babies whenever possible.
Ok, so now on to the details of the study.
This study is going to appear December 3 in the online version of the journal, Diabetes. This study involved about 1400 women and they were re-evaluated at regular intervals over 20 years. (Just to note, a 20 year follow up is great and only adds to the validity and relevance of the researcher's findings)
The researchers found that breast feeding, even for a little as a few months can lower a woman's chance of developing metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of cardiovascular risk factors and is commonly associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The researchers also found that the longer a mother breastfed her baby, the better it was for her. Women who breastfed for longer than 9 months found their risk for developing metabolic syndrome dropped by 86% if they had gestational diabetes. For women who did not develop gestational diabetes, their risk dropped by 56%.
"Breast-feeding has favorable health benefits for women as well as for children. Breast-feeding may help protect women from heart disease and diabetes in the future," said the study's lead author, Erica Gunderson, an epidemiologist and research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, Calif.
Researchers admit they were not studying how this "protection" for the mothers was occurring, but a reasonable explanation was proposed. Breast feeding is thought to increase the levels of good cholesterol in the mothers while helping to reduce belly fat. In addition, breast feeding may help control the body's insulin levels. All these factors considered, may be helping to reduce the chance of developing metabolic syndrome.
Visit your COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR.DOMINIC CHAN DC
(DISCLAIMER: the information in this post is meant to be informative and is not to replace a diagnosis and/or care from a healthcare professional)
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