New research by The George Institute of Global Health at Oxford University suggests that the longer a woman breastfeeds the greater the protection she has against future health problems.
Breastfeeding reduces a woman’s risk of stroke and heart disease by up to 9 per cent.
Past studies have also revealed that breastfeeding slashes the chance of breast cancer and helps with weight loss. With experts believing that it could additionally also potentially “reset” a woman’s metabolism.
Breastfeeding helps eliminate fat stored during pregnancy faster and more completely helping new mum’s reach their pre-baby weight faster.
The study of over 290,000 Chinese women found that women who kept their tots on the boob for at least two years saw instances of stroke and heart disease drop by 17 and 18 per cent respectively.
In Australia the Federal Department of Health guidelines recommend “exclusive breastfeeding of infants to around six months of age when solid foods are introduced and continued breastfeeding until the age of 12 months and beyond, if both mother and infant wish.”
The study hopes to promote and encourage women around the world to breastfeed their children.
This article first published on Women’s Health.