Health and other associated issues - Tips, Information and Guides
The Beauty and Benefits of Breastfeeding
by: Rachel Thompson In recent years, there has been a lot of debate surrounding the issue of
breastfeeding. While the decision to breastfeed is a personal one, there are
countless benefits for both mother and child that ought to be explored. One of
the most significant reasons to breastfeed your child relates to the quality of
food your child is ingesting. Although baby formula may meet the nutritional
requirements of children, it is not the ideal food for babies. According to the World Health Organization, Breastfeeding is the absolute
best source of food for babies. Commercial baby formula is comprised of
countless preservatives and by-products of other food production techniques that
have no proven benefit for your child. Formula is also extremely high in fat
content, and leads parent to believe that their child is thriving because he or
she is gaining weight. This is not necessarily the case. Breast milk, on the other hand, has undergone millions of years of
development in the laboratory of Nature. Countless studies have proven that
there is no reasonable substitute for Breast milk. Breast milk has the amazing
ability to transform and adapt to the needs of your baby at various stages of
development. Colostrum is an amazing example of the way a woman's body produces the
perfect food for baby. It is the first liquid produced by a mother, usually
beginning a few months before delivery. It differs slightly in appearance than
breast milk, in that it is thicker and has a yellowish tint. It has a high
concentration of antibodies, which helps newborns fend off illness and disease
and build strong, stable immune systems. It is extremely easy for babies to
digest, and it also has a laxative effect to help ease digestion. Studies have also shown that there is a direct relationship between
breastfeeding and a child's cognitive ability and intelligence. Simply put,
breastfed babies have higher IQ's than their bottle-fed peers. Some studies have
concluded that the longer a child is breastfed, the higher IQ he/she will have.
Other studies have shown that breastfed children have a lower incidence of ear
infections. This is significant when one considers the overuse of antibiotics
and antibiotic resistant disease. Food allergies are another important consideration for new parents.
Breastfed babies have a much lower chance of developing food life-threatening
food allergies. As a consequence, the have an even lower chance of developing
related illnesses such as gastrointestinal disorders, diarrhea and vomiting.
Breast milk protects babies from food allergies because it has a high
concentration of the immunoglobulin IgA. IgA works by binding to foreign
proteins and preventing them from entering the child's bloodstream. Children do
not begin to produce IgA of their own until approximately 8 months of age. Other studies have concluded that breastfeeding can also protect your
child from diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Leukemia. New parents should
explore their options carefully, and make educated decisions regarding their
child's health and well being. Speak with your Pediatrician, or contact your
local health unit, for more information. The choice you make will affect your
child's health for the rest of his or her life.
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doc thanks Jonathan Leger txt
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