[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Breastfeeding is not only healthy for babies, it may also help to reduce mothers’ risk of having a heart attack or stroke later in life, according to new research published in the latest issue of Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Previous studies have suggested that mothers derive short-term metabolic health benefits from breastfeeding, such as a lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose levels and weight loss after pregnancy. However, the long-term effects of breastfeeding on risk of developing cardiovascular disease in mothers are unclear. A new study in China found that women who breastfed their babies had significantly lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease such as heart disease or stroke, and the longer they breastfed, the greater effects they had.

“The health benefits to the mother from breastfeeding may be explained by a faster ‘reset’ of the mother’s metabolism after pregnancy,” explained Sanne Peters, a research fellow at University of Oxford.

“Pregnancy changes a woman’s metabolism dramatically as she stores fat to provide the energy necessary for her baby’s growth. Breastfeeding could eliminate the stored fat faster and more completely,” Peters added.

The study analysed data from 289,573 Chinese women participating in the China Kadoorie Biobank study who provided detailed information about their reproductive history and other lifestyle factors.

The study comes after previous research indicated that mothers get short-term health benefits from breastfeeding such as weight loss and lower cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose levels after pregnancy.

“The findings should encourage more widespread breastfeeding for the benefit of the mother as well as the child,” said Zhengming Chen, Professor of Epidemiology, University of Oxford.  – IANS[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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