The Salad Caper

You must have heard it on TV or read it on newspaper articles and on blog posts, but it is true – breast milk is still best for babies! I have breastfed my two kids and I have not regretted it.

Here are some facts about the benefits of breastfeeding:

• Children receive the most complete and optimal mix of nutrients & antibodies

• The varying composition of breastmilk keeps pace with the infant’s individual growth and changing nutritional needs

• Have fewer incidences of vomiting and diarrhea in the US (20-35 million episodes of diarrhea occur in children under the age of 5, resulting in over 200,000 hospitalizations and 400-500 deaths in the U.S.)

• Protection against gastroenteritis, necrotizing entercolitis

• Reduced risk of chronic constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets

• Reduced risk of childhood diabetes

• Protection against ear infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney infections, septicemia (blood poisoning),

• Protection against allergies,   asthma, eczema, and severity of allergic disease

• Reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) Statistics reveal that for every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 are breastfed.

• Protection against meningitis, botulism, childhood lymphoma, crohn’s disease and ulcerative entercolits

• Decreased risk of tooth decay (cavities)

• Nursing promotes facial structure development, enhanced speech,  straighter teeth and enhances vision.

• Breastfed infants develop higher IQ’s, and have improved brain and nervous system development; IQ advantage of 10-12 points studied at ages 8, 12, and 18.  (Breastfeeding is considered the 4th trimester in brain growth and development…there are specific proteins in human milk that promote brain development))

• Reduced risk of heart disease later in life

• Increased bone density

• Breastfeeding plays an important role in the emotional and spiritual  development of babies

• Breastfed babies enjoy a special warm bonding and emotional relationship with their mothers    

• Antibody response to vaccines are higher

• Are hospitalized 10 times less than formula fed infants in the first year of life

• The colostrum (first milk) coats the GI tract, preventing harmful bacteria and allergy -triggering protein molecules from crossing into baby’s blood

• Decreased risk for vitamin E and Iron deficiency anemia

• Decreased risk for acute appendicitis, rheumatoid arthritis, inguinal hernia, pyloric stenosis

• There are factors in human milk that destroy E coli, salmonella, shigella, streptococcus, pneumococcus….and many others

• Less risk of childhood obesity