A major study has strengthened the theory that breastfeeding significantly reduces a mother’s risk of breast cancer.
It revealed that women who breastfeed for a year over their lifetime are almost 5 percent less likely to develop the disease than those who do not breastfeed at all.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting Malaysian women. About 1 in 19 in this country is at risk. The study by the World Cancer Research Fund showed that breastfeeding for a year cut the odds of developing the disease by 4.8 percent.
Breastfeeding’s other health benefits for mothers are thought to include lowering the risk of ovarian cancer and cutting the risk of heart attacks by almost a quarter.
Breast milk also boosts the baby’s health, protecting them from tummy bugs, asthma, chest infections, asthma and allergies.
Breastfeeding may also cut the baby’s chances of cancer in later life by reducing his or her odds of obesity. In general, babies who are breastfed are healthier and achieve optimal growth and development compared to those who are fed formula milk. Breastfed babies receive protection from illnesses through the mother’s milk.
It is World Breastfeeding Week this week (1st -7th August), dedicated to bring awareness to breastfeeding worldwide.
Despite this, Malaysia has maintained low breastfeeding rates, with just 14.5% new mothers attempting it*, compared with 98% in Sweden!
*Salim et al, 2006
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