Breastfeeding protects mothers from "deadly" mental illness

An international study found that women who breastfed naturally were two-thirds less likely to suffer from mental health problems, and the greater the number of children, the greater the impact.

The joint study of the United States and South Korea focused on mothers aged 50 and over who had menopause.

"The findings suggest that breastfeeding is useful not only for the health of infants in the short and long term, but also for the mental health of mothers," said Dr. Sangshin Patk of Brown University in New York. America.

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The study, which included more than 1,200 mothers over the age of 50, examined the family history of participants, the number of children and the duration of breastfeeding, as well as the number of mothers. mental health status.

The researchers found that "the risk of depression decreased by 29% for each additional breastfed child and by 9.3% for each additional year of breastfeeding".

"Women who have been breastfeeding for at least 47 months have reduced their risk of depression by 67%, compared with less than 24 months of breastfeeding," the study says.

The results indicate that breastfeeding has preventative benefits for children, but its benefits to the mother's mental health are unknown before.

Pregnant women are known to naturally store more fat in the body, to feed the fetus, and to "burn" many of these fats, which can lead to diabetes and high blood pressure.

The development of these metabolic diseases can contribute to depression.

Hormones released during breastfeeding are thought to play a protective role in weight control.

The results of this study can be used as an argument to put more emphasis on maternal support for the adoption of breastfeeding, which will produce positive results that will contribute to improving child health and of the mother in the short and long term.

Source: Daily Mail