Could Breastfeeding be Healthier for Your Baby and You?

Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your baby, but is it the healthiest? There are a number of health benefits to feeding your baby with breast milk, not just because it is packed with vital nutrients for your child’s development. It keeps their health in check and prevents them from catching illnesses, but it could also be good for you too. Studies show that it could lower your risk of postnatal depression and also prevent some cancers. Here are some of the main reasons why breastfeeding is the best way to nurture your baby, as well as helping you to stay healthy.

1 – You can increase the emotional bond

There is a distinct bonding experience between a mother and child during breastfeeding that can’t really be replicated. It strengthens that natural bond you have with your baby and also increases the closeness between you, both physically and emotionally. Getting your baby to latch on in the early stages can be difficult, but a nursing pillow can help with this.

2 – It can protect your baby from illness

Studies carried out by the World Health Organisation found that in children from around the globe, those who had been breastfed suffered from a reduced number of diseases, such as ear infections, stomach viruses and respiratory infections. The study also found that infants who have been breastfed early show a decreased risk of infant mortality between the ages of birth to one year.

3 – Helps you to lose weight

This is one for the mums – breastfeeding can help you lose your birth weight! This is because breastfeeding releases the hormone oxytocin which helps the woman’s abdomen shrink to its original size that it was before the pregnancy. It even helps you to burn 500 calories a day, helping you to shed those extra pounds you put on when you were carrying your baby.

4 – It increases intelligence

Research has found that there is a strong link between breastfeeding and your baby’s cognitive development. In children who breastfed for longer than six months, the IQ level was 3.8 points higher than a bottle-fed baby. There have also been studies which show that these children also have higher scores on reading and maths. This is thought to be connected to the emotional bond built up between mother and baby, which promotes intelligence.

5 – It lowers stress and the risk of postnatal depression

The breastfeeding technique could help improve the health of the mum as well as the baby, as studies have found that it can lower stress levels and reduce the risk of postnatal depression. This is because it releases hormones which promote a sense of calm and relaxation. Stress can lead to postnatal depression, so breastfeeding could help to reduce this risk.

6 – It may reduce cancer

Alongside the general health benefits to your baby’s health, it could also help to lower the risk of cancer in infants as well as you. Studies suggest that it could lower the chance of developing breast and ovarian cancers, and the longer the women breastfed for, the lower their risk was.

7 – It offers great savings to you and the environment

One of the main blessings to breastfeeding, aside from those to you and your baby’s health, is that it’s free! Formula and bottles add up and can be expensive, so breastfeeding is a great and natural solution to what to feed your baby. It’s also the best way to ensure your child gets all the nutrients they need to stay healthy.

Categories: Baby, Breastfeeding, emotional bond, health, Health Benefits, Postnatal Depression, risk, stay healthy, studies, Women

Why Are Supplements So Necessary For Our Health?

Society has become increasingly health conscious in recent years, and thanks to the internet we are more knowledgeable than ever about what our bodies need. This increasing desire to be healthy and live stronger lives has resulted in people seeking out new ways to combat the obesity crisis – whilst awareness of an issue is one thing, knowing how to solve it is something quite different. Whether you’re a pro athlete or a regular citizen, a healthy diet requires discipline and determination. Supplements are a popular way to achieve this, as they give your body all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and work properly. While they are no replacement for a healthy diet, they can do wonders for filling in the gaps – particularly if you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet. On a basic level, supplements can balance your diet and help your body to benefit from the nutrients it needs most. For people who live on a specific diet that’s lacking in a food group, they can be a great way of ensuring that you stay healthy and on top form. As long as you maintain a balanced diet in the first instance, supplements will fill in the gap and improve your wellbeing.

 

Blood sugar levels are a concern for many people now, contributing towards obesity, diabetes and other health complaints. There are supplements that can help you manage this issue and  assist the metabolic, mental and cardiovascular health. If you lead a very active lifestyle and use a lot of energy, it’s vital that you give your body the energy it needs to function. Carbs are ideal for this, but you may also need to supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals – if your diet is falling short here, supplements can help. Vitamin supplements are especially necessary, as they speed up the metabolism of carbohydrates to ensure that your body has a good supply of energy. Whether you’re managing a busy work and life balance, or lead an active lifestyle as an athlete, you will need to focus on this for a healthy body.

Your immune system fights off disease and keeps your body fighting fit against the threat of disease. A strong immune system is crucial for long term health and keeping active for as long as you can, and supplements can be useful in achieving this. If you’re more susceptible to illnesses, you may benefit from a vitamin supplement. As previously stated, supplements are no match for the health benefits gained from a balanced diet in the first place. You should attempt to boost your diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, as well as ensuring that you eat a varied diet that incorporates all of the main food groups – this means opting for lean proteins, complex carbohydrates and whole grains, and dairy to build a strong body that can lead an active lifestyle with ease. But supplements can do a wonderful job of filling in the gaps and topping up your nutrient levels so that you stay healthy and fend off disease effectively. If you’re unsure what nutrients you are lacking, or need some advice on the best supplements to be taking, speak to your GP who can advise you on the best course of action. As with any addition to your diet, seek medical advice before taking supplements in case they aren’t good for your health – your GP will be able to go through your medical history with you to ensure this is the case.

Categories: active lifestyle, balanced diet, body, diet, health, Healthy, healthy diet, nutrients, stay healthy, Supplements