Breastfeeding Shown to Reduce ADHD Risk

It has been the debate for years between mothers and physicians whether or not breastfeeding is necessary. It has been shown that breastfeeding provides children with several health benefits, as well as enhanced parental bonding. What are those benefits exactly? Here are a few of the benefits of breast milk:

Lower BMI:  Studies have shown that breastfed children are less likely to become obese in life, according to Nisha I. Parkih, M.D, M.P.H, a cardiovascular fellow at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Mass. This is also linked to lower cholesterol and better cardiovascular health!

Healthier Bodies:  Women who breastfed transfer colostrum to their children. The antibodies and nutrition in colostrum decreases a baby’s chance of developing asthma, Type 2 Diabetes and lower respiratory infections.

Higher I.Q:  In May of 2011, a study was conducted of 468 non-smoking mothers. The study found that breastfed babies had a higher IQ’s they longer they were breastfed. Babies who were breastfed for three months had a 2.1 percent higher IQ than those babies who were bottle fed, while those breastfed for more than six months had IQ’s 3.8 points higher.

However, can breastfeeding your child reduce his/her risk of developing ADHD? According to a new study published in Breastfeeding Magazine, it is totally possible.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University studied children from the ages 6 to 12 at the Schneider’s Children Medical Center in Israel. To conduct the study, the children were split into 3 groups:  those already diagnosed with ADHD, siblings of those children with ADHD and a control group of children without ADHD. In the end, the children with ADHD were far less likely to be breastfed during the first three months of their lives compared to the other 73 percent of the control group.

Mountainside Medical wants to hear from all the mothers out there! Did you breastfeed or pump breast milk for your baby, or do you plan to in the future? Why or why not?

Source:

http://shine.yahoo.com/study-says-breastfed-children-less-likely-develop-adhd-214000995.html