The benefits of breastfeeding

Numerous major health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dietetic Association, strongly support breastfeeding. Their position statements urge women when possible, to exclusively breast feed their babies for the first six month of life and to continue breastfeeding with complimentary foods from six months to at least 12 months of age.

The belief is that this pattern provides optimal nutrition and health protection for the baby. It can be especially important for pre-term and low birth weight babies.

When the recommendations state "exclusively," they mean attempting breast feeding shortly after birth and not giving the infant supplemental bottles of formula, water, other liquids, or pacifiers. Doing so appears to lower the success rate of initiation and continuation of breastfeeding, and reduces the nutrition the baby receives.

Not only does breast milk contain a perfect balance of nutrients, but these nutrients are in a form that infants can better digest and absorb. This potentially means a reduced risk of digestive problems and optimal nutrient uptake. The amounts of the various nutrients are also at a level appropriate for the infant's immature kidneys and in the right proportions for growth and development needs.

Breast milk also has the unique advantage of changing composition over time. As the baby's nutritional needs change, the breast milk changes to meet those needs. The first milk (colostrum) is perfect for newborns, while the mature milk later on is appropriate for older babies. Breast milk is also bacterially safe, as well as cost and time effective.

The only additional nutrients a young infant may need are vitamin D and possibly fluoride. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends intake of 400 IU vitamin D daily from birth to at least 18 years of age for all infants — breast or formula fed (formulas may cover some of the need but probably not the full amount).

Breast milk contains numerous substances that assist with immunity. When it comes to health, research shows that breast-fed infants tend to have fewer infections and illnesses, resulting in fewer hospitalizations and visits to a health-care provider. Examples are ear and respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia.

Breast feeding is also associated with reduced risk of infant deaths in general, childhood leukemia, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). For premature infants, breastfeeding reduces the incidence of the potentially fatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

For baby, long term, breast feeding is associated with a lower lifetime risk of chronic diseases, such as type 1 and 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Breast fed babies also tend to have healthier body weights and are less likely to become overweight or obese as adolescents and adults.

Breast feeding may also lower the chance of food allergies and intolerances. Some studies even show a relationship to higher intelligence test scores. Orally, breast feeding helps promote proper teeth and jaw development. Some studies suggest it can even act as a mild analgesic or pain reliever. Emotionally, the act of breast feeding assists with bonding between the mother and her infant.

In addition to knowing that she is providing the best nourishment for her child, mom can also benefit from breast feeding. To start, her recovery from delivery is quicker than if she does not breast feed. Because it delays menstruation, it can also help mom to recover her iron stores from losses at delivery.

The longer women breast feed, the lower their lifetime risk of getting breast and ovarian cancers, type 2 diabetes (except for those who have had gestational diabetes) and rheumatoid arthritis. This is especially significant with breastfeeding more than 12 months all children combined. Breast feeding can also lower blood pressure in women before, during and after breastfeeding sessions.

Moms may also benefit emotionally. Studies have shown that breast feeding women tend to have a lesser chance of experiencing postpartum depression.

While breastfeeding, a woman's need for protein is 25 gm/day above pre-pregnant needs (similar to needs during pregnancy). Calcium needs are slightly higher as well (1200-1500 mg/day) with adequate vitamin D. She should also increase her fluid intake to cover milk production. For weight maintenance, her calorie needs are similar to those during pregnancy. For postpartum weight loss, a slightly lower calorie intake does not appear to negatively affect milk production, but a more restrictive diet is not recommended.

Women who take prescription or over-the-counter medications or herbal supplements should check with their pharmacist and/or health-care provider to evaluate the safety of what they are taking with regard to breastfeeding. They should also reduce their exposure to chemical contaminants, including those found in foods (such as methyl mercury, which can be high in some fish).

If a woman anticipates pregnancy followed by breastfeeding, achieving a healthy body weight before pregnancy appears to improve breastfeeding success, as obesity triggers factors that may negatively affect milk production.

For a number of reasons, new moms may not be able to achieve the recommended goal of breastfeeding for at least a year. Although this longer duration of breastfeeding is optimal, be assured that any amount of time spent breastfeeding provides benefits. The good news is that there are many resources available to help — medical professionals, lactation specialists, registered dietitians, and breastfeeding support groups.



source

Learn why vitamin D is the "SUNSHINE VITAMIN"

Is 10 minutes a day exposure to the sun with no sunscreen a bad thing or a good thing?

The jury is still out among a lot of health professionals, but one thing is certain: there are many people in our country that are deficient in vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble supplement needed to maintain normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Over the last few years, vitamin D deficiency has been blamed for a number of conditions including depression, chronic pain, kidney disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, colon and breast cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

Much research has been done and much more will be done on the vitamin D debate. Many health professional are very excited about the health benefits of vitamin D and highly recommend it to their patients.

According to an article by Brian Alexander in the American Council on Exercise’s (ACE) Fitness Matters magazine, here are some things we know about vitamin D:

Vitamin D was discovered 87 years ago by a team of scientists at John Hopkins University who cured mice with rickets by feeding them cod liver oil. Oily fish like sardines remain one the few natural food sources of vitamin D.

It was later found that certain wavelengths of ultraviolet light prompts our bodies to synthesize vitamin D, eventually making a hormone called calcitriol.

Once this was understood vitamin D was produced synthetically, and foods, mainly milk, were fortified with it.

If you are Caucasian and expose 40 percent of your skin to midday summer sun in most of the United States, you will receive a dose of roughly 1,000 IUs per minute. An international unit (IU) is an internationally accepted amount of a substance. This type of measure is used for the fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D and E) and certain hormones, enzymes and biologicals (such as vaccines).

As we age, we gradually lose our ability to absorb vitamin D.

The darker your skin, the less vitamin D you will receive from the sun.

Where you live can affect your vitamin D levels. Those living north of Atlanta, Ga., do not get enough ultraviolet rays in the winter for their bodies to produce the vitamin D that they need. Therefore, it is important to get your level tested by you physician and let him suggest alternatives.

In the same ACE article, Boston University physician and vitamin D researcher Dr. Michael Holick said, "When I first heard the claims about vitamin D, I thought it was kind of crazy."

But Holick has become convinced of vitamin D’s effectiveness. "Heart, colon, prostrate, brain, all those cells have receptors for vitamin D, we also know it stimulates serotonin production [important in depression], and it is important in muscle function."

Other studies have been inconclusive on the positive health benefits of vitamin D. So the arguments on both sides of the debate continue.

All sides do agree on one thing: more research is needed.



source

Consumers Reassured Regarding Benefits of Calcium Supplements

The New Zealand Self Medication Industry (NZSMI), the industry body representing non-prescription consumer healthcare products, said today that the benefits of calcium supplements in strengthening bones outweigh any known risks.

Tim Roper, executive director of the NZSMI, says consumers should maintain their current calcium supplements or consult their doctor if they have any concerns.

Mr Roper welcomed Medsafe's statement at the weekend that there is insufficient proof that there is a link between calcium and heart disease as suggested by a recent study highlighted in the media recently.

"The study, which concluded that calcium supplements modestly increased the risk of heart attacks, was not designed to measure a link between calcium and heart disease. It was limited in its scope and only dealt with people over 70. It's not surprising that people in this age group are more at risk of heart attacks.

"Most people in New Zealand who are taking calcium supplements are younger than the age group investigated. They are usually women under the age of 50 who are pregnant, breastfeeding or menopausal, taking calcium to strengthen bones and maintain bone density."

Mr Roper says media reports on the study also failed to mention that the study group of 70 year-olds were taking calcium supplements without the recommended addition of Vitamin D which aids absorption of calcium into the bones.

He adds that the researchers involved in this study also admit it has "some limitations...and the results may not apply to co-administered calcium and Vitamin D supplements."



source

Calcium Supplements Lead to Heart Attack

Thirty percent is the susceptibility to heart attack of people taking calcium supplements.

Dr. Ian Reid of the Department of Medicine at the University of Auckland was the head of the study. Higher blood serum levels lead to hardening of the arteries of the heart. These findings are consistent even after considering gender, age and the type of supplements taken.

The study excluded patients who were taking both calcium and Vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D helps in calcium absorption.

Calcium is not only for bone health but it regulates muscle contraction, which includes heartbeat and normal blood clotting.

Dr. Ian Reid suggests taking in calcium the natural way; through food: milk, yogurt (low-fat, nonfat), cheeses, pudding, soy milk and orange juice fortified with calcium, canned salmon and sardines both with bones, tofu processed with calcium and leafy vegetables.

“Given the modest benefits of calcium supplements, a reassessment of the role of calcium supplements is warranted” the scientists behind the study wrote in the British Medical Journal.

Experts however added, “Anyone who has been advised by their doctor to take calcium supplements shouldn’t stop because of this research alone.”



source