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Breastfeeding Lowers the Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke and Heart Disease

April 21, 2009

A new study just published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology has found that breastfeeding is good for your heart. Here's a quote from the story in US News & World Report:

Women in their 60s who had breast-fed for more than 12 months over their lifespan were nearly 10 percent less likely to develop cardiovascular disease, and significantly less likely to develop heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, researchers report.

"We found that the longer women breast-feed, the lower their risk of heart attacks, strokes or heart disease," said Dr. Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, an assistant professor of medicine, epidemiology, obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Research on Health Care.