Breastmilk makes the world healthier, smarter, and more equal

The medical journal, The Lancet, has published several papers on the possible link between higher intelligence and breast feeding, In April 2015 they published a study from Brazil looking at almost 4000 people which showed ‘Breastfeeding is associated with improved performance in intelligence tests 30 years later, and might have an important effect in real life, by increasing educational attainment and income in adulthood.”

In January 2016 the Lancet published a series of papers covering “past and current global trends of breastfeeding, its short and long-term health consequences for the mother and child, the impact of investment in breastfeeding, and the determinants of breastfeeding and the effectiveness of promotion interventions.”  Their summary says “Breastmilk makes the world healthier, smarter, and more equal: these are the conclusions of a newLancet Series on breastfeeding. The deaths of 823 000 children and 20 000 mothers each year could be averted through universal breastfeeding, along with economic savings of US$300 billion. The Series confirms the benefits of breastfeeding in fewer infections, increased intelligence, probable protection against overweight and diabetes, and cancer prevention for mothers. The Series represents the most in-depth analysis done so far into the health and economic benefits that breastfeeding can produce.”

Read More:

http://www.thelancet.com/series/breastfeeding

http://thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(15)70002-1/abstract