According to research carried out in Israel, breastfeeding your baby for six months or longer could significantly decrease your child’s risk of developing leukaemia; the most common form of childhood cancer.
Scientists looked at 18 previous studies as part of their research, and concluded that the risk of contracting leukaemia fell by almost a fifth (19%) for children who were breastfed for at least six months.
Interestingly, the researchers found that children who had been breastfed even just once in their lives reduced their risk of developing the disease by an astonishing 11%, in comparison to children who had never breastfed.
While the scientists admitted that they have not been able to unlock the exact cause of this protective link, they believe that it lies in the immune system-boosting properties contained in breast milk.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Kim Giuliano of the Cleveland Clinic wrote: “This is yet another health benefit of breastfeeding. It’s a reason moms should be encouraged to nurse their babies as long as possible.”
This certainly is a very interesting finding, and we’re looking forward to future research in the area.
