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Breast Milk Tied to Baby's Metabolism
Filed under: Breast-Feeding, Nutrition
Breast milk lowers blood insulin levels more so than formulas. Credit: Getty Images
The Kansas City Star reports French researchers have found a significant link to breast milk and a baby's developing metabolism. The researchers found children who breast-feed have lower blood insulin levels than formula-fed babies.
The formula-fed babies also had higher blood pressure.
Therefore, when infants cannot be fed breast milk, researchers conclude they should be fed formula with a metabolic profile as close to human breast milk as possible.
According to the Star, researchers analyzed three years of data on 234 children. One group received only breast milk for the first four months of life. The other two groups were randomized to receive either a low-protein formula or a high-protein formula.
Children who received breast milk for the first four months, the Star reports, had a specific pattern of growth and metabolic profile that differed from the formula-fed babies.
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 2)
6-09-2011 @ 12:01PM
Laura said...Women who for whatever reason do not breastfeed their children get defensive because of comments like yours. Who are you to say there has to be a medical reason to not breastfeed and shame on any women who don't at least try? I will decide what's best for my child and you can decide what's best for yours. If I decide not to breastfeed, I don't need any reason at all and I certainly don't have to explain myself to anybody regarding the decision.
6-09-2011 @ 3:25PM
chaimguardian said...Ok, lets use an analogy that appeals to today's trends. When you go to the grocery store, you have a choice between regular and organic. You know that organic is better, just because it's more natural, there aren't any growth additives or strange processes or preservatives. If the organic is not that much more expensive and it's better for you, then, why wouldn't you get it. Well, what if we went one step further and said that the organic items was FREE and you still had to pay for the regular stuff...well then. Unless for some "medical" reason that you couldn't eat organic, why would you choose to pay for a product of lesser quality?
6-09-2011 @ 8:28AM
Becky said...I'm sorry, but whether you breastfeed or formula feed is the mothers OWN decision. Personally, I formula fed all 4 of my kids, and they are perfectly healthy, happy, smart, well-adjusted children (and 1 adult!) I;m so tired of the "studies" saying "oh if you breastfeed blah blah blah. Sorry, Ijust don;t buy it!
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6-10-2011 @ 9:52AM
mytwocents said...It isn't rocket science to know that breast milk was made for babies. Anything else is just a substitute and not going to be as good for them. I totally believe in breast feeding. It is very hard work but worth it. I did it for about six months for both my kids. They wouldn't nurse anymore after that because they were big babies and wanted a steak by then. lol I hope all mothers that are able to nurse will nurse. My kids are long and lean and healthy and smart, thankfully, and of course there are other factors involved in that but I do believe nursing has a lot to do with it. If there is no way that a woman can nurse, she should not feel guilty about it because at least she tried. It's the right thing to do for your baby. Peace.
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6-09-2011 @ 9:45AM
doglover183 said...Formula is cow milk based,that's a fact.Therefore it's meant for baby cows.Human breast milk is for human babies,it's as simple as that.It is the perfect food for babies,that's why women produce it.It's as natural as you can get.The benefits to mother and child are endless.The human race could not have survived if not for breastfeeding.People that get upset about breastfeeding,vs formula,deep down know that breastfeeding is the best.That's why they make all kinds of excuses why they can't,or think it's gross,etc.Back in the day,they even had wet-nurses for women that couldn't breastfeed,because they knew the importance of it.Yes I nursed all four of my kids,including my twins.And I worked.I truly believe it also a better bond with your children.There are many facts on this.
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6-09-2011 @ 10:01AM
three4me said...I am ALL for breastfeeding, but these articles. Why make women who can't or choose not to breastfeed feel like they are not the mother they should be? 234 babies that's not enough proof for me. The most important ingredient these babies need is loving parentS!
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6-09-2011 @ 10:17AM
Mama Mac said...There are plenty of pros and cons to both breastfeeding and bottlefeeding, most of which have already been stated in previous posts. But if you can manage it try to breastfeed for at least the first 2 or 3 months of your baby's life in order to pass on the immunities that are in mom's milk.
There are groups like La Leche League that can help a new mom through the problems and questions she might have.
And to the mom who had the "biter", you can get nipple shields that take care of that problem in short order.
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6-09-2011 @ 10:34AM
Sara Kennedy said...What is severely lacking in our health system is knowledgeable lactation consultants. I hear stories all the time about moms who gave up breastfeeding because they had incorrect advice from health professionals (who should know better) and other moms who have not had training in preventing breastfeeding difficulties. It is natural, but must be learned!
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6-09-2011 @ 11:13AM
SKS said...Breast milk is only as healthy as the mother herself. My sister's kids were all breast fed ( she was a fanatic about it ) and they ALL have asthma, one has ADHD and all are overweight ( inherited from their father's family. ) I bottle-fed my son and he's now 30 years old, healthy as a horse and a marathon runner. Sorry, I'm not buying the "breast is better" rhetoric. Never did, never will.
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6-09-2011 @ 11:30AM
ay said...Everyone has a story of how they know someone who bottlefed a genius, etc., but breastfed is best unless there is absolutely no other recourse. Science just can't duplicate mother's milk (unless of course the mother poisons her own milk by substances). Plus my trust in corporate food production has sunk pretty low in recent years is all the more reason to use your own body to feed your baby. I've seen my in-laws influence every mother in their group discourage breastfeeding by saying the mother wasn't producing enough milk. What a shame! I know this isn't a "politically correct" idea because God forbid some worman should feel guilty about giving up breastfeeding but to not even try! If we lived in a country that took care of our citizens, every mother would be able to care for their newborns without worrying about working a 60-hour workweek. I breastfed both my sons and only regret that I weaned my first son at three months instead of a full year.
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6-09-2011 @ 12:21PM
mary ann said...as I have read in the holy book ,GOD mayed us as women,our BREAST is not to make us look good .he mayed us this way so we can feed our babys before they get old enough to eat solid food now pass 12 to 14 mounths ,you should have taugh your child to eat som solid foods.and another thing ,if we wont to called that INDECENT, exposure what about pants on the GROWN.and showing your nectness,that dose not look good either,if your pants is below your knees ,what's showing.
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6-09-2011 @ 4:21PM
Dorothy Adams said...I breast fed all 4 of my children and ran a business at the same time so I had the flexibility to be able to have them with me and feed them when needed and didn't have to pump. It is what is best for babies. However, breast feeding isn't for everyone. Some have unhealthy eating habits, drink and smoke and that goes into your milk. Some have zero patience and that isn't good. Probably better to give the child formula. I think that all babies are fine so long as they are fed with love going on and being fed a top notch formula. The boobs are for feeding babies, fortunately they can also be sexual. I had one friend who wanted to know how I could sit there with someone sucking on my breast and not be in a sexual pre orgasm. Really? I guess no one really knows how painful it is to breast feed for the first few months unless they did it and then you are not feeling anything sexually enjoyable by having an industrial strength suction on there trying to get milk. However, my last child didn't wean until almost 3 and at that point I was anxious for him to get over it because his dawdling and fiddling with it was more irritating than anything but if it was my husband doing that I would have felt differently. Once he started to do that it was time to get him off and we used to laugh when he would cry.. "boob, booooob" between sobs.
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