Breastfeeding 'prevents baby infections,' research suggests

Exclusive breastfeeding for six months wards off baby infections, further evidence suggests.

Regardless of other factors, such as good healthcare and vaccination programmes, breastfeeding still gives babies a boost, say Greek researchers.

They say it is the composition of breast milk that helps babies fight infections.

The findings, from a study of 1,000 vaccinated infants, are published in Archives of Diseases in Childhood.

Researchers say the benefit only comes with exclusive breastfeeding - mixing breast and bottle will not achieve the same.

World experts already recommend that infants are exclusively breastfed for at least the first six months of life.

Natural boost

For the study, the researchers tracked the health of 926 infants for a period of 12 months, recording any common infections these babies had during their first year of life.

All the newborns were routinely vaccinated and had access to a high standard of healthcare.

Almost two-thirds of mothers were breastfeeding at one month, but this figure dropped to just under a fifth at six months.

Overall, 91 of the infants were exclusively breastfed for a full six months.

Subsequently, these infants had significantly fewer common infections during their first year of life than their peers who were either partially breastfed or not breastfed at all.

These included respiratory and ear infections, as well as thrush.

And the infections they did pick up were less severe, even after adjusting for other factors that might influence infection risk, such as number of siblings and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

Professor Emmanouil Galanakis and his team say it is the composition of breast milk that explains their findings.

Breast milk contains antibodies passed from the mother, as well as other immunological and nutritional factors that help the baby fight off infections.

"Mothers should be advised by health professionals that, in addition to all the other benefits, exclusive breastfeeding helps prevent infections in babies and lessens the frequency and severity of infectious episodes," the researchers say.

Janet Fyle of the Royal College of Midwives said: "This research is very welcome and adds to the growing weight of evidence about the many benefits of breastfeeding.

"We know that breastfeeding is the default method of infant feeding for babies; good for mothers and good for the health of the nation. That is why we need to continue our efforts to ensure that we maintain a high rate of breastfeeding in the UK.

"The UK needs to see breastfeeding as a normal process, and to move away from some of the outdated and negative stigma that is depressingly still attached to it, specifically breastfeeding in public."

Photo: www.mumschool.com
Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Small Habits That Can beautify Stomach Shape

Do not need a big effort to reduce fatty deposits in the abdomen. With little habits changing, you can reduce the volume of fat in the abdomen. Here is a habit that can shrink your stomach, as quoted from health.

Reduce Sugar Consumption
According to Jorge Cruise, author of 'The Belly Fat Cure', reducing the consumption of sugar will keep your insulin levels remained low in the body and also maintain high levels of glucagon. Glucagon is a hormone that helps fight against belly fat.

Chew Food
According to Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, author of 'The Flexitarian Diet', chewing is the most powerful way to avoid flatulence. Without adequate chewing, the food will not digest properly so that the stomach becomes filled with gas.

Laugh
Expert pilates, Kristin McGee, recommend to laugh for reducing body fat. This is because every time you laugh, you have to tighten your abdominal muscles.

So, no need a difficult thing to reduce the volume of fat in the belly.

Slim Secrets from Spain

The number of obese people in various parts of the world continues to increase. Yet, in Europe, death rates from coronary disease tend to lower than other countries in the world though equally rich food will be saturated fat. Many studies say, this is related to wine drinking habits in these countries. However, there are some other habits of the European community, especially the citizens of Spain who made them stay healthy and have fantastic bodied. Here are the reason :

1. A little but often
In Spain, good food packaged in miniature. One example is a menu of tapas (pintxos); finger foods that are small enough to swallow directly into the mouth. Snacks that are present in small and limited portions will be more easily guarded intake into the mouth. Besides the need that comes, it would be sufficient and not excessive; the belly has to be a habit to consume in sufficient quantities.

2. Share
In Spain, apparently also has a habit of "eating the middle". This means that side dishes are presented in the middle. There, custom, side dishes are ordered enough for two people. Sharing the main menu that can be shared will help you to take food in moderation for your own portion. Besides it is so much cheaper, you also able to manage your food to consumed.

3. Big lunch and light dinner
Many fitness experts will tell you that eating on the 6 pm is not good for your body size. However, in Spain, especially in Barcelona, dinner is served later in the night of the dinner hour and the meal was generally very light. While having lunch, usually consisting of several large dishes, serving food that is most severe. Alter the proportions of foods helps our bodies burn more calories. Logically, when we're on the move during the day we will burn more calories than when asleep.

4. Do not eat fast food
Spain is the largest country's exporter of olive. The fruit are served free in many parts of "hanging out". Processed foods, like potato chips are presented in the form of small packing and rarely purchased. You will mostly see Spaniards eat foods such as nuts and sunflower seeds, as well as pumpkin seed, which is a snack that would make someone stand longer hungry.

5. Spiced foods
Garlic, chili, and bell peppers are an essential food in the diet in Spain. Earlier materials, plus other spice that helps food tastes good and it is more nutritious.