A nutritionist, Ms Uju Onuorah, says breastfed babies have a lower risk of type one diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and obesity later in life.
Onuorah said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja.
According to her, besides the fact that for newborns, breast milk is the best source of nutrients, breastfeeding also has advantages that continue into maturity.
She also said that breastfeeding has both short- and long-term preventive effects against specific ailments and disorders.
Onuorah also said that the immune system of a baby is strengthened by breastfeeding because breastmilk contains antibodies that are beneficial to the baby.
Speaking about the hormones contained in the human breastmilk, the nutritionist said that they include leptin, adiponectin, Insulin Growth Factor (IGF-1), ghrelin, obestatin and resistin.
She said that these hormones were believed to contribute to various aspects of infant growth, development, metabolism and overall health outcomes in the long run.
Onuorah, however, said that the health benefits of breastfeeding were more pronounced when the mother exclusively breastfeeds her child for six months.
She, therefore, advised mothers to follow the World Health Organisation’s recommendation to breastfeed their babies exclusively for six months and for up to two or three years in addition to other nutritious foods.
However, for mothers, she said that mothers who breastfeed have major health benefits because they are less likely to acquire certain diseases, including ovarian and breast cancer, type two diabetes and high blood pressure
