[quote]The positive effect of breastfeeding on IQ leads to a higher income,” – Dr. Bernardo Lessa Horta[/quote]
Proponents of breastfeeding are no doubt elated due to the latest research on IQ levels, monthly income and their relationship with breastfeeding infants.
Breastfeeding Leads To Improved Intelligence Later In Life
Breastfeeding has proven short-term benefits, including increased protection from infectious disease and reduced mortality rate. It now associated with increased intelligence as well. A long-term study of children born in 1982 in Pelotas, Brazil interviewed 5,914 mothers regarding their plans for breastfeeding their children. The study followed these children up until age 30, what they found was quite remarkable.
[quote]We observed that breastfeeding was positively associated with performance and intelligence at 30 years old, as well as with education, school achievement and higher monthly incomes.” – Dr. Bernardo Lessa Horta[/quote]
Participants who breastfed for 12 or more months had an average IQ 3.7 points higher than average. What’s more, these participants generally had higher education and earned about 20% more than the average monthly income.
But Why?
One possible reason for these findings is that breast milk is rich in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are critical to brain development and growth. These same fatty acids are found in popular “brain foods” like shellfish and wild salmon.
“The finding supports the promotion of breastfeeding. It’s more evidence that besides the clear short term benefits, breastfeeding also has long term consequences in terms of human potential.” – Dr. Bernardo Lessa Horta
Breast Is Best
This study didn’t take other factors such as family income or education into account. While this leaves it open to scrutiny from proponents of baby formula, the researchers believe there is a clear long-term benefit to breastfeeding. Not to mention the clear short-term benefits it has to offer to the health and development of the immune system. [1]
Yet another study finding profound benefits to breastfeeding should help solidify the realization that “breast is best”, there is no substitute for feeding a newborn baby the way nature intended.
