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Dr. Mercola
April 03 2008
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Breast-Feeding Curbs Type 2 Diabetes

breastfeed, breast milk, breastfeedingBabies who are breast-fed seem to be less likely to develop type 2 diabetes as adolescents, according to University of South Carolina researchers.

Using a subset of data from a larger study, the researchers analyzed 80 people between the ages of 10 and 21 with type 2 diabetes, who were matched with 167 “controls” who did not have diabetes.

The breastfeeding rate was lower among people with type 2 diabetes, compared with the control group. Specifically:
  • Among African Americans, only 20 percent of those with type 2 diabetes had been breastfed, compared to 27 percent in the control group.
  • Among Hispanics, 50 percent of the diabetes group was breastfed, compared with 84 percent of the control group.
  • Among whites, 39 percent of the diabetes group was breastfed, compared with 78 percent of the control group.
The researchers concluded that breastfeeding in itself had a protective effect against type 2 diabetes. It also helped to stave off the disease because it helped to moderate childhood weights.

Encouraging breastfeeding in groups at high risk of type 2 diabetes may be useful, the researchers said.

Dr. MercolaDr. Mercola's Comments:
Breast milk is the perfect food for a newborn baby; it is made by nature and absolutely nothing has been overlooked. For a newborn, one of the biggest benefits is that breast milk transfers antibodies, or immune molecules, to your baby that give them automatic immunity to illnesses that the mother is immune to. This is just what a new baby, whose immune system is not yet mature, needs.

Another quite remarkable benefit of breast milk is that the opposite also holds true. So if your baby is exposed to a new infection the organism will get transferred to the mother via breastfeeding, and the mother will make antibodies to fight the germ. Those specific antibodies then get transferred back to your baby at the next feeding thus improving their immune response.

The Benefits of Breastfeeding are Seemingly Endless -- For Baby AND Mom

Along with the added protection against type 2 diabetes, studies have found that breastfed infants have extra protection against:
  • Heart disease
  • Immune system cancers such as lymphoma
  • Bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease
  • Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
  • Asthma and allergies
  • Respiratory infections
  • Eczema
  • Type 1 diabetes
Breastfed infants also tend to have higher intelligence and a lower risk of obesity than formula-fed infants.

On top of that, breastfeeding is a mutually beneficial experience for moms and babies. In fact, women who breastfeed have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers and osteoporosis later in life. They are also able to return to their pre-pregnancy weight faster (breastfeeding uses up about 500 calories a day!).

What are Your Rights as a Breastfeeding Mom?

Despite the undeniable benefits, in the United States breastfeeding is still not as widely accepted as it should be. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among infants born in 2004 (the most recent data available):
  • 74% were ever breastfed
  • 42% were still breastfeeding at 6 months of age
  • 21% were breastfeeding at 1 year of age
  • 31% were exclusively breastfed through 3 months of age
  • 11% were exclusively breastfed through 6 months of age
So while over 70 percent of moms begin breastfeeding right after birth, only 11 percent are still doing it exclusively six months later. This means that most children are not receiving the benefits that come from exclusive breastfeeding in the first months of life.

Even the CDC states, "Compared with breastfeeding combined with formula feeding, exclusive breastfeeding provides more protection against lower respiratory tract infections, acute otitis media [ear infections], atopic dermatitis [skin irritation], and childhood obesity."

There are, of course, hurdles for many women who would like to breastfeed exclusively, particularly since not all workplaces and public areas are as open to it as they should be.

Which is why, if you are a woman who wishes to breastfeed, you must know your rights.

As of January 2008, the National Conference of State Legislatures states that 39 states have laws that specifically allow women to breastfeed in any public or private location. These states are:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Wyoming

Meanwhile:
  • 21 states exempt breastfeeding from public indecency laws
  • 14 states have laws that address breastfeeding in the workplace
  • 12 states exempt breastfeeding mothers from jury duty
To find out the laws in your state, La Leche League International has compiled an excellent list of breastfeeding legislation in the United States, which you can search by state.

So please do not assume that you are not “allowed” to breastfeed in public or at work. In most states, it is actually against the law to try to prohibit you from this natural act.

If you want to give your child the best start nutritionally, ideally you will breastfeed exclusively for the first six months. Breastfeeding should then be continued at least for the first year, and The World Health Organization recommends continued breastfeeding until your child is 2 years old or older.

For Moms Who Can’t Breastfeed

As natural as breastfeeding is, a small percentage of women are unable to breastfeed due to physical reasons. This can be an extremely emotional issue, as many women then feel they have “failed” their child in this way. But in no way should you ever blame yourself for an inability to breastfeed.

New moms who are experiencing difficulty breastfeeding can first contact a lactation consultant to rule out any problems with positioning or routine that may be interfering. If, however, you are simply unable to breastfeed, remember that you are still doing the best you can for your child.

As for what to feed in place of breast milk, AVOID all soy infant formulas. Instead, the best option is to make your own homemade infant formula using this specific recipe.
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Community Comments ( 60 )
 Comment on this Article
  
  
HealthCoachSandraG
 [ Joined on 03/08 ] [ Posted on March 17, 2008 ]
14 Points        
   
 
Apprentice User
Breast feeding is good for the mother too! 

People's brains must be completely turned off to think modern science can develop a milk that is superior to mothers milk.  Breast milk exist to nourish offspring and humans would be extinct if this method hadn't worked for millions of years.  Baby formulas have barely existed for a couple of generations....That's not science!! 
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Charisse
 		[ Joined on 10/07 ]  [ Posted on March 18, 2008]
4 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola
For those who adopt, or who are otherwise not able to breastfeed ...Sally Fallon in NOURISHING TRADITIONS has recipes for really good home-made formula!! check out Amazon.com for the book it is really great!! and the recipes are not difficult...
Mercola
  
Robubba
 		[ Joined on 03/08 ]  [ Posted on March 20, 2008]
-3 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola
Yea, humans would be extinct really fast if God didn't put the 500 chemicals in breath milk that aren't reproducible in a lab.  If it was millions of years or 6,000 years, we couldn't survive if breast milk was so intelligently designed specifically for a new born baby.  As each and every chemical in breast milk takes a lot of genetic information to create.
Mercola
  
LadyPam
 		[ Joined on 02/08 ]  [ Posted on April 3, 2008]
2 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

I remember reading that the food pellets used to feed lab rats have more minerals in them than baby formula.

  
  
mmc88121
 [ Joined on 11/06 ] [ Posted on March 14, 2008 ]
14 Points        
   
 
Moderator User
Breast feeding is the best food for an infant, and it changes according to the infants needs.  This is just another reason to encourage breast feeding.

Mary
 [ Reply ]
  
  
mrose
 [ Joined on 09/06 ] [ Posted on April 3, 2008 ]
9 Points        
   
 
Novice User

This is all to wierd.  Breast Feeding is a natural thing?  Men show their breasts all the time in public and nothing is thought of it.  What have we come to?  I have seen many men in public who have bigger breasts than mine!  What is the difference, other than our distorted sense than woman's breasts are sexual and mens' are not?  You boys out there that are offended by breast feeding woman need to examine why you feel that way, and for that fact you offended woman need to as well - In my opinion you have "issues"!!

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
TCarmichall
 		[ Joined on 07/07 ]  [ Posted on April 4, 2008]
2 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

As a mother who breastfed my daughter exclusively for 11 months, I had to breastfeed in public. Only I did cover us up so "people" wouldn't be able to see my breasts. Those are for my baby and my husband. You can be discreet you know!
  
  
samurai
 [ Joined on 04/07 ] [ Posted on March 14, 2008 ]
8 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
I wish people would change their perception of breastfeeding in public.  I hated how when I would breastfeed my baby, I had to cover her up with a blanket.  (increasing the amount of CO2 instead of letting her breathe freely)
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Matt79
 		[ Joined on 08/06 ]  [ Posted on March 15, 2008]
16 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
here here
I agree samurai.  My wife breastfeeds in public and she has learned to do it without a cover such that no ones notices unless they bend down to look closely at the baby.  While we commonly point out mothers sitting in malls, parks, etc. with huge tents over their chests who look way more  obvious.
Mercola
  
shaneperrone
 		[ Joined on 11/07 ]  [ Posted on March 17, 2008]
19 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
People get disgusted by the wrong things, people should rejoice in the fact you are giving your baby what it needs, what we should be disgusted in are the companies still promoting soy formula and those that advocate it.
Mercola
  
Matt79
 		[ Joined on 08/06 ]  [ Posted on March 17, 2008]
11 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Jonny,

check your state's law regarding breastfeeding.  The lucky ones have a law or statute saying the mother can breastfeed anywhere she is otherwise allowed to be.
Mercola
  
LadyPam
 		[ Joined on 02/08 ]  [ Posted on April 3, 2008]
4 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

Jonnysmith, American law might different to English, or to European (I think English and American have more in common), but I'm pretty sure that private property is NOT the definition of shopping malls, restaurants, etc., that you mention! Private property means private homes and such.

"...his restaurant, mall, shopping center, etc." - Whoever heard of a shopping mall privately owned by an individual? They are owned by corporations. You need to think things through, including that society as a whole has a duty toward infants, whether yours or not.

Though small restaurants might be considered private if there is one sole owner, they are still public places, ie open to the public - this includes babies.

Mercola
  
JollyHolly
 		[ Joined on 03/08 ]  [ Posted on April 3, 2008]
2 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Jonnysmith, "The owner of the property has every right not to allow it if he so chooses. No one put a gun to your head and forced you to go into his restaurant..."

Soooo.. by your standard, I'm allowed to go into a public restaurant and eat, but to give my baby the same right is up to the restaurant, mall, shopping center???  That's the equivelant of letting someone into a public area but not allowing them to breathe since they are on your property with the argument that if they dont like it, they can leave your property.  It's absolutely ridiculous.  Why should the method of how the baby eats be an issue?  Whether he is eating from a bottle or breast, why would you even care?  I'm sure you didn't mind seeing a magazine or picture in that same public place with a woman showing a little cleavage?  Will you place protest or call the police over that as well?  Will you ban all cleavage-showing women from also entering your said property?  
  
  
mommyof7
 [ Joined on 03/08 ] [ Posted on April 4, 2008 ]
5 Points        
   
 
Novice User

When I was a young mom, I breastfed but was intimidated by alot of people (including family members).

I only breastfed for 4-8 months, I got so stressed out because of others opinions towards me, my milk supply deminished.  Then, with the fourth, I truly took my faith in God to a new level and when I asked Him for help in this, I recieved the answer.......When I would be criticised for feeding my baby the way He intended, I would simply tell them...." Remember, that's what they were created for.  God just didn't have extra potters clay to play with.  He knew what was going to be the best for His own son..You see, JESUS WAS BREASTFED TOO!  Look how he turned out Thanks to God's infinite wisdom."  From there The other three of my children breastfed anywhere from 18-30 months and I am now breastfeeding my seventh blessing.  No one can oppose to higher power.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
sweet melissa
 		[ Joined on 02/07 ]  [ Posted on April 10, 2008]
       
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

Good for you! I just love that comment and plan on using it some day if you don't mind. For the most part everyone in my family thinks breastfeeding is best but there is a little confict as to how long is to long. Severl of the woman and event my husband think anything past 18 monthes is to long. But here is there resoning for that, " you don't want a toddler trying to unbutten your shirt, it's emberrasing" " or when the kid can ask for it with words he is to old" It all comes back to our society and the mistaken beliefe that breast feed ing is some how dirty or imodest. Well I plan to breast feed my second daughter( im 4 monthes pregnant!) to at lest 2 yrs and 2 1/2 if I can , God willing. I made it to 18monthes with my 1st daughter and had to ween her due to my own health issues, but my hubby was starting to get uncomfertable with it as well, if she had her way it definatly would not have stopped and I really do wish we could have made it to the 2 yr mark! Better luck this time around.  Melissa
  
  
Auntie Evil
 [ Joined on 07/07 ] [ Posted on April 3, 2008 ]
5 Points        
   
 
Novice User

One's right to do as they wish on their own property is great UNTIL that right infringes on another's right. Perhaps you like to brutally sacrifice animals or are a pedophile, at this point your personal rights should become secondary to the laws governing everyone everywhere. However, some of the laws in place are not the best and that becomes an issue. This could spur a long term debate though, as everyone has their own opinions about what is good and what is bad.

Taking a bowel movement on someone's property is quite different than breastfeeding one's baby in a public area. One can cause the spread of disease, smells terribly and is vulgar, leaving a mess for someone else to cleanup. The other is a simple act of a mother nurturing her baby. No disease spread, no smell, no mess, no vulgarity unless one is staring and may glimpse a nipple they find offensive. Frequenting a location that does not encourage breast feeding seems a strange thing for a breast feeding mother to do. Perhaps establishments should be encourage to provide quiet, clean, comfortable areas for breast feeding to occur if the idea of this being "seen" is offensive to the owners.

Perhaps you should find an alternative argument as the BM one does not compare well.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola