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Breastfed Women Have Lower Risk of Breast Cancer

FitSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Breastfeeding just got a little better. Recently, we learned that adults who were breastfed as infants have lower BMIs and HDL cholesterol levels, which can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. That's not the only benefit of breastfeeding. New studies show that adult women who were breastfed as infants may have a 17 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer, as compared to women who were not breastfed. The only hitch is that this doesn't hold true for first-born women — the decreased risk of developing breast cancer was found with women who had three or more older siblings. The benefits of breastfeeding keep expanding.

This study brings up more questions to consider, like does the age of the mother or how long the infant was breastfed have any impact on the risk of breast cancer? I'm sure more studies on this subject will be completed in the not-too-distant future, since breastfeeding is such a hot topic now. It is good for the baby and the mom.

So I'm curious, were you breastfed when you were a baby? Also, if you're a mom, did you breastfeed your babies? If you're planning on being a mom in the future, have you thought about breastfeeding? Share your thoughts about all this mama business below.

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Breastfeeding Is Good for Your Baby's Future

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:30:00 -0800

When I was born, breastfeeding wasn't so common. Many new moms weren't encouraged to do so, and they often felt more than a little shy about the practice (even in this day and age many people get offended when they see a mom breastfeeding in public). Too bad that back then they didn't know the health benefits of breastfeeding.

Not only does breast milk offer excellent nutrition and help protect babies from infections, but a new study shows that babies who were nursed as infants have a lower body-mass index (BMI) and a higher level of HDL cholesterol (the good kind).

What's so great about that? Lower BMI and high HDL help to protect against cardiovascular disease. This study discovered that those who were breastfed as infants were 55 percent more likely to have high levels of HDL cholesterol than those who were bottle-fed.

Also, adults in the study who were breastfed had an average BMI of 26.1. Those who were bottle-fed had an average BMI of 26.9. If your BMI is higher than 25, you are considered overweight and at risk for heart problems. Although there wasn't a huge difference in the BMI numbers, even a slight reduction in BMI can greatly reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease.

Well now I'm even happier that I chose to breastfeed my girls.

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Celeb Mom Slim Down Secrets: Debra Messing

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Debra Messing was definitely very thin during her Will & Grace days but, like almost every woman on the planet, Debra gained a bit of weight during her pregnancy. This then turned her very slim frame into the frame of a pregnant woman. No shocker there, the real secret is how she lost all the weight.

According to AOL, Debra credits losing her baby weight to breastfeeding as well as hitting the gym with trainer Gunnar Peterson.

Debra Messing's weakness for sugary breakfast cereals and fast-food burgers during her pregnancy contributed to a weight gain of 60 pounds. Breastfeeding her son Roman helped the typically slender star shed some weight. To take off the rest, she hired Hollywood fitness trainer Gunnar Peterson who designed an exercise routine incorporating resistance training.

Maybe you don't have the cash to hire a celebrity trainer but I've got a cardio workout from Gunnar himself, maybe even one that Debra had to do. So check it out here.

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Angie Unhappy with "Thin" Accusations, Blames Breastfeeding

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:30:00 -0700

We were all happy to hear that Katherine Heigl rejects Hollywood's pressure to be thin. Now Angelina Jolie is speaking about being thin in Hollywood as well, but as a mother.

Aside from dealing with the painful loss of her mom, Angelina attributes some of her weight loss to being a mom dealing with breastfeeding.

Jolie sparked concern among fans earlier this year when her already thin frame grew even smaller and the veins on her arms started protruding. But she insists that vanity is not to blame for her shrinking figure.

"I have four kids and I finished breastfeeding – it's been hard to get my nutrition back on track. Instead of people saying I look like a person dealing with something emotionally, they assume it's because I want to fit into skinny jeans." She added, "Someone saying to me that I'm thin is not a compliment.”

Weight control after giving birth is difficult for all women (even Angelina Jolie), but especially for those breastfeeding. So for tips on breastfeeding and nutrition,