Why Breastfeeding Matters for Your Child's Future - AI Podcast
Story at-a-glance
- Breastfeeding for at least six months increases gut microbiome diversity in infants, reducing inflammation and supporting immune function, which contributes to lower blood pressure in early childhood
- A one-unit increase in gut microbiome diversity at one month of age correlates with a 1.86 mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure by age 6, lowering long-term cardiovascular risk
- Formula-fed infants have a less diverse gut microbiome with more inflammatory bacteria, increasing the likelihood of gut imbalance, immune dysfunction, and higher blood pressure later in life
- Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in breastmilk selectively feed beneficial bacteria, enhancing digestion, immune support, and disease protection, advantages formula cannot replicate
- Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in breastmilk strengthens gut lining integrity, prevents infections, and trains the immune system to differentiate between harmful and harmless substances
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