Mothers who breastfeed their babies have a lower risk of developing or dying from heart disease than those who don't breastfeed, finds new research from the University of Sydney.

Published in Journal of the American Heart Association, the study of over 100,000 Australian mothers participating in the Sax Institute’s 45 and Up Study found women who breastfed had a 14 percent lower risk of developing, and 34 percent lower risk of dying from, cardiovascular disease.

This is an important finding given heart disease is the leading cause of death for women worldwide, says lead author Dr Binh Nguyen.

“Our study suggests that among childbearing women, breastfeeding may offer long-term heart health benefits in addition to its known benefits for infants and mothers,” said Dr Nguyen from the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health and Charles Perkins Centre.

Read more at University of Sydney

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