There is simply no better food for an infant than a mother’s breast milk. The body is truly amazing; it creates and produces breast milk to support a growing and developing baby, why breast milk has often been called nature’s perfect first food. When you think about it, breast milk is an evolutionary guarantee that our offspring will survive—and thrive—long term, which is why the health benefits of breastfeeding are extensive.
Breastfeeding exclusively for at least a year, which is the critical time frame when the cells of the body and brain are becoming established, has been shown to have significant benefits on a child’s physical and mental health, advantages that carry well into adulthood. This is why one of the first questions that I ask a new patient is whether he or she was breastfed as an infant.
Numerous studies show that children who are breastfed exclusively are less prone—throughout their lives—to obesity, allergies, eczema, diabetes, asthma, respiratory illnesses, ear infections, and digestive problems, as well as being at less risk of developing autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Breastfeeding for at least a year has also been linked to better mental health, including less depression and stress-related and behavioral issues—through age 14, though I would argue that this benefit extends into adulthood.
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7 Facts About Oats
That might surprise you
Your Anti-COVID-19 Menu – WHAT TO EAT NOW!
Every day, as we learn more and more about what makes the COVID-19 virus tick, we also learn more about what we can do to minimize our exposure and stay safe. Though we haven’t fully cracked the code and the end of the pandemic still feels a long way off, we do understand the three most important things we can do right now to protect ourselves: tame the inflammation the virus takes advantage of; get underlying health problems under control; eat to feed the good bacteria in your gut so they can keep your immune system operating at its absolute peak.
COPING WITH THE LOSS OF Home for the Holidays
A wise man once wrote, there’s no place like home for the holidays, but this year, unfortunately that’s not the case. With the CDC recommending that we don’t head home this holiday season, the typically joyous time of year that we could all really use has to be put on pause.
Gluten Free
Baking tips
Reduce stress this holiday season
Stress and overwhelm are synonymous with the holidays now, so it’s extra important to have tried and tested ways to get centered and back into the joy of the season. There are lots of things you may already be doing, or can tweak slightly to help you relax and feel more present
EASY 5: FIVE TIPS FOR ANYBODY LOOKING TO STAY FIT WHILE QUARANTINED
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is hard at the best of times, and a global pandemic is anything but the best of times — with gyms closed, kids home, and the world turned upside down, figuring out how to be active, eat well, and maintain a productive mindset might feel close to impossible — but you can do it. Embrace that something is better than nothing. Your workouts don’t have to be perfect, but they do have to happen. Think consistency — think daily, non-negotiable motion! Your future self will thank you! Exercise is good for our immune system, our body, and our mind — you will be a more emotionally resilient, focused, compassionate version of you if you move! Plus, in a world filled with things we can’t control, it feels reassuring and positive to control what we can control: our workouts. So, how do you make motion a non-negotiable?
Gluten and dairy restriction:OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER!
When children experience respiratory, digestive, behaviour, or other health challenges, many parents naturally seek out dietary solutions. Unfortunately, the prevailing confusion in this area provides fertile ground for misconceptions and counterproductive dietary fads. Among contemporary trends, avoiding gluten and/ or dairy products are two of the most popular. Does taking your children off gluten or dairy really help? Do such recommendations rest upon fallacy or fact? As it turns out, though born of legitimate concerns, the impulse to discontinue gluten or dairy products is generally misguided, and may distract parents from truly important steps that can help kids to eat right, grow, and thrive.
Health & lifestyle
4 REASONS CELERY IS HEALTHY
How Breast Milk Shapes the Gut
“The Key to Better Long-Term Health”
LUNCHBOX TREATS
Grain Free Snickerdoodles
A 1934 Ford Coupé
I stripped it to the frame, then built my dream car.
5 Reasons to Go Dairy-Free
Most of us grew up with the idea that milk and other dairy products were key to strong bones, sturdy muscles, and robust health. But as we learn about the health risks associated with dairy, more people are ditching it. If you’re one of them, here’s what you need to know about a dairy-free diet.
WE KNOW JOE
As Charm City’s bean scene continues to grow, it has never been easier to wake up and smell the coffee.
TIME WARP
Delivering Smiles on the Daily
What Are Natural Cosmetics
Nature offers innumerable products which can be wisely utilized in preparing different types of cosmetics. Plant products are the most widely used ingredients in natural cosmetics. Thus, they are also often referred to as herbal cosmetics.
Seaside Seduction
Surrender to indulgence at Maine’s White Barn Inn.
One Thankful Grandma
I found brand-new ways to show my family I loved them
Shining, Shimmering Splendid
A designer’s home is decked out in her favorite color palette.
A Financial Mastermind
The Great Philanthropist
History du Jour:Highland's Split Hoofp Curtailed
Grazing on pasture, cows appear peaceful and harm-less, less so when strolling a housing development under construction.