Breastfeeding - Breastfeeding and Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a serious bone disease that many older women suffer from. It runs out that women who have breastfed are less likely to have osteoporosis in later life.

• Calcium deficiency is a main cause of osteoporosis.
• Breastmilk is rich in calcium.
• Therefore, you might think that women who breastfeed should be at a higher risk for osteoporosis.
• But, research has shown that women who have breastfed are in fact considerably less likely to get osteoporosis.
• This is likely to be caused in part by the calcium-obsession imposed on lactating women: many people believe that lactating women must drink huge amounts of milk, eat lots of cheese and ice cream, and take Tums or similar calcium supplements. All this is in fact unnecessary. However, a desirable side effect might be boosting the calcium levels and affording some protection from osteoporosis.
• More significantly, however, it's been shown that lactating women metabolize calcium more efficiently than non-lactating women. Thus, even without taking any extra calcium, lactation helps prevent osteoporosis!

Back to:

• Benefits of breastfeeding for the mother
• Why to breastfeed

Back to the breastfeeding main page

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