Its positive effects stay on for years

breastfeeding for longer time periods reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks for the mother, later in life.

100,000 post-menopausal women in the US, who reported at least one live birth in their lifetime, were studied for risk of cardiovascular diseases by a team of researchers. Mothers who breastfed their children for at least a period of one year were found to reduce their chances of suffering from diabetes, hyperlipidemia (abnormal levels of lipids/ fats) and cardiovascular diseases. The women were 10 per cent less likely to develop heart conditions than those who did not breastfeed. Risk of hypertension was reduced 12 per cent and that of cholesterol, 20 per cent.