Breastfeeding Tied to Lower Asthma Risk

 BREASTFEEDING for at least four months was linked to lower asthma and IgE sensitization into young adulthood.

Exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months was associated with lower odds of asthma and Immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization through age 24 in a longitudinal birth cohort, offering new evidence that early feeding patterns may shape allergic outcomes well beyond childhood.

Breastfeeding and Asthma Risk

The analysis included 3,919 participants from a Swedish birth cohort with breastfeeding data collected at age one year. Asthma outcomes were tracked by questionnaire through age 24, while IgE levels were measured at ages 4, 8, 16, and 24 years. Using longitudinal analyses, the investigators found that exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months was associated with a 25% reduction in the overall odds of prevalent asthma up to young adulthood.

The inverse association was strongest earlier in life. Age specific analyses showed a statistically significant association with lower asthma risk through age 12, but not beyond that point. When asthma patterns over time were examined more closely, exclusive breastfeeding was significantly associated with lower odds of persistent asthma and showed a borderline significant inverse association with early transient asthma. No association was observed for late onset asthma.

IgE Sensitization Also Reduced

The protective pattern extended beyond asthma alone. Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 4 months was also inversely associated with IgE sensitization overall, suggesting a broader relationship with allergic disease development.

Notably, the findings became even stronger after excluding 486 children who had early wheeze and or eczema during the breastfeeding period. That analysis reduced the possibility that early symptoms may have influenced feeding behavior, reinforcing the observed association between longer exclusive breastfeeding and lower asthma and sensitization risk.

What the Findings Suggest

Few studies have followed asthma and allergy related outcomes from infancy into adulthood with repeated immunologic assessment. This study adds longer term evidence suggesting that exclusive breastfeeding may be most relevant to asthma beginning in the first 12 years of life, rather than asthma that develops later.

The data do not suggest that breastfeeding prevents every asthma phenotype. Instead, they point to a more specific pattern, with benefit seen in early and persistent disease pathways and in IgE sensitization. For clinicians, that makes the findings especially relevant to conversations around infant feeding, early allergy risk, and long term respiratory health.

BREASTFEEDING for at least four months was linked to lower asthma and IgE sensitization into young adulthood.

Exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months was associated with lower odds of asthma and Immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization through age 24 in a longitudinal birth cohort, offering new evidence that early feeding patterns may shape allergic outcomes well beyond childhood.

Breastfeeding and Asthma Risk

The analysis included 3,919 participants from a Swedish birth cohort with breastfeeding data collected at age one year. Asthma outcomes were tracked by questionnaire through age 24, while IgE levels were measured at ages 4, 8, 16, and 24 years. Using longitudinal analyses, the investigators found that exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months was associated with a 25% reduction in the overall odds of prevalent asthma up to young adulthood.

The inverse association was strongest earlier in life. Age specific analyses showed a statistically significant association with lower asthma risk through age 12, but not beyond that point. When asthma patterns over time were examined more closely, exclusive breastfeeding was significantly associated with lower odds of persistent asthma and showed a borderline significant inverse association with early transient asthma. No association was observed for late onset asthma.

IgE Sensitization Also Reduced

The protective pattern extended beyond asthma alone. Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 4 months was also inversely associated with IgE sensitization overall, suggesting a broader relationship with allergic disease development.

Notably, the findings became even stronger after excluding 486 children who had early wheeze and or eczema during the breastfeeding period. That analysis reduced the possibility that early symptoms may have influenced feeding behavior, reinforcing the observed association between longer exclusive breastfeeding and lower asthma and sensitization risk.

What the Findings Suggest

Few studies have followed asthma and allergy related outcomes from infancy into adulthood with repeated immunologic assessment. This study adds longer term evidence suggesting that exclusive breastfeeding may be most relevant to asthma beginning in the first 12 years of life, rather than asthma that develops later.

The data do not suggest that breastfeeding prevents every asthma phenotype. Instead, they point to a more specific pattern, with benefit seen in early and persistent disease pathways and in IgE sensitization. For clinicians, that makes the findings especially relevant to conversations around infant feeding, early allergy risk, and long term respiratory health.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    

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Why pregnant women need to add omega-3 in their diet

 Omega-3 are essential fatty acids that serve as the building blocks for the developing fetal brain and retina during pregnancy. The most active form of omega-3 fatty acid is docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), both of which are primarily derived from seafood and algae. Studies suggest that most women, across the globe do not consume adequate quantities of fish to meet their DHA requirement, owing to their concerns linked with mercury toxicity and contamination of seafood. 

A study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition in February this year titled, Demographic and health characteristics associated with fish and n-3 fatty acid supplement intake during pregnancy: results from pregnancy cohorts in the ECHO programme, explored the diet of 10,800 pregnant women to see how much omega-3 fatty acids they consumed, every week, either by including seafood in their diet or taking supplements. The results showed that overall, 24.6 percent participants reported consuming fish never or less than once per month, 40.1 percent consumed less than once a week. Only 13.2 percent reported consuming fish more than twice per week. The intake of omega-3 supplement use was uncommon, even among those who did not consume fish. The decrease in intake of fish was mainly attributed to federal advisories about mercury in fish since 2001. 

How do omega-3 fatty acids impact the foetus? 
A baby’s brain is made of 60% fat with DHA contributing to the maximum composition, making it crucial to focus on this essential nutrient during pregnancy. The fetal brain growth is known to accelerate during the second half of pregnancy, with the majority of the foundational cognitive development happening in the third trimester. Research also states that omega-3 acids are found to influence the duration of the gestational period & prenatal depression.

What's the best way for a pregnant woman to incorporate omega 3 into her diet?
Omega-3 requirements during pregnancy can simply be met by focusing on three servings of high-quality fatty fish a week, or supplementation is recommended second trimester onwards. It is important to note that those on a plant-based diet must focus on both DHA and ALA (Alpha-linolenic acid) sources of supplement rather than opting for an only ALA supplement. Note: ALA is a plant-based source and the third acid that along with DHA & EHA make omega-3. ALA is often the preferred source of omega 3 supplementation for those on a plant-based diet.

Maternal DHA levels during pregnancy are known to positively impact the baby’s memory, language comprehension, reduce the chances of neurological disorders, protect the baby’s brain from oxidation damage and increase the child’s IQ levels. Additionally, it serves as benefiting the mother by helping build her reserves of omega-3 for breastfeeding, reduce the risk of developing gestational hypertension and prevent the development of postpartum depression.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Health Benefits of Garlic Milk And More

Modern medicine and the pharmaceutical industry certainly have proven results in the treatment and prevention of diseases, but they sometimes come with a price in the form of quite a few side effects. Traditional Indian treatment method, Ayurveda, offers a solution for these side effects based on herbs, spices and other natural food ingredients that are used wisely to improve body and mind and prevent various diseases and nuisances. 

 

An excellent example of such a solution, which has many good medical virtues, is garlic milk - a mixture of two components known for their health benefits dating back to antiquity. The combination of these two ingredients can certainly have many advantages - and we'll show you 10 of them, along with a recipe that will teach you how to make this wonderful drink.

1. Treats and prevents acne 

One of the most prominent causes of the appearance of acne on our skin is the presence of bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes, which proliferate when the glands inside the skin are blocked creating an inflammatory response of the skin, which result in the development of those annoying pimples. Garlic contains several sulfur compounds that help prevent the growth of these harmful bacteria, according to a study published in 2017. Drinking garlic milk can enhance garlic's ability to prevent acne because the various components of the mixture are absorbed by the blood and then excreted from the body through sweating – which is what allows the compounds to harm the bacteria deep in the pores of the skin and destroy it, leaving your skin clean and smooth.

2. Prevents constipation and swelling 

According to the Ayurveda method mentioned above, bowel problems such as constipation and bloating result from an imbalance in the physiological and mental component known as Vata, which refers to the space and air that a person has. The same imbalance that exists in Vata is associated with the cold and stiffness that characterizes humans, and therefore foods which are opposite in nature, namely warm and pleasant, can prevent this complication. Garlic milk undoubtedly falls into the category of warm and smooth foods and therefore may help you in the treatment and relief of various stomach nuisances, according to the traditional healing method.

3. Reduces the risk of cold and flu 

Winter is approaching in giant steps, and with it, the colds, stuffy noses and the flu; All those infectious diseases that plague us can be prevented with garlic milk. A 2001 study found that garlic helps in reducing the risk of cold, easing the symptoms of various winter diseases, and ensuring a faster recovery from them; combining it with warm milk - a comforting drink that many like to drink in the cold and gray months - makes this treatment much more rewarding for both you and children, who tend to suffer even more from the various colds.

4. Boosts libido 

Researchers already know to tell us that garlic is a natural and efficient stimulant of sexual desire - but we all know that the smell of the mouth created after eating garlic in its natural form will keep even the most loving human beings away. But know that you can gain the health benefits of garlic without suffering the same unpleasant smell - when the solution is actually in garlic milk. In a study published in the Journal of Food Science, it was found that milk has a neutralizing effect on those components of garlic that are responsible for its strong aroma. This means that you can drink garlic milk every day and enjoy its stimulating and healthy effect, without worrying about smelling. 

 

5. Protects the heart 

Heart health is without a doubt one of the most important health concerns for all of us - without the proper functioning of this huge pump, our body simply cannot survive. Therefore, it is important to know that allicin, a compound that exists in generous doses in garlic, has been proven in many studies as a sedative, relaxing and preventing various heart diseases and health conditions such as hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In order to gain this important advantage of garlic in the supply of allicin to the heart, it is recommended that you drink garlic milk on a regular basis and enjoy its benefits. 

6. May help reduce the risk of cancer  

The various components of garlic have been found in studies as powerful antioxidants that can break down and destroy the free radicals that harm the composition of human DNA and lead to the development of cancer. For example, a study conducted at the University of Salerno, Italy, found that fresh garlic over a long period (up to 20 months) contains compounds that prevent oxidative destruction and can purify the body of free radicals. In light of all this, it is certainly possible to estimate that garlic milk may have positive effects on the prevention of the development of dangerous cancerous tumors throughout our bodies. 

 

7. Helps control diabetes  

Apart from being an excellent component of heart health, garlic has also been found to be good for maintaining blood glucose levels, controlling diabetes, and preventing long-term complications associated with this disease. Thus, a study published in 2013 found that garlic increases and strengthens the effect of metformin, the world's most widely used drug for treating diabetes. Not only does consuming garlic help reduce blood sugar levels, but it also leads to a decrease in the level of cholesterol and harmful triglyceride along with it. In other words, drinking garlic milk can help you when it comes to correct regulation of substances like sugars and cholesterol in your body.

 

8. Helps in breastfeeding  

For experienced mothers, raising children can seem like a walk in the park, but for new mothers, who have just recently given birth to their first or even second child, motherhood can be a little daunting. The need and desire to care for and nurture a newborn baby changes the life of the new parents - especially the mother's life - from one extreme to the other. One of the most important aspects of caring for a baby during its first years of life is breastfeeding, and the consumption of garlic milk is especially important here since this healthy drink helps to increase breast milk production in the woman's body. 

 

9. Treats joint pain 

Have joint pain? This is definitely a very unpleasant thing that even bothers and limits many of us in our daily lives, so why not treat the problem by drinking healthy and tasty garlic milk? The two components that form the mixture have anti-inflammatory properties, which can be of great help in reducing joint inflammation and relieving the pain associated with it. In addition, calcium content found in milk is a significant contributor to bone health and body strengthening, two effects that make it easier to deal with problems such as arthritis.

10. Prevents premature aging of cells  

A young soul in a healthy body - this is one of the goals many of us are aiming for in our lives, and without a doubt, the sense of vitality that accompanies a healthy and well-functioning body is a blessing. In order to keep our bodies in good shape and rejuvenate our cells, it is recommended to drink garlic milk, since the many healthy ingredients we’ve already found in this drink also help strengthen the body's various tissues and cells by keeping them properly nourished, thus preventing premature aging. 

 

How to prepare garlic milk 

 

 Ingredients: 

 

 2 cups milk 

 

10 cloves of garlic peeled and finely diced 

 

1 cup water 

 

2-3 teaspoons of sugar 

 

 Directions:  

 

1. Mix the water, garlic, and milk in a small pot and bring to a boil. 

 

2. After boiling, keep the mixture on a medium flame and don’t mix the ingredients. 

 

3. Check the contents of the pot occasionally. Remove from the fire when the mixture is reduced to half of the original amount of liquid you put into the pot. 

 

4. Now strain the mixture and add the sugar while it’s still hot.

 

5. Mix and drink the garlic milk.

Garlic milk helps reducing wheezing and phlegm. 

I can vouch on this, as being a COPD , troubled by wheezing and phlegm, most of the days I add 2-3 garlic cloves finely chopped to about 300 ml milk, let it boil and reduce to half, then add little sugar and drink it last at night. I eat the garlic too, I don't strain the milk.

 

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement
https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com  for infor on cancer and health related topics
https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs. I'm going to add posts there, do give me your valuable feed back on my blogs. Thanks a lot, take care, be healthy and be happy. 

 

 

New Research Finds Pregnancy Offers Little Protection Against Breast Cancer Risk

A new study is challenging conventional understanding of the relationship between pregnancy and breast cancer risk, finding an elevated risk of the disease among women under 55 who had given birth, compared to peers who had not.

Previously, medical consensus was that pregnancy and childbirth offered protection against breast cancer. However, “that really comes from what breast cancer looks like for women in their 60s and beyond,” said Hazel B. Nichols, PhD, a researcher at the University of North Carolina’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, US, and a professor of epidemiology. “We found that it can take more than 20 years for childbirth to become protective for breast cancer, and that before that, breast cancer risk was higher in women who had recently had a child.”

Because breast cancer is more common in older women, with the average age of 62 in the US, most research into disease risk has, to date, focused on that age group, among which pregnancy and childbirth does correlate with a reduced risk. However, among women under 55, that is not the case, the research team found; in this age group, women who had had children were 80% more likely to develop breast cancer five years after giving birth, compared to peers who had not given birth.

Within this age group, risk varied, as well. Women who had given birth before 25 had no elevated risk compared to peers who had never given birth, while risk was higher, compared to peers, for women who had given birth for the first time after age 35.

However, Nichols stresses, “In this age group [under 55], breast cancer is uncommon. The risk of developing breast cancer is still low overall, even if you’ve had a child five years ago.”

The findings are especially pertinent in India, where “breast cancer … is different from that in the West. Here, it is affecting more young women and more than half of them present themselves in the advanced stages,” reported The Economic Times earlier this year. Lifestyle and environmental factors have so far been thought to be behind the comparatively earlier development of the disease.

The new study drew data from 15 studies around the globe that included 889,944 women. It was notable in that, while previous studies have suggested an increased risk in breast cancer in younger women after childbirth, they’ve not taken into consideration other factors that might impact risk, such as breastfeeding or family history of breast cancer, researchers said.

Breastfeeding, along with pregnancy and childbirth, has been considered protective against breast cancer, but this study also found no pattern in the data to suggest the two are related.

The goal of the research was not to discourage women from having children, said Nichols. Instead, she hoped it would just be a reminder to women and their doctors not to overlook risks. “We need to recognize that the traditional risk factors for breast cancer do not always operate the same way at younger ages,” she said. “We want women and their doctors to not assume that recently having a child is always protective for breast cancer.”

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement