Mothers who breastfeed reduce cancer risk

Women who breastfeed for at least six months reduce their risk of dying of cancer by 10 percent, researchers in Britain say. The World Cancer Research Fund recommends women with children to breastfeed exclusively for at least six months. Dr. Teresa Norat of Imperial College London and colleagues researched the lifestyle habits of nearly 380,000 people from several countries. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found mothers who breastfed for at least six months saw their cancer risk drop by 10 percent, while their chance of death from circulatory disease fell by 17 percent, the Daily Telegraph reported. The World Cancer Research Fund cancer prevention advice includes: being as lean as possible without being underweight; being physically active for at least 30 minutes a day; limiting consumption of surgery drinks, salty foods, processed foods and red meat; eating plenty of vegetables and fruit; not smoking and limiting alcoholic drinks to two a day for men, and one for women.