THE NEURON

Breastfeeding is one of the greatest contributions a mother can make to her baby. Many children who do exclusive breastfeeding are far more talented. It not only helps in boosting brain growth, it also helps in other functions too.

But unfortunately in the era of commercialization, many big corporations have entered into the milk production business. Many paid advertisements are visualized in both print and social media. But no milk product is on par with breast milk. So every citizen must shoot every propaganda around breast milk. Every little brain of a mammal needs the milk of her or his species to grow. In breastfeeding week we have to promise to give every baby a chance to get adequate breast milk for 6 months.

Breast milk contains just the right balance of nutrients, such as fats, proteins, lactose, vitamins, minerals, and water, for newborns. These provide the optimal nutritional, immunological, and emotional nurturing for an infant to grow and develop. That is why UNICEF has identified it as the “gold standard” in infant nutrition.

Children who were breastfed have I.Q. scores averaging seven to ten points higher than formula-fed infants. So, if you want to raise the intelligence level of an entire generation of children, breastfeeding would be a simple and cost-effective way to do it. Breastfed infants’ School performance is better in those who are not breastfed. The longer the breastfeeding the better the brain health.

HOW BREAST MILK IS SUPERIOR

HIGH AMOUNT OF DHA

DHA is a very important ingredient for the development of the brain. It’s a structural constituent of membranes specifically in the central nervous system. It helps in the structure of neurons. Breast milk is a good source of DHA.

GOOD AMOUNT OF GALACTOSE

Lactose is a unique combination of glucose and galactose. Galactose is the building block of neurons. It’s the primary sugar of our brain. Breast milk contains the appropriate composition for brain growth.

HELPS IN BETTER MYELINATION

Taurine is plenty in breast milk. It accelerates the myelination process. Brain development and milestone achievement are dependent upon the myelination of the neurons.

HIGH AMOUNT OF ZINC

Zinc plays an important role in axonal and synaptic transmission and is necessary for nucleic acid metabolism and brain tubulin growth and phosphorylation. Lack of zinc has been implicated in impaired DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis during brain development. Breast milk is abundant in zinc. It also helps in immunity.

EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT TO MOTHER

Breastfed infants are more attached emotionally to their mothers. It helps in bonding. Later it helps in the cognitive development of the baby. In the future, the emotional quotient of the baby will improve and the child successfully adapt to the changed environment.

COGNITIVE SUPERIORITY DUE TO CHOLINE

Choline is an essential nutrient required for brain development during gestation. Animal studies have indicated that gestational choline deficiency negatively alters the fetal development of brain areas involved in cognition, learning, and memory, with long-lasting consequences throughout life.

Breastfeeding for the first six months is one of the important keys to better brain development. And it’s free. So every child should get the opportunity to breast milk exclusively. Not only the brain, but it also helps in the total development of the baby.

Breast milk is the best milk. Every human must protect it and give opportunity to every child to have exclusive breast milk till six months.

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Reference

Reynolds A. Breastfeeding and brain development. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2001 Feb 1;48(1):159-71.