Breastfeeding protects against allergies

Allergy protection by breast milk

07/31/2014

With breast milk, infants are not only well cared for, but breastfeeding also reduces the risk of allergies, reports the network „Healthy in life“. Recent studies have shown, „that children are less likely to suffer from allergies if they are fully breastfed at least until the beginning of the 5th month.“ In breastfed children, who nevertheless develop an allergy, they are usually less severe, explains the initiative sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Food.

Overall, breast milk contains, according to the experts „Many valuable protective factors that are good for the health of your child.“ Allergy protection is just one aspect here. The Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) mentions as a further advantage the ingredients of breast milk. This contains „All the essential nutrients of the right quality and quantity, ie the right proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, trace elements and vitamins that a baby needs for its healthy growth.“ In addition, the mother's milk „easy to digest and adapt to the growing nutritional needs of the infant during development.“ Natural breastfeeding also has the advantage that with the breast milk special defenses and protective substances are passed on to the child.

Breastfeed at least until the fifth month of life
The breastfeeding recommendation applies according to the statement of the head of the network „Healthy in life“, Maria Flothkötter, for all infants. However, this is particularly important for babies whose parents or siblings suffer from allergies. they should „be fully breastfed during the first six months of life, at least until the fifth month of life“, quotes the news agency „dpa“ Maria Flothkötter. But breastfeeding does not work for all mothers. In such cases, the babies can be fed on milk for the first few months, with babies without an increased risk of allergies being able to eat normal starter food, reports the network „Healthy in life“. For infants with an increased risk of allergies „HA diets (hypoallergenic diets) thought.“ The HA products with the names Pre, HA-Pre, HA-Start or HA-1 can be used here.

Breastmilk with clear benefits
Breastmilk offers besides the allergy protection also the advantage that they „available at any time and in any place“ is, „always the right temperature“ has and „hygienically perfect“ is, reports the BZgA. A conversion to Breikost is the network „Healthy in life“ according to „at the earliest with the beginning of the 5th month and at the latest with the beginning of the 7th month“ advised. The milk meals should be gradually replaced by bread meals. „If you are breast-feeding, keep on doing so while you get your baby used to porridge“, advises the initiative. In this way, the children are facilitated the conversion to the new food and at the same time the allergy protection further expanded. (Fp)