A new Brazilian study have found that babies who are breastfed longer earn more money when they grow up, Los Angeles Times reported. The World Health Organization recommends that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months.
The study, which was published in the journal Lancet Global Health, followed a group of 3,500 babies since 1982. It followed the subjects from birth to age 30. Brazilian researchers found that adults who had been breastfed proved to be more brilliant and earned more than their counterparts who had not been breastfed.
It was also found that children who had received their mother's milk for one year had an IQ that was four points higher than those who had received their mother's milk for less than a month.
It is a well-known fact that breastfeeding can raise a baby's IQ by a small amount. According to previous studies, higher IQs result in fat paychecks. However, this new study is the first to demonstrate a direct link between income and breastfeeding, mediated by IQ.
Dr Bernardo Lessa Horta, the author of the study, said, "Our study provides the first evidence that prolonged breastfeeding not only increases intelligence until at least the age of 30 years but also has an impact both at an individual and societal level by improving educational attainment and earning ability."
Lessa Horta said that breast milk is rich in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential for the growth and development of brain. Shellfish and salmon contain these essential fatty acids.
In addition, breastfeeding has other benefits too. According to Natural Resources Defense Council, studies have shown that breastfed children are less likely to suffer from a number of diseases later in life. Also, such children are more resistant to disease early in life than children who are formula-fed.