There are studies that can appear as stereotypical as certain stereotypes, such as that of handsome, rich and intelligent men as ideal partners. The illustration is given with a new Brazilian study published in the scientific journal The Global Lancet Health. Adults who have not been breastfed as babies will be happy to hear that their IQ and wallet have been affected.
Dr Bernardo Lessa Horta of the Brazilian University of Pelotas strongly argues that prolonged breastfeeding promotes longer (one year), brighter schooling, as well as higher than average intelligence.
Researchers argue that babies who breastfed for a year would have an IQ (intelligence quotient) four points higher than those who breastfed for less than a month. These advantages translate concretely into higher incomes in adulthood since they exceed the average income by a third.
In short, to be rich with an honorable IQ, you would have to have been breastfed for a year. According to the theory of the Brazilians, the longer the duration of breastfeeding, the greater the benefit. The results are drawn from the observation of 3,500 children born in 1982 and breastfed for varying periods of time. The benefits of breastfeeding were seen thirty years later and compared to people who had not been breastfed during their childhood.
These data took into consideration the standard of living of the parents, the mother’s age at birth or smoking during pregnancy.
>> To read also: Breastfeeding has a protective effect on obesity
Baby health: good reasons to breastfeed
