Think of how many years we went thinking tobacco ingestion was OK. It takes years for any information to be made available to the public, and much longer to act on it.
-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brandy Hansen
Sent: Monday, June 10, 2013 9:51 AM
Subject: Fwd: BF & Heart Disease... and a 'little bit' (long)
I heard the following story on NPR a few weeks ago...
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/25/178407883/gut-bacterias-belch-may-play-a-role-in-heart-disease
It just got me thinking... if gut health and heart health could be this closely related, what's the effect of changing the body's natural ecosystem of the gut with artificial feeding? What could a dosturbance in hormone/microbe balance, caused by a lack of human milk, do to the risk for heart disease and other cardiovascular/organ issues? I would be interested in seeing how this is related to heart disease/hypertension risk in women who were nursed exclusively, partially, or not at all. A couple of interesting thoughts for anyone interested in researching the relationships. If a protective effect via gut health were linked to breastfeeding duration/exclusivity, one could definitely make a case for why 'just a little bit' of artificial milk would damage at least one of the body's systems.
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Also, on a slightly related note, I am confused by the tone of disbelief that many people have regarding the potential and real harms of artificial infant feeding here and out in the wide, wide world. I talked to my brother about this a few weeks ago, and he simply said flat out "I just don't believe that it can be that harmful, because if it were, they wouldn't have it out on the market." I sat back and thought... if a little too much or too little of a hormone can throw a body into chaos (thinking diabetes and thyroid issues, just for starters), why is it so hard to believe that an artificial substance fed to a human being during the most dynamic and incredible period of growth could throw things off? What is so far-fetched about that? Why do we assume that man-made substances somehow have triumphed over nature? Is it simply because babies aren't dying in droves in the arms of their mothers in the US and we don't 'see' the effects except in statistics?
Personally, I think it's a defensive mechanism to avoid internal or external judgment of our action/inaction. Not wanting to *admit* causing harm is not the same thing as *not* causing harm. I guess it has to do with willingness to change? If we acknowledge that something we have used or put into our bodies (or the bodies of our children) could be damaging or at least altering in a way that causes increased health risks, we'll plead ignorance or just plain disbelief until we're ready to accept responsibility and challenge the practice or system that facilitates such damage.
That's my two cents, based on personal and professional experience with people and their reactions to changing health, nutrition, and child-rearing practices. I know it doesn't always apply, but it's just a thought that's been rolling around in the ol' noggin lately...
Brandy J. Hansen, IBCLC
The Mobile LC
309-319-6619
[log in to unmask]
http://facebook.com/mobilelactation
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