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likely to have high blood pressure by the time they're teenagers. For babies who aren't breastfed, researchers have documented a link between lack of breastfeeding and later development of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Breastfeeding can protect your baby from developing allergies Babies who are fed a formula based on cow's milk or soy tend to have more allergic reactions than breastfed babies. Scientists think that immune factors such as secretory IgA (only available in breast milk) help prevent allergic reactions to food by providing a layer of protection to a baby's intestinal tract. Without this protection, inflammation can develop and the wall of the intestine can become "leaky." is allows undigested proteins to cross the gut where they can cause an allergic reaction and other health problems. Babies who are fed formula rather than breast milk don't get this layer of protection, so they're more vulnerable to inflammation, allergies, and other eventual health issues. Breastfeeding may boost your child's intelligence Various researchers have found a connection between breastfeeding and cognitive development. In a study of more than 17,000 infants followed from birth to 6 1/2 years, researchers concluded from IQ scores and other intelligence tests that prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding significantly improves cognitive development. Another study of almost 4,000 children showed that babies who were breastfed had significantly higher scores on a vocabulary test at 5 years of age than children who were not breastfed. And the scores were higher the longer they had been nursed. Preterm infants with extremely low birth weight who received breast milk shortly aer birth improved their mental development scores at 18 months when compared with preterm infants who weren't given breast milk. In a later study, researchers found that the higher scores held at 30 months, and that the babies who received breast milk were also less likely to be hospitalized again because of respiratory infections. Experts say that the emotional bonding that takes place during breastfeeding probably contributes to some of the brainpower benefits, but that the fatty acids in breast milk may play the biggest role. Breastfeeding may protect your child from obesity e American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding as a way to help reduce your child's risk of becoming overweight or obese. An analysis of 17 studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology shows that breastfeeding reduces a child's risk of becoming overweight as a teen or adult. e strongest effect is in children who were exclusively breastfed, and the longer the baby was breastfed the stronger the link. Experts think that breastfeeding may affect later weight gain for several reasons: • Breastfed babies are better at eating until their hunger is satisfied, leading to healthier eating patterns as they grow. Page 36 | Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysMag.com