Due to the presence of antibodies and amino acids in breast milk, the IQ scores of breast-fed children are 8% higher than formula-fed children, said Dr. Farid Imanzadeh, head of Mofid Children’s Hospital, on the sidelines of the 11th Congress of Pediatric Common Diseases and Emergencies. “However, at present, only 20-35% of new mothers breastfeed their babies,” said Imanzadeh, who was scientific secretary of the congress. Breastfeeding reduces a baby’s risk of getting asthma or allergies. Plus, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first six months have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and fewer hospitalizations, Azad News Agency (ANA) quoted him as saying. In addition to its benefits for newborns, breastfeeding also lowers mothers’ risk of breast and ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis.
