Breastfeeding has many benefits, both for the baby and the mother.
When you see your baby's limbs, which are as chubby as lotus roots, at just a few months old, do you start to wonder if breastfeeding is too nutritious and has caused your baby to gain weight?
No. Recent studies have found that breast milk can help protect babies from becoming overweight.
Does breast milk have a " weight loss " effect?
Obesity indicates a higher risk of various diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. While some people experience weight gain due to work-related stress, many are overweight from childhood, only starting to consider weight loss during puberty. However, the road to weight loss is long and arduous…
However, a recent study in Germany found that breast milk contains a special lipid called alkylglycerol (AKG), which can reduce the conversion of beige fat into white fat in infants, lower the risk of obesity, and is more conducive to the healthy development of babies.
The study also points out that this alkylglycerol can almost only be obtained through breast milk. Only human breast milk, and the breast milk of some animals, such as dogs, goats, and rats, contains alkylglycerol.
Researchers have found that in both mice and human infants, after ingesting alkylglycerols (i.e., breastfeeding), beige fat and related genes are highly active in the infants' bodies. However, when formula-fed, no activity of these marker genes can be detected.
However, it's not that alkylglycerols themselves have magical effects; after being ingested, they undergo related metabolism before finally activating beige fat. However, this pathway is only effective in childhood. Researchers found that supplementing adult mice with alkylglycerols generally does not activate beige fat; however, in obese adults, alkylglycerols can reactivate the relevant pathway, causing fat cells to shrink and reducing abdominal fat weight.
The study did not show results in adults, but it is clear that if you want to lose weight, you can start from childhood!
Next page: Can I breastfeed if I have a cold? Should I wean after 6 months? Are these rumors true?
