New study says breastfeeding protects moms from heart disease and stroke

We've all heard and read about the positive impact and health benefits of breastfeeding babies. But now a new study says that breastfeeding can protect moms later in life from some serious medical issues: heart disease and stroke.

The study was conducted at the University of Pittsburgh and included 139,681 post-menopausal women.

Women who breastfed for more than one year reduced their risk for heart disease by more than 10 percent. Women who breastfed for at least a month had lower blood pressure, better cholesterol and less frequent diabetes. The study will appear in the May issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women. The risk of developing heart disease increases after menopause. The thought that breastfeeding, even for a short time, could reduce that risk is important.

I do wish that data would come out to support non-breastfeeding moms, though. Because aren't they already catching enough heat (and rather unfairly, too)?