Breastfeeding benefits do not only concern mom and baby's health. While it has been widely known that it provides the healthiest baby food there is, the act of breastfeeding extends beyond physical benefits as it can help build a better environment and society.
Only little is known about the societal and environmental benefits from the act of breastfeeding. By doing this natural way of feeding, consumption of raw materials is lessened. It is a naturally renewable resource that does not emit pollution in the process of its creation.
As Ecofriendly Food notes, the dairy industry uses up a majority of the natural resources for its creation. It continues to use up water, energy and land resources and contributes heavily to environmental destruction. Unlike breastfeeding, it uses up materials like paper, aluminum, steel, plastic among a slew of other materials for formula milk making, packaging or disposal.
Another societal benefit from breastfeeding is its capability of preventing more births as compared to other contraceptives available. Lactational Amenorrhea Method of birth control is around 99 percent efficient when correctly done. Planned Parenthood says that less than 1 out of 100 women conceive while breastfeeding and following the proper guidelines of LAM.
If families can save up expenses from breastfeeding, it goes the same for the government. It helps reduce healthcare costs on top of the expenses incurred from buying infant milk formula. Per Reuters, breastfeeding saves up to $13 billion in healthcare and other costs annually.
More importantly, studies show that breastfeeding helps nurture healthier and smarter babies. According to Today, intelligent babies are not only beneficial for their own sake but on a macro-level perspective as well. Studies show that breastfed babies significantly grow up to be more intelligent adults and have a higher tendency to bring in more money, which is helpful for the country's economy.
Breastfeeding offers a lot of benefits that are proven through decades of studies. Consistently, data proves that it helps build healthier, brighter babies and a brighter future generation.
