The Milk of Human Thinness

Unless you live under a rock you've probably already heard that mother's milk is fundamental for babies. While formula prevents starvation and malnutrition, mother's milk does all that and promotes health as well. Countless studies show that nursing helps prevent everything from cancer to the common cold.

Relatively new analysis of several studies by the Centers for Disease Control shows that nursing also helps prevent obesity through adulthood. There is a definite dosage effect--the longer babies get mother's milk, the less likely they will become overweight or obese children and adults. Scientists speculate that mother's milk helps "teach" the body how to regulate hormones such as insulin and leptin, which affect weight gain. High-protein baby formula may actually disrupt that process.

"That's fascinating, Keri," you are thinking, "But I am a 53-year old male. What does this have to do with me?" I write a lot about finding support for your efforts to live a healthy, vital life. We spend a lot of Holidailies discussing how friends, family and colleagues can strengthen you or sabotage you. It cuts both ways . . . you need support from your community. But you ARE the community. You set the environment for the people around you. Just as you need their help to make and stick with healthy choices, they need yours.

This isn't just a New-Age Hippie Chick Karmic philosophy about how we are all part of the great universe and one in God, etc. (Okay, maybe there's a little of that . . .) When your grandchild has a toe amputated because of diabetic neuropathy, that will hit you in the heart. When your chief engineer takes days off each quarter to deal with her baby's ear infections, that will hit you in the pocketbook (both in insurance costs and lost productivity). Nursing babies is a major preventive factor for both scenarios--and it's very easy to tell a young mom, "Good job. Keep trying."

So, Uncle Fred, do your part: When you find yourself sitting across from your nephew's new wife at the Thanksgiving table this year, you can tell her, "The American Academy for Pediatrics recommends nursing your babies exclusively for 12 months." When your sister-in-law waddles through the door behind her hugely pregnant belly, hand her the phone number of a lactation consultant or send her to www.lalecheleague.org. Family holidays are all about discussing personal business in large groups, so you'll be the on top of the conversational game.

And when your Chief Engineer comes to tell you her maternity leave plans, let her know that you are going to create a clean space in the supply closet where she can pump milk in privacy. Chances are she'll come back to work sooner and take a lot less leave time since her baby won't catch every virus that floats through. Warm 98 has already started playing the Christmas music. Can you hear it? "We are the World! We are the Children!" So let's raise our lighters and sing along.