Breast-feeding: helping to reduce the severity of diarrhoea. Protection, energy and nutrients

Abstract

Leonardo Mats considers the unique role of breastfeeding in child health and survival, and possible interventions to promote it in areas where bottle-feeding is common. The exceptional properties of human milk are the: numerous powerful substances in human colostrum and milk which protect against infectious diseases; unique biochemical properties which assure the best combination of energy and nutrients for the growing child; remarkable behavioural interactions of mother and child which arise from breastfeeding; significantly lower cost when compared to any other form of infant substitute feeding.