Of course, we all know that breast feeding–even for only a few months–is a great boost for a babies' overall health. Now, research indicates that it's beneficial for the mothers' longterm health as well!

A recent study analyzed data from nearly 140,000 post-menopausal women and found that those who breast-fed– for even a month– had lower incidences of hypertension, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. And, what's even more exciting is that those benefits seems to increase in proportion to the length of time a women breast feeds!

The data compiled suggests that:

Women who reported a lifetime history of more than a year of breast-feeding were 20 percent less likely to have diabetes, 12 percent less likely to have hypertension, 19 percent less likely to have high cholesterol and 9 percent less likely to have had a heart attack or a stroke than their counterparts who did not breast feed.

Similar studies indicate that breast feeding also reduces mom's risk of developing osteoporosis, breast and ovarian cancer.

Wowsers. Breast feeding rules.

Ladies, get your babies to latch on!

If you want to read more, check out this CNN article: Breast Feeding may protect mom's Heart after Menopause.