For years, new parents have been told that breast is best and that's been proven over and over again when it comes to the health benefits for both mother and baby.

But a recent report proves that nursing also boosts brain power.

A massive study conducted by researchers at the University of McGill shows that breast feeding raises a child's IQ and improves their academic performance.

The review, which is the largest randomized study of breastfeeding ever conducted, was published in the current issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry and was led by McGill's Dr. Michael Kramer, a professor of pediatrics.

Kramer and his colleagues followed the same group of 14,000 kids born in 31 Belarusian hospitals for six-and-a-half years. Half of the mums involved in the study received support to promote prolonged and exclusive nursing. The other half received regular hospital maternity care and follow-ups.

"Our study provides the strongest evidence to date that prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding makes kids smarter," Kramer said.
 

The research team had the children complete IQ tests and their proficiency in reading, writing, mathematics and other subjects were tested. The kids who were breastfed exclusively and for extended periods did the best in both evaluations.

"The effect of breastfeeding on brain development and intelligence has long been a popular and hotly debated topic, says Dr. Kramer. "While most studies have been based on association, however, we can now make a causal inference between breastfeeding and intelligence because of the randomized design of our study.

Helena, a mother of two who has breast fed both of her children, is happy with the results. "She's growing, gaining weight very well and she's happy," she says. "I never thought about any other choice or option."

Pediatrician Dr. Sharon Unger from Mount Sinai Hospital notes that mothers have been encouraged to breastfeed babies in the past for more health-related reasons. "They have less ear and chest infections, less diarrhea. So the Canadian Pediatric Society recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life."