Research keeps piling up to show that breast feeding is far superior to bottle feeding, from better performance from school age kids (who were breast-fed) to a reduction in allergies over the child’s lifetime.

But why is it that breast feeding is so good for kids?

Melinda Johnson, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association says that it’s not just a single aspect of breast milk that makes babies healthier. There’s DHA, a fatty acid, that may be contributing to better results academically. There’s also taurine, an amino acid that is important for brain development. However, breast milk also increases the effectiveness of the immune system. Researchers believe that a protein in breast milk called soluble CD14 may help develop beta cells – and result in more antibodies.

However, it may be the bacteria in breast milk that is also doing the baby’s body good! It turns out that breast-fed babies have different bacteria in their digestive tracts that formula-fed babies. Not only are the bacteria different, they are healthier for the child. Studies now point to these bacteria as a indicator of whether the child will suffer from allergies or have an over-active immune system.

Source: Business Week