Women “get younger” after giving birth, science says

Is motherhood a factor in the aging and/or rejuvenation of women? These are the conclusions of a study published by Cellular metabolismtransmitted by The world. According to the survey conducted by doctors and scientists, biological age (which is different from chronological age) varies according to life stages, especially during and after pregnancy. Biological age corresponds to the state of all organs in our body. It depends on our genetic heritage and is influenced by our environment and our lifestyle.
Even during pregnancy the body is subjected to strong stress biological age accelerates during this period, but decreases after giving birthduring the postpartum period, particularly in women who are breastfeeding or who have a lower than normal body mass index.

Breastfeeding, a factor in rejuvenating biological age

To carry out this study, scientists analyzed the blood of 119 women, four times during pregnancy: at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the pregnancy. And for 68 of them even three months after giving birth.

During pregnancy, they found changes in DNA methylation – which regulates gene expression – and which can be interpreted as a aging indicatorrelationships The world. But biological age appears to reverse rapidly immediately after giving birth, from three to eight years.

The reason for this rapid turnaround? Body mass index (BMI) increases during pregnancy AND breastfeeding (women who breastfed had an average biological age about one year younger than those who practiced mixed breastfeeding or fed their baby exclusively with powdered milk) are the two factors that can most influence the biological aging of the mother during pregnancy and after giving birth. Therefore, according to the study, a woman who is not overweight and who breastfeeds her baby will see her biological age reduce dramatically.

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