Some women who breastfeed their babies can have nearly a 50 percent less chance of suffering a stroke later in life, a new study reveals.

According to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, black women who choose to breastfeed reduce their risk of having a stroke in their 70s by 48 percent. Among white women the figure is 21 percent.

"Breastfeeding in this study was associated with a lower risk of stroke among postmenopausal women, particularly non‐Hispanic black women,” concludes the study, fronted by Dr. Lisette Jacobson of the University of Kansas.

Researchers analyzed 80,191 participants of the Women's Health Initiative, which followed the health of post-menopausal females from 1993 to 1998.

"By understanding these risk factors … [we] may be better able to design, implement, and administer culturally informed programs that may mitigate stroke risk while promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors including breastfeeding among populations that carry the largest health burden of stroke.”

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