Numerous studies have shown the benefits of breastfeeding for babies, whether it be the antibodies contained in breast milk that boost the child's immunities to preventing their risks of developing respiratory illnesses and allergies.

Now moms could benefit from a number of diseases, as well, by breastfeeding and maintaining a certain regimen.

A recent study showed that women breastfeeding for six months lowered their risk of dying from all types of cancer by 10% and heart attack by 17%. Those who also maintained a healthy diet and physically active lifestyle also reduced the chances of dying from respiratory and circulatory diseases.

Over the course of 12 years, researchers observed more than 380,000 people from nine European countries.

The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

All participants were advised to follow seven recommendations from the World Cancer Research Fund, WCRF, and American Institute of Cancer Research, AICR, which included managing weight, physical activity, eating more greens, reducing consumption of meat and alcohol and six months of breastfeeding for women.

"It was also the first time that a study examined the relationship between adherence to diet and lifestyle recommendations and respiratory disease deaths," said Anne-Claire Vergnaud, co-author and researcher at the Imperial College of London School of Public Health.

"Our study supports the role of lifestyle recommendations in preventing cancer, circulatory and respiratory diseases."

Specifically, those who followed WCRF and AICR guidelines reduced the risk of dying from respiratory disease by 50%, while circulatory disease and cancer was cut by 44% and 20%, respectively, when comparing them to those who didn't comply with the recommendations.

In addition, reducing alcohol consumption and increasing plant foods in diet showed the greatest improvement-reducing cancer death by 21% and 7%, respectively.

Participants who maintained a lean weight without dropping to the underweight margin significantly reduced their chance of developing diseases by 22%, while eating plant foods cut the chance by 21%.

Previous studies have shown that breastfeeding also lowered the chance of developing non-hormone-responsive breast cancers.

"Further research is needed to understand how to reduce the disease burden worldwide and how to encourage people to follow the recommendations," Vergnaud said.