Breast-feeding offers a host of health benefits for the baby, but a new study says it may help the mother avoid rheumatoid arthritis as well.The study, which appears in the November issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism, found that women who breast-fed for more than 24 months reduced their risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by 50 percent compared to women who elected not to nurse their children.The study also found that women with irregular menstrual cycles had a higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis than women with regular periods.
