Motherhood May Reduce Risk of Death

Motherhood May Reduce Risk of Death

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    An Australian longitudinal community study involving over 1500 women found that risk of death overall was lower for women with children, and the risk of death progressively reduced with increasing number of children. While the exact cause for the reduced mortality demonstrated in this study is not clear, evidence points to several plausible explanations for this finding.

    Robust evidence indicates that women with a history of pregnancy and breastfeeding have a lower risk of developing breast cancer due to reduced exposure to the hormones that cause breast cancer. Breastfeeding may further reduce this risk by promoting maturation of breast tissue in order to produce breast milk which may help prevent breast cells from becoming cancerous.

    Scientific evidence also suggests that duration of lactation and breastfeeding may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. In a study of over 139,000 postmenopausal women it was found that increased duration of lactation was associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease as well as lower risk of developing high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

    These findings may account for the lower risk of mortality found in women who have had multiple children.

    References: 

    1. Simons L, Simons J, Friedlander Y, McCallum J. Childbearing history and late-life mortality: the Dubbo study of Australian elderly. Age and Ageing. 2012;41(4):523-528.

    2. Reproductive History and Cancer Risk [Internet]. National Cancer Institute. 2021 [cited 4 May 2021]. Available from: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/reproductive-history-fact-sheet

    3. Schwarz E, Ray R, Stuebe A, Allison M, Ness R, Freiberg M et al. Duration of Lactation and Risk Factors for Maternal Cardiovascular Disease. Obstetric Anesthesia Digest [Internet]. 2010;30(2):106-107. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2714700/

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    What It Actually Does

    Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen - a substance that helps the body adapt to physical and psychological stress. But that description undersells the specificity of the evidence.

    In peer-reviewed clinical trials, ashwagandha root extract has been shown to:

    01

    Reduce serum cortisol levels significantly in adults under chronic stress

    02

    Support testosterone levels and muscle recovery in resistance-trained adults

    03

    Improve subjective measures of stress, anxiety, and wellbeing

    04

    Improve subjective measures of stress, anxiety, and wellbeing

    05

    Improve sleep quality and reduce time to sleep onset

    Why The Form Matters

    Here is where most supplement labels become misleading.
    The clinical trials that produced the evidence above didn't use generic ashwagandha root powder. They used standardised, patented extracts - specifically KSM-66® and Sensoril®, both of which are produced from roots using proprietary extraction methods that concentrate the active withanolides to a consistent, clinically meaningful level.
    Generic ashwagandha powder can contain anywhere from 1% to 8% withanolides. KSM-66® is standardised to a minimum of 5% withanolides with a full-spectrum root extract, which means it retains the natural balance of the plant's compounds rather than isolating one component.
    When you buy a supplement that says "ashwagandha" without specifying the extract form, you have no way of knowing whether it contains enough active compounds to do anything at all.
    At Arise, we use KSM-66® in every formula that contains ashwagandha. It's more expensive. It's worth it.

    Third-party Testing

    Supplements are not regulated the same way pharmaceuticals are. In most markets, a supplement company can put almost anything in a capsule and make almost any claim about it, as long as they don't claim to treat a specific disease.
    This is why third-party testing matters. It means an independent laboratory - one with no financial relationship to the supplement company - has tested the product to verify that:

    1. The ingredients listed are actually present
    2. They're present at the stated concentrations
    3. The product doesn't contain contaminants, heavy metals, or undisclosed substances

    Look for: NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport, or USP Verified certification on any supplement you take. These are the most rigorous third-party standards available.
    Every Arise formula is third-party tested before it reaches you. The results are available on request.

    The Honest Bottom Line

    Ashwagandha works. The evidence is genuinely strong. But the quality of the extract determines the quality of the outcome — and most of what's available on the market doesn't use the forms that the clinical research actually studied.
    Read the label. Ask for the extract form. Expect a specific answer.