[Breastfeeding - an important element of health promotion]

During the first 6 months exclusive breast feeding is the best way of feeding for newborn and infants . According to the WHO statement exclusive breastfeeding should be continued last 6 months and then up to 2 years or longer. This paper presents benefits of breastfeeding - breast milk components and bioactive factors. Breast milk protects nutrition and caloric needs and has positive influence on child brain and gastrointestinal tract creating physiological colonization - microbiota. Bacterial colonization of alimentary tract during breast-feeding creates positive bacterial flora and has positive influence on gut-brain axis- GBA. Breastfeeding has good influence on psychomotor development. It also prevents metabolic disorders, obesity and inflammation of gut.