Need another reason to breastfeed your baby? How about this one: Reduced risk of cancer for you and your baby. Yup, that’s right. According to a recent report by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) and the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), reduced risk of cancer is one benefit of breastfeeding that goes to both moms and babies.

Here’s what the AICR experts recommend: Mothers, breastfeed your babies for at least the first six months. Use your breasts for their biological purpose, and you’ll reduce your risk of both pre- and post-menopausal breast cancer. Your children will benefit, too: Since they’ll be less likely to become overweight or obese, they’ll have a lower risk for several common cancers (i.e., colon, kidney, pancreas, endometrium, adenocarnimona of the esophagus, and post-menopausal breast cancer).

The AICR is, according to its Nutrition Advisor, Karen Collins, MS, RD, “the first major cancer organization to issue an official recommendation about breastfeeding.” But don’t think it’s taken this stance just to distinguish itself from other cancer organizations. The AICR’s recommendation is part of a broader report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective. This extensive report, at a whopping 517 pages, is the product of 5 years of research involving nine independent teams of scientists, hundreds of peer reviewers, and 21 international experts who reviewed and analyzed over 7,000 large-scale studies on all aspects of cancer risk. In short, it’s not a recommendation to be taken lightly!

What’s more, the breastfeeding recommendation isn’t the only piece that bears notice. Here are the organization’s 10 recommendations for cancer prevention:

• Breastfeed exclusively for six months, then add other liquids and foods.
• Maintain a healthy weight throughout the lifespan.
• Be moderately physically active (e.g., brisk walking) for at least 30 minutes each day.
• Limit consumption of energy-dense foods (e.g., processed foods), avoid sugary drinks, and eat “fast foods” sparingly, if at all.
• Eat at least 5 non-starchy veggies/fruits per day.
• Limit red meat and avoid processed meat.
• Limit alcoholic drinks to no more than 2 per day for men and 1 per day for women.
• Avoid salt and moldy cereals or legumes.
• Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet rather than supplementation.
• Cancer survivors should receive nutritional care and follow other health recommendations.

Many of these recommendations come as no surprise. They’re the standard “eat healthy,” “exercise,” “drink in moderation” advice we hear every day. But it’s good to see the benefit of breastfeeding—for mothers and children—recognized among this batch of health truisms.