Jan. 14, 00 -- That's because mother's milk is rich in nutrients that protect newborns from infection by boosting their immune systems.

Now a new study from the University of Florida may explain how.

A protective protein, known as GCFS is responsible for stimulating the production of white blood cells in the body to fight infection.

Researchers say GCFS is present in the breast milk in greater quantities in mothers who suffer from uterine infections at tiem of delivery, whether or not their babies are born premature.

We thought that may have some in helping babies that are born to moms with infections cause we know those babies are often quite ill and this may be nature's way of providing, through mother's milk, a factor that will help the baby to make more white blood cells.

Pediatricians stress the importance of breast feeding by calling mother's milk the most natural baby formula.

Further research could lead to the incorporation of protective proteins, like GCFS into commercial baby formulas.