This may come as a surprise to some working mothers.

But a new study led by Simon Fraser University researchers suggests a link between women having more children and a slower aging process.

The academics focused their investigation on the length of chromosomal material in 75 Kaqchikel Mayan women in Guatemala over a 13-year period.

These "telomeres" at the tips of chromosomes shorten with age, leading to the production of disease-causing cells. This can result in cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and other health problems.

The research subjects with more surviving children had longer telomeres, which is a sign that their cells are reproducing in a healthier manner. It's taken as an indication of longevity.

SFU health sciences professor Pablo Nepomnaschy said in a university news release that the slower pace of telomere shortening could be due to the dramatic increase in the hormone estrogen that's produced during pregnancy.

“Estrogen functions as a potent antioxidant that protects cells against telomere shortening," he stated.

Nepomnaschy and SFU postdoctoral researcher Cindy Barha, along with other investigators, published their findings in PLOS One, which is the world's first multidisciplinary open-access journal. 

In 2009, researchers Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider, and Jack Szostak won the Nobel Prize in medicine for their discoveries about telomeres.

Last year, the chief wellness officer at Telus, Dr. Elaine Chin, wrote a book for lay people about this relatively new area of scientific research to highlight the links with chronic diseases.

In Lifelines: Unlock the Secrets of Your Telomeres for a Longer, Healthier Life, Chin outlined many ways in which people can have their telomeres lengths evaluated. This can be accomplished through blood and saliva tests, as well as by quantitative polymerase chain reaction tests or through a process known as fluorescence in situ hybridization.