Breast Health and Bras
Now,
are you ready for this ladies? It seems that the 1960s are here again!
While there have been no actual burnings this time around, women of all
ages and backgrounds are once again pitching their bras - this time for
health reasons. Believe it or not, there's a growing body of evidence that bra-wearing can have a significant impact on breast health.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month,
and we're talking about breasts! Some of what we have to say may
surprise you, so read on - and dedicate some time this month (and every
month) to being healthy and proactive when it comes to YOUR breast
health.Now, are you ready for this ladies? It seems that the
1960s are here again! While there have been no actual burnings this
time around, women of all ages and backgrounds are once again pitching
their bras - this time for health reasons.Believe it or not,
there's a growing body of evidence that bra-wearing can have a
significant impact on breast health. Consider these results found by
medical researcher Sydney Ross Singer and his wife Soma Grismaijer in
an early-1990s study of 4500 women in five U.S. cities (documented in
their book Dressed to Kill):* Women who wore a bra 24 hours a day had a 3 out of 4 chance of developing breast cancer.*
Women who wore a bra for more than 12 hours a day, but did not wear one
to bed, had a 1 out of 7 chance of developing breast cancer.* Women who wore a bra less than 12 hours a day had a 1 out of 152 chance of developing breast cancer.* Women who rarely wore a bra had a 1 out of 168 chance of developing breast cancer.While
these studies are not supported by the medical establishment
(apparently because Singer and Grismaijer did not control for other
risk factors), this is still an astounding difference! The theory
behind this increased risk has to do with your lymphatic system, which
is responsible for flushing away bodily wastes and toxins. There are
many lymph nodes and pathways in your breast and armpit areas, which
can be restricted (and prevented from doing their job) by tight-fitting
bras - potentially allowing these toxins to accumulate in the breast
tissue.In addition, many women have reported a decrease in
breast pain, as well as a decrease in headaches and neck pain, after
reducing or eliminating their bra-wearing time.The issue of sagOf
course we've all been told to wear our bras religiously in order to
prevent sagging as we age, right? Well, according to Dr. Susan Love
(from Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book): "A mistaken popular belief
maintains that wearing a bra strengthens your breasts and prevents
their eventual sagging. But you sag because of the proportion of fat
and tissue in your breasts, and no bra changes that."And Drs.
Claire and Gregory Heigh say that they "…have found that going bra-free
can actually cause breasts to sag less. Bras can cause breasts to sag
because chest muscles are worked less when breasts are supported and
confined in a bra. Over time, these muscles and also ligaments can
atrophy (shrink in size) because of lack of use."Makes you think, doesn't it? For more information on breast health and bras, check out www.breastnotes.com.To wear or not to wear?While
only you can make the choice of whether or not to wear a bra in your
daily life (though we do encourage you to experiment, and see what's
right for YOU!), one thing does seem to be clear: If you’re still
wearing a bra and panties to bed, you could really be hurting yourself.
So we say give your body a break - sleep panty-free and braless, and
let all the girls breathe!For those of you who do feel better with a bra for daytime wear, check out the latest from Gaiam.com - the Brassage Bra!
Designed by a doctor, this bra comes complete with "imperceptible
massaging 'bumps'…in the side panels [which] stimulate circulation in
the lymphatic area." Now your breasts can have their bra, and lymph
circulation too!Feel your boobies!Even if you do
continue to wear a bra, we want to encourage you to develop a healthy
relationship with your breasts. One way you can do that is to give them
regular massage - it'll help to stimulate your lymphatic system and
flush out toxins. It may feel weird at first, but we bet you'll soon
start to enjoy and appreciate this "time with the girls."And
while we're on the topic, don't forget about your monthly breast exam.
Yes, we know it's so easy to put it off or forget, but this is one of
the most important methods for early detection - after all, nobody
knows your boobies better than you!One woman whose work in this area we find just amazing is Leigh Hurst of the Feel Your Boobies Foundation (www.feelyourboobies.com).
A breast cancer survivor herself, Leigh created the Foundation to
support young women everywhere in developing a healthy relationship and
proactive health habits with their breasts. To help spread the message,
she's designed a fun and funky line of Feel Your Boobies t-shirts and accessories. Each purchase comes complete with a breast self-exam instruction card!If you’re in the NYC area, you can show your support for the Feel Your Boobies mission by coming out for the Boobies Bar Tour NYC
- a lineup of bars raising awareness and money to benefit the Feel Your
Boobies Foundation. (For the list of participating bars, visit the FYB
website at http://store.feelyourboobies.com/10bobartony.html.) The Boobies Bar Tour takes place over the weekend of October 11th-14th, as a kick-off to National Feel Your Boobies Week!Share your thoughtsWhat
are your thoughts on the breast health and bras connection? Has this
article inspired you to adjust your bra-wearing habits? What other ways
do you take care of your breasts? Share your thoughts and ask questions
in our comments section below, and an LSW counselor will respond!LSW
is committed to helping you understand the amazing natural healing
options that are available to you, so that you can make knowledgeable ,
powerful choices about how to care for your body and your menstrual and
sexual health.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
About Alisa
Laughing Sage Wellness Group
was founded by Alisa Vitti, a Certified Holistic Health Counselor (AADP).
Alisa is committed to empowering clients to reconnect with the wisdom
of their bodies. She received degrees from Johns Hopkins University
and the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She has taught at the Institute
for Integrative Nutrition and lectures regularly at Beth Israel Medical
Practices and Westerly Health Foods in Manhattan. www.laughingsagewellness.com
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