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.
