* 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 sag
Of 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 thoughts
What 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.