Ditch the bra, ladies

I was listening to a Coast to Coast program the other day.  Never heard of this program?  Click HERE for my blog on what you’ve been missing.  Anyway, the program spent a lot of time discussing how wearing bras can cause breast cancer.  As a woman who rarely wears a bra, this validated that I was really doing something good for my body.  This show proved to me that going braless is a healthier choice.   If I can, I go braless.  Way back in my 20s I just decided they were too uncomfortable and I didn’t want to wear one unless I had too.  I had no idea how smart of a choice that was for my health.

THE PROBLEM WITH BRAS

The bra was invented in 1889, so it’s been around for quite a while, although they’ve only been worn regularly for the last few decades.  So basically, prior to that, women were not expected to wear a bra.  If bras have only been around for a few decades, what did women (who have always had breasts) do up until then?  Well, most likely they went braless and lived very well without them.  However, modern society expects all women to wear bras and almost shuns women who don’t wear a bra – basically shaming them into wearing them.  Women feel pressured to wear bras for fear of being ridiculed, shunned, or even fired from their jobs. In my opinion, this craziness needs to stop.

A study by Sydney Ross Singer (this was the gentleman being interviewed on Coast to Coast) studied 4700 American women.  Half of these women had breast cancer.  His study concluded that women who wore bras for 18-24 hours per day had 125 times greater incidence of breast cancer.  In Singer’s Dressed to Kill study, he found that ¾ of women who wore a bra 24/7 will develop breast cancer.  On the other hand, only one out of 168 of the women who choose to go without a bra will get cancer. 

Bras, in an of themselves don’t cause cancer.  The problem with bras is that they compress nymph nodes.  When the nodes are compressed, they can’t drain properly which prevents toxins from being removed.  This is the primary job of a lymph node.  Bras also cause fluid filled cysts which may eventually lead to cancer.  Because bras are so tight, they create pressure on breasts and reduce lymphatic circulation. This problem is compounded when breasts swell prior to menstruation because bras stay the same size causing even more compression.  The longer a bra is worn and the tighter it is increases the risk of developing cancer.

Bra tightness also leads to chronic lack of oxygen and nutrients above the bra line.  So a bra creates less oxygen and reduces nutrients to the cells. On top of that, the lymph is not flushed so they prevent elimination of toxins from the breast lymph nodes.  On an energetic level, bras cause a reduced flow of energy in the meridians which can lead to a host of problems down the road.  One study found straps cause grooves in the shoulder area and they put pressure on the cervical nerve.  This can cause headache, neck pain, and numbness.

Another problem with bras is that they heat up the breasts.  Compression from a bra increases breast temperature.  Precancerous and cancerous breasts are hotter than non-cancerous breasts.

THE SOLUTION

That’s easy – remove the bra!  Throw it out, burn it, make a sling shot…whatever floats your boat.  Removing your bra and not wearing it on a daily basis allows the breasts to move naturally.  This creates a massage and allows lymph to circulate.  In other words, moving breasts are healthy breasts.

Jumping on a trampoline braless is a great way to have healthy breast tissue.  The jumping stimulates lymphatic flow.  Cysts have even been known to disappear after doing this activity for a period of time.  Don’t have a trampoline?  Just simply bouncing up and down – kind of like 1/4 squats with the feet never leaving the ground — can be extremely healthy. 

 

AFRAID TO DITCH THE BRA?

I know, many women have become accustomed to wearing a bra every day.  They are afraid their breasts will sag and droop and become a nuisance.  However, the opposite is true.  Wearing a bra actually causes saggy breasts.  This happens because when breasts are given artificial support it leads to breast atrophy.  Because the bra has been doing all the work, the breast tissue loses its firmness and the muscle becomes weak.  This can be turned around when a woman stops wearing a bra.  Breasts will begin to support themselves over time.  Breasts strengthen when the bra is removed – they don’t fall as is the popular belief.  Within 3 months any discomfort often disappears.

GIVE IT A TRY

As you can see, there are many reasons why you should ditch your bra – if not permanently, then consider at least reducing the amount of time you spend in one.  Or try one that isn’t has tight or confining.  You may be a little uncomfortable at first, but after a few weeks, your breasts will love you for it.  Try camisoles or tank tops instead when a shirt requires something underneath. 

Click HERE for the link to Sydney Ross Singer’s web page about bras and breast cancer.  He is conducting an International Bra Free study.  There is a link on the page if you are interested in participating.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the idea of going BRALESS!