Your Bra Might Not Be as Safe as You Think
Have you ever wondered why you wear a bra? When your breasts begin to develop or when your mother decides it is the right time, you start wearing one. Doesn’t it seem strange that we’ve never really questioned why we wear a bra or if it benefits our health? We go our entire life wearing this piece of clothing but since it's not something we’re ingesting, we tend to forget that it can be harming our body.
Growing up I was happy to try on my first bra, it was a symbol of growing up and I was excited. I wore all types of bras—from wired bras to sports bras, camis, and so on. I began to realize some were more comfortable than others. I stayed away from wired bras because they just were not comfortable, but other than for comfort reasons I didn’t care which bra I wore.
A few years ago my mother-in-law and I were chatting about health related things like hormone-free meat, natural deodorant, natural toothpaste, and so forth. Yes, my mother-in-law is all about health, (I love getting to pick her brain about health and having her share her thoughts with me) and the topic of bras and cancer came up. Based off of that conversation, a few weeks ago she sent me an article that focused on the topic of bras and breast cancer, which has, in turn, led me here to write this article. I have come to believe that bra safety is very important and oftentimes overlooked. I hope this article moves you to make different choices.
Your Bra May Be Harming Your Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system plays such an essential role in our bodies; there are about 30 lymph nodes in the breast area alone. A woman's lymphatic system is one of the main outlets for draining toxins from the body, so you can understand why protecting your lymphatic system is important. Lymph nodes play an important part in keeping your immune system healthy and if there was ever an instance of cancer in your body, a healthy lymphatic system would help to heal your body.
What are Lymph Nodes?
Lymph vessels route lymph fluid through nodes throughout the body. Lymph nodes are small structures that work as filters for harmful substances. They contain immune cells that can help fight infection by attacking and destroying germs that are carried in through the lymph fluid.
How many hours are you wearing a bra?
Your lymphatic system works best with as little restriction as possible. The amount of hours a day you wear a bra plays a role in how much restriction you are putting on the lymphatic system. My mother-in-law recommended I read Dressed to Kill: The Link between Breast Cancer and Bras. It’s a great book. It follows a study that was conducted by Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer with over 5,000 women. They found that the women who wore a bra for 24 hours a day had a 3 in 4 chance of developing breast cancer versus women wearing a bra less than 12 hours a day (which reduced their chance of breast cancer to 1 in 52).
Are you wearing an underwire bra?
If you are wearing a tight bra or underwire bra this puts you at an even higher risk for health problems. Underwire bras can rub and pinch your skin causing skin irruption and even cuts. Also, I don’t know much about metals, but I couldn’t imagine a situation where metal against your body would be a good thing for your health.
No, Your Breasts Won’t Sag if You Don’t Wear a Bra.
There is a myth surrounding the use of a bra, which is to prevent the breasts from sagging. This is so not true.
Going bra-less or at least wearing a bra for fewer hours a day is the healthiest option. I know there are times where we feel we have to wear one, especially if we are doing any type of sport, but the best thing I can share is to choose a bra that fits properly with no underwire and that is made with breathable material that is not too tight. I personally am still on my journey to find the perfect bra and will keep you up to date on what I can find.
Tips for Moving Forward
Choose a properly fitting bra
Go at least 12 hours a day without wearing a bra
Choose a bra made with a breathable material such as organic cotton, bamboo fabric, or other natural materials
Ditch the underwire
Find a flexible band that is not too tight