Natural Health October 2017

SPECIAL
For sure, you may have heard from
someone that sleeping at night with a bra
could increase your risk of developing
breast cancer. However, this claim is
being debunked by experts in the field
and has no scientific basis to it.
The Singer-
Grismaijer Study
This belief may make you feel better
and far less worried. After all, there are
times when you forget to take off your
breast support after a long and tiring
day. Then here comes the study of two
leading medical anthropologists, Soma
Grismaijer and Syndey Ross Singer.
According to their 20-year study, there
is a relationship between bra-wearing
and breast cancer. In fact, they found
that women who go bra-free have the
same incidence of breast cancer in men
– which is really low.
How Is That Possible?
Wearing a brassiere restricts your
lymphatic system, making it harder for it
to work properly. The lymphatic system is
your body’s waste disposal system. This
means your body can easily get rid of
all debris and toxins found in your tissues
through the lymphatic system’s
lymph fluid.
Apparently, wearing a bra restricts lymph
fluid flow. If the harmful ingredients are
unable to escape your body, especially
in the breast tissues, then this could lead
to breast cancer. The work of Harvard,
China and Venezuela researchers
backup this claim. But before you panic
and throw away all your bras, here are
some things you need to know about
your breast support, and why you should
or should not wear that bra.
1. Your Bra Is Your
Best Friend
When you were younger, you probably
often called your mom or siblings your
best friends. Things get different once you
mature. The sole purpose of a bra is to
provide support. They give your boobs
a lift and offer ample support up there to
make sure that gravity won’t work against
your breasts. Therefore, it is important to
take time to shop and choose your bra
according to your fit.
Remember this: Treat your bra like a best
friend, and it will surely return the favour.
2. There Is No Such A
Thing As Standard
Cup Size
Did you know that bra manufacturers
follow different sizing patterns when
it comes to bra cup sizes? This is the
reason why you are 32D in one brand
and 34A in another. The truth is bra cup
size is a subjective measurement. There
is no standard size followed by bra
manufacturers, and their definition of cup
sizes varies.
This explains why your bra sizes are
different from each other, especially
when you don’t stick to a particular
brand. Therefore, make sure to go for a
fit that works best for your bust instead
of wearing a certain size. Just because
you are cup B at Victoria’s Secret, it
doesn’t mean you are a cup B at your
local department store. Again, fit is
more important, so don’t allow cup sizes
define your breasts.
3. The Support Comes
From The Band, Not
The Strap
Most women think that the bra straps
provide support to the breasts. Not really.
The truth is, the band that does the heavy
lifting, while the straps only offer extra lift.
This is the reason why the band
has to fit you properly.
When the back band is loose, the weight
of your breast shifts to the straps. This
could also lead to poor posture, because
it pulls your body forward and causes you
to slouch. This is common in women who
belong in the big boobs department.
Still, this does not mean that you shouldn’t
consider the bra straps. You should still
be able to slide your straps off your
shoulders without compromising the
support your breasts need.
4. Bras At Night
Someone told you that wearing a bra
as you go to sleep could lead to breast
cancer. Apparently not. In fact, there are
a number of benefits when you wear a
bra at night, especially when you are a
bit chesty. Wearing a bra at night could
prevent sagging, since it inhibits the
gravitational force from kicking in and
affecting your breasts in a bad way.
However, make sure that you go for
non-underwire bras and bras that are not
too tight. Even if there is no proof that
links wearing a bra at night with breast
cancer, restrictive bras can be harmful
and tight on your skin. You might be
surprised to see wounds, blisters or scars
in the breast area if you always sleep
with your underwire bra.
Natural Health * October 2017 VOL 84
25