Bra 101 – 4 Tips to Better Bra Health

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

While an estimated 90 percent of North American women wear a bra every day, have you ever wondered if they’re really necessary? And if so, does the type of bra you wear matter to your health?

Wearing a bra is said to help prevent sagging, improve posture, reduce back pain, and maintain healthy breast tissue. But according to history, bras were created for fashion, not function.

Wealthy women in the 14th century primarily wore corsets to help elevate, reveal, and enhance the appearance of their breasts. And as fashion evolved, so did bra-like garments.

While bras are still worn for aesthetic purposes (oh hey, bedazzled lingerie), they’re also said to be mandatory for maintaining and supporting a healthy bosom.

But some researchers suggest that wearing a bra isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, according to a study done in France (called the “marathon experiment”), the trusty brassiere could be a false necessity: It does more harm than good.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of wearing a bra, and whether or not your bra health is working in your favor.

The Cons of Wearing a Bra: Should You Be Going Braless?

The marathon experiment was conducted by Jean-Denis Rouillon, a sports-science expert. It claims that bras provide no benefits for women—when it comes to preventing back pain, improving posture, or maintaining shape.

The 15-year study included 300 women and claimed that those who went braless actually gained a 7-millimeter lift in their nipples—compared to women who wore bras regularly.

These findings refute everything we’ve been told about bras. Has gravity been our friend, not our foe?

This study has been cited in online publications, cautioning women about the dangers of wearing a bra. However, it should be noted that the study is missing crucial information.

For example, the study fails to mention the ages of the 300 women, how often they went braless, and how often they were measured. We’re also uncertain if these women went braless for the entire duration of the study, or for just a few years.

The lack of information in this study makes the so-called dangers of wearing a bra rather vague. Additionally, there’s no record of this study ever being published online—only an article that recapped a radio interview with Jean-Denis Rouillon.

Bras have also come under fire for being linked to breast cancer. Although there’s also limited research to back up this claim, it’s suggested that ill-fitting or tight bras can impair lymphatic drainage, which can prevent your body from excreting carcinogenic toxins.

The other cons of wearing a bra may include restricted breathing; annoying indentations on your skin, neck, and shoulder pain from tight straps; and the feeling of being trapped in a wiry, padded penitentiary; which you can’t wait to break free from at the end of the night.

The Benefits of Wearing a Bra

While the so-called damaging—or at the very least, non-beneficial—effects of bras are emerging, there’s still a lack of evidence that wearing a bra is guaranteed to damage your lady lumps.

As long as they’re properly fitted, bras can still prevent discomfort from movement (i.e., bouncing) and back pain, especially in bustier women. Some women even find that wearing a bra is more comfortable than going braless.

So if wearing a bra helps you feel supported and gives you the lift and look you desire, the choice is yours: Wear a bra, or don’t. Luckily, there are ways you can promote better breast health when choosing a bra:

4 Tips for Better Bra Health

1. Get Measured

What’s the best kind of bra to wear? One that fits you perfectly.

Since it’s estimated that over 80% of women wear the wrong bra size, it’s no wonder we breathe a sigh of relief when we let the gals loose at the end of the night. And as mentioned above, there are potential health risks to wearing a poorly fitted bra, which may include breast-tissue damage. About 80% of women wear the wrong bra size.

Since your body naturally changes as you age, your bra size can also fluctuate. For this reason, it’s important to get measured each year—or any time your bra feels like a nuisance.

2. Choose the Right Bra Style for Your Cup Size

Between soft cups, sports bras, wireless, bandeaus, full cups, and push-ups, choosing a bra can be difficult. But the best bra style for you will depend mostly on your cup size.

Lingerie experts recommend bras with minimal support for a smaller bust, such as bandeaus or wireless bras. That’s because additional underwiring and padding may be uncomfortable, dig into your skin, and look bumpy under clothing.

Larger busts can benefit from the extra coverage of full- cup bras, which keep breasts in place and prevent wardrobe malfunctions.

The best way to find out which bra styles are right for your bust is by consulting with a bra-fitting specialist at a lingerie store.

3. Avoid Wearing a Bra to Bed

Does wearing a bra to bed really prevent sagging?

While some women swear that wearing a bra to bed maintains shape, it may also promote swelling, cause a buildup of fluid, and prevent natural detoxification—by restricting blood flow and lymphatic drainage.

Don’t wear a bra to bed. It prevents natural detoxification by restricting blood flow.

Since there’s no proof that bedtime brassiere-wearing can save you from the droop, it’s best to err on the side of caution: Avoid the potential health risks of wearing a bra to bed.

4. Go for Comfort Over Couture

Lace, jewels, pearls, push-ups and pastels: While there’s no harm in occasionally swapping your regular intimates for seductive lingerie, it’s important to ensure that you prioritize sensibility over chicness (with the bras you wear regularly). Even if it’s not the sexiest-looking garment, a properly fitted, comfortable bra can be life-changing when it comes to feeling cozy and relaxed every day.

Watch this video – 5 Bras to Stay Away From and 9 That Are Safe

Written by Brandi Black

Author Bio:

Brandi Black is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and the creator of Feel Best Naked, a health blog for women who want to clear up their skin, lose the muffin top and make the bloat disappear. After years of experiencing (and then healing) her own unbalanced hormones, she’s now obsessed with helping other women feel spectacular in their own skin with natural remedies for hormone balance.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

Breast Health 101 – 7 Tips to Prevent Breast Cancer

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Breast health is a major concern for women worldwide. In America alone, it’s estimated that 1 in every 8 women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life.

And while it’s less common, men aren’t exempt from breast cancer either. According to Breastcancer.org, over 2,500 cases of male breast cancer are diagnosed each year. With these statistics, the need to boost breast health for cancer prevention is more important now than ever before.

The good news is, there are several ways to improve your breast health naturally. Through specific nutrients and lifestyle changes, you can keep your health strong and reduce your risk for breast cancer.

What Causes Breast Cancer?

The exact cause of breast cancer is difficult to pinpoint, and will be different for every person.

Breast cancer has been linked to uncontrollable factors such as genetics (studies speculate a greater risk for developing breast cancer if a first-degree relative has had it), but it should be noted that the majority of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family member with breast cancer.

Interestingly enough, epigenetics is playing more of a role in cancer development. In other words, your environment, lifestyle and diet are considered to be more common risk factors for changes in your DNA that may lead to cancer.

A good way to explain this mechanism is to say “your genes load the gun, the environment pulls the trigger.” Your DNA may predispose you for cancer, but lifestyle and diet make all the difference.

Now, for a little pathology 101: gene mutations—which are typically passed down from a parent—can also cause cancer. Gene mutations have also been linked to cellular damage from environmental factors, such as toxins and sun damage.

In particular, breast cancer is linked to gene mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are responsible for preventing cancer development in your cells. Gene mutation can occur at any point in life, but breast cancer related to BRCA1 and BRCA2 is seen in younger women.

Other common risk factors for breast cancer include:

Age

Aside from gender, age is said to be the most common risk factor for developing breast cancer. While you can develop breast cancer at any time, women over the age of 50 are at the highest risk.

Obesity

Studies show that women who have a BMI higher than 25 are more likely to develop breast cancer. While the exact link between weight gain and breast cancer isn’t known, research suggests that where weight gain occurs could either promote or prevent breast cancer development. If your BMI is over 25, your chances of breast cancer increases.

For example, midsection weight gain could be a greater risk factor for breast cancer, rather than weight gain in your face and thighs. This is because midsection weight gain is related to elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol in your blood. And high cortisol levels can stimulate the growth of cancer cells.

Midsection weight gain is also a sign of high insulin level which research shows increases your risk for cancer by 15-20%.

Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance is a condition that can occur when your progesterone levels are too low or when your estrogen levels are too high. Symptoms of hormonal imbalance can occur from taking oral contraceptives for long periods of time, or during intense periods of chronic stress.

Estrogen is the female sex hormone that promotes growth and development. It’s said that in certain cases, excess estrogen in your blood can also promote the growth of tumors and allow cancer cells to spread.

Now, that’s not to say every person with excess estrogen will develop cancer—it simply means that estrogen plays more of a role in the development of cancer cells than other hormones. Hormonal imbalances can suppress the body’s immunity, making cancer more of a risk.

Since estrogen dominance is a hormonal imbalance, it can also suppress the body’s immune function by impairing the function of T-cells.

Estrogen dominance can occur from being regularly exposed to xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens, which mimic estrogen in the body and raise estrogen levels when absorbed. Xenoestrogens are environmental toxins found in plastic containers, cleaning products and cosmetics, while phytoestrogens are found in estrogenic foods such as soy products and non-organic meat that’s been treated with growth hormones.

Early Menstruation

While it’s not yet fully understood, studies have shown a link between menstruation before the age of 15 and an increased risk of breast cancer.

Excess Alcohol Consumption

Excess alcohol consumption can increase estrogen levels in the blood. Alcohol may also cause cellular damage, which as you now understand, may increase your risk of breast cancer.

As you can see, the most common risk factors for breast cancer are not only related to genetics, but also lifestyle and dietary choices. This means that you can still take control of your breast health and lower your risk of breast cancer.

Let’s take a look at which nutrients offer the greatest benefits to your bosom by promoting optimal cellular health.

Nutrients for Breast Health

Antioxidants

Antioxidants help disarm free radicals, which are toxins that damage DNA and destroy cells. Free radicals cause oxidative stress in the body, which is linked to the development of many diseases, including cancer. Antioxidants can also help slow the aging process and prevent gene mutation. And as you now know, both of these factors contribute to breast cancer.

All fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds contain antioxidants. The foods highest in antioxidants are berries, goji berries, carrots, squash, pumpkin, beets, sweet potatoes walnuts, leafy greens, mushrooms, pomegranates and algae, such as chlorella or spirulina.

Vitamin D

Studies suggest that low vitamin D may be linked to breast cancer, since vitamin D is shown to have antioxidant activity in the mammary gland. Loading up on vitamin D can help keep cancer risk at bay.

Certain foods on the Paleo diet contain vitamin D, such as wild salmon and egg yolks. However, the sun is ultimately the most abundant source of vitamin D available to us.

During the fall and winter months, it can be extremely difficult to absorb enough vitamin D from the sun (unless you live in a tropical climate). For this reason, it’s recommended to supplement with 1,000 – 2,000 IU of vitamin D for optimal health during the colder months.

Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids

While inflammation is the root cause of all illness and disease, studies prove that chronic inflammation (and inflammatory conditions, such as irritable bowel disease) have a direct link to cancer development.

This is why it’s important to include foods in your diet that help reduce inflammation, such as omega-3 essential fatty acids. Omega-3’s are essential fats that we must obtain from our diets because our body can’t produce them. Because they’re such powerful anti-inflammatories, omega-3’s are fats that should never be avoided.

You can increase the omega-3’s in your diet by taking fish oil and eating wild salmon, chia seeds, hemp hearts, walnuts, algae, flaxseed and grass-fed meat.

It should also be mentioned that we require a balance of omega-3 to omega-6 essential fatty acids for optimal health. While omega-3’s and -6’s are needed to fight inflammation and promote cardiovascular health and cognitive function, omega-6 essential fatty acids can become pro-inflammatory when they’re consumed in excess, leading to systemic inflammation.  

Foods that reduce inflammation also reduce your risk of cancer. Increase omega-3’s by eating salmon or chia seeds.

The ideal ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 essential fatty acids is approximately 1:3, but today’s Western diet has a ratio of 1:17. Many of the omega-6’s in our diet come from high oleic vegetable oils, such as soybean oil and sunflower oil, that are used liberally in processed foods.

So while increasing your omega-3 intake is helpful for reducing inflammation, your omega-6 intake must be simultaneously reduced to further prevent illness and disease.

Indole-3-Carbinol

Indole-3-carbinol is a compound found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. I3C is a powerful nutrient for promoting hormone balance and breast health, as it helps prevent excess estrogen from being absorbed in the bloodstream.

Stress Management for Breast Health

While certain nutrients are necessary for cancer prevention, stress management is also crucial to breast health.

Stress promotes inflammation in the body as well as the release of excess cortisol in your blood. And as I’m sure you can relate, stress also makes you crave carbs and sugar! Carbs and sugar spike your insulin levels, which also increases your cortisol levels. Needless to say, it’s a vicious cycle at best.

As mentioned above, elevated cortisol levels are linked to midsection weight gain, which can increase your risk for breast cancer. And when cortisol levels are elevated for prolonged periods of time, your immune system can also become suppressed and impair your body’s natural defenses against illness and disease.

Getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night, exercising regularly, spending time outdoors, practicing yoga, laughing often, eating nutritious foods and making time for the activities you enjoy are the best ways to begin reducing your stress levels.

As you’ve seen, breast health is influenced by several factors, not just genetics. By increasing the nutrients in your diet and making positive lifestyle changes where necessary, you’ll reduce your risk for breast cancer and enhance your entire well-being.

To recap – The 7 Tips to Prevent Breast Cancer:

• Eat berries high in antioxidants
• Get enough of Vitamin D
• Eat healthy fats such as those from fatty fish
• Manage stress
• Eat cruciferous vegetables
• Practice yoga
• Get 7-8 hours of sleep

Watch this video – Breast Self-Examination (It Can Save Your Life)

Written by Brandi Black

Author Bio:

Brandi Black is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and the creator of Feel Best Naked, a health blog for women who want to clear up their skin, lose the muffin top and make the bloat disappear. After years of experiencing (and then healing) her own unbalanced hormones, she’s now obsessed with helping other women feel spectacular in their own skin with natural remedies for hormone balance.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

6 Toxins in Feminine Products and 4 Healthier Alternatives

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

6 Hormone Disruptors and Toxins in Feminine Products (& 4 Healthier Alternatives)

In a world of vaginal steams, crystal-wearing, and period panties, are organic feminine products really worth the hype, not to mention the extra expense? Is it a legitimate need or a silly gimmick that can be skipped?

Consider this: the skin in the vagina is highly absorbent, and it is known to be an effective method for systemic drug delivery. Chemicals introduced into the vaginal canal are going to be easily absorbed and systemically delivered to the rest of the body, too.

The Dangers of Toxic Exposure

Why should we be worried about toxic exposure from feminine products? Most women figure that they only use pads and tampons for just a few days every month, but when you add that up over three decades of reproductive years? That’s anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 days of a woman’s life.

Products like tampons, pads, and pantiliners have contact with vaginal mucous membranes, which are designed to be highly absorbent. Because this area is filled with blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, it’s primed to deliver whatever it encounters to the entire body through the circulatory system. Chemicals in feminine products can be carried through the circulatory system.

Enter the argument that the chemicals found in these products can’t be “that bad.” If you read the label on the average tampon or pad, it won’t sound that scary, at least not until you dig a little deeper.

Most people believe that the FDA or some overarching government body regulates these types of products and won’t allow anything in them that would be unsafe.

Because tampons and pads are categorized as medical devices, they’re regulated by the FDA, but the FDA doesn’t regulate the cosmetic industry or other chemical-laden products strictly either.

Just because the FDA allows it to be sold doesn’t mean it’s safe. As a medical device, companies also aren’t required to disclose every detail about the ingredients.

Bottom line: Women need to be aware that toxin exposure from unexpected sources can still have a significant impact on their health, and feminine products are no exception.

Toxins Found in Feminine Products

Most toxins found in feminine products aren’t easily deciphered by simply reading the label. Companies manufacturing these items are either unaware that they’ve created a chemical delivery system, or they’re trying to mask it with pink and blue boxes and fresh scents.

Even if we assume the best of these companies, initiatives over the last few years to get full label disclosure have been met with silence. Companies disclose ingredients that may be in their products, but do not transparently list exactly what they contain.

The truth is that any feminine products not labelled as organic can contain any of the following. Since manufacturers are not being open, we can assume that their products very likely contain many or most of them.

6 Hormone Disruptors and Chemicals Found in Feminine Products

Phthalates

A plastic-like chemical found in many products that are scented, phthalates, found in fragranced pads or tampons used to mask vaginal odors, are hormone disrupting.

Dioxins

You know how those tampons and pads are crisp and white? Dioxins are chemicals that appear as a result of the bleaching process, and are associated with hormone disruption and autoimmunity.

Mercury

While no one is adding mercury to feminine products, it can be found in pads and tampons because it’s a by-product of the manufacturing and bleaching process, and it’s associated with disruption of the nervous, immune, and digestive systems.

Glyphosate

Cotton, one of the primary ingredients of tampons and pads, is one of the top GMO (genetically modified organism) crops that are heavily treated with glyphosate.

 Cotton is highly absorbent, hence the use in tampons and feminine pads, but it also absorbs those chemicals that it’s doused with. One study found that 85 percent of non-organic tampons contained glyphosate.

Rayon

A synthetic ingredient made from sawdust, rayon is most closely associated with TSS, or toxic shock syndrome. Tampons all get a warning label that they shouldn’t be left in for more than eight hours because of TSS, which can cause symptoms like fever, rash, low blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, and even seizures.

TSS is life-threatening, so most women are educated about this risk. However, women aren’t informed that the very same tampon that could cause TSS is also exposing them to dioxins, which are by-products of rayon, and which are not safe at any exposure level.

Synthetic Fragrances

A fancy way of saying “a chemical cocktail to produce a synthetic scent,” fragrances are used in thousands of products to produce a specific smell. They’re also used to mask odors, such as in feminine products.

The problem with this is that just because something smells clean and fresh doesn’t mean that it is. Chemicals used in fragrances are often proprietary and are not required to be disclosed, meaning you have no idea what you’re inhaling, ingesting, or inserting. Some fragrances even contain known carcinogens.

Avoid scented pads – They main contain carcinogens!

Bottom line: While women aren’t exposed to feminine products on a daily basis, the cumulative hours that they will be exposed over their lifetime is significant, especially considering that a few of these chemicals have no safe exposure levels.

3 Dangers of Toxic Feminine Products

It might be easy to brush off chemicals found in pads and tampons as less important than chemicals found in, say, make-up or lotions, based on daily usage and skin coverage.

However, for a week every month, for roughly 30 years, women often get around-the-clock exposure from these seemingly harmless items.

1. More Infections

Chemicals and synthetic ingredients found in feminine products increase a woman’s risk of yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis because the presence of these unnatural materials disrupt normal and healthy vaginal bacterial balance.

2. Cancer Risk

While most companies will deny that their products or ingredients are carcinogenic, dioxins and other components of women’s hygiene products have cancer-causing components.

3. Reproductive Harm

All of the exposures that a woman faces on a daily basis from environmental sources can work together to attack fertility. Hormones are sensitive to disruptions, and women face risk by chemicals found in feminine products they use.

Bottom line: The volume of usage and hours of exposure make feminine care products one of the most significant issues regarding toxic exposure.

4 Organic and Toxin-Free Alternatives

Organic feminine products cost more than non-organic versions, and one of the largest complaints is that companies slap the organic label on there so that they can charge more. The truth is that the products are entirely different, and given a moment to compare, you’ll see why.

Cleaner hygiene products are critical since vaginal tissues absorb toxins and chemicals more easily than other skin areas. Chemical-free feminine products are critical, as vaginal tissue is super absorbent.

Natural alternatives exist for everything from organic cotton tampons and pads that are not bleached to reusable and washable products like fabric pads, menstrual cups, and period underwear that are designed to eliminate waste altogether.

While many women may view laundering their menstrual products as an unnecessary chore (or a gross one at that), all of these organic and reusable products have been designed with care for both women’s health and the environment.

So explore the various chemical-free options available for menstrual care and choose a system that works best for you.

Organic and Disposable Tampons, Pads, and Liners

Much the same as the non-organic ones, these are disposable and convenient.

Made from organic cotton that is unbleached and free from nasty chemicals, these products are produced primarily by four brands: Seventh Generation, NatraCare, Maxim, and The Honest Company. They’re available in varying sizes and thicknesses and work as effectively as other non-organic brands.

Reusable Pads

Menstrual pads work the same way as disposable ones, except they’re constructed from cotton and are highly absorbent. These also come in different sizes and thicknesses, and are designed to be laundered and reused for numerous cycles.

The laundering process is described by each company, and is simple and ick-free. Most suggest soaking in a bucket of natural disinfectant solution during the menstrual cycle, and washing everything in one load at the end.

If you’re really bothered by the idea of dirty menstrual rags, you can easily wash them more often. Popular brands include GladRags, LunaPads, Sckoon Organic Cloth Pads, Charlie Banana Reusable Cloth Pads, and Earth Girl.

Menstrual Cups

Menstrual cups are in a league of their own: they collect the menstrual blood and don’t absorb. They can safely be worn longer than tampons and don’t carry the risk of toxic shock syndrome.

They’re available in different sizes and shapes, and can be used for numerous cycles, only needing to be rinsed before each use and washed thoroughly at the end of the cycle before storing until the next one.

These are great options for women of any age. Top brands include the DivaCup, Lunette Menstrual Cup, Ruby Cup, Yuuki Cup, and EvaCup.

Period Underwear

Newest on the scene are panties specifically designed to be worn during menstruation. Some are designed to be worn without any additional pads or cups, while others are meant to be used in conjunction with reusable pads or cups.

They are made of highly absorbent and leak-proof materials, and are designed to last for many years. Popular brands are Thinx, PantyProp, Modibodi, and Knixwear.

Bottom line: Each of these different menstrual options offers their own benefits and come without the chemical cocktail of side effects like conventional period products.

Not only are they cleaner options, but they are greener and either come from more ethically sourced disposable cotton or remove the need for disposing altogether.

While the cost for any of these options will be more than just buying the cheapest option, your health is an investment and is worth protecting from an onslaught of chemicals.

Watch these 2 videos below –

Best ORGANIC Non-toxic Feminine Care Pads (Review)| Natural Care for Women

Natural and Non-Toxic Personal Care Products

Written by Aimee McNew

Author Bio:

Aimee McNew is a Certified Nutritionist who specializes in women’s health, thyroid problems, infertility, and digestive wellness. She ate her way back to health using a Paleo diet, lost 80 pounds, and had a healthy baby after numerous miscarriages. She focuses on simple nutrition practices that promote long-lasting results.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook