The majority of all women in America are wearing the wrong bra size. Although very pretty, most of the bras worn by women today are too tight and/or uncomfortable. A woman’s breast is all about circulation and the flow of lymph so if you want healthy breasts, apart from the monthly self-examinations, routine doctor visits and mammograms, it is also vitally important to find a bra that fits correctly.
When a woman wears a bra that is too tight, she subjects her breasts to pressure which closes off the lymphatic pathway from the breast to the nodes. This causes fluid build-up, swelling, tenderness and cyst formation. Toxins must be flushed out via the lymphatics, which is essentially the circulatory pathway of the immune system. Breasts that are constricted within a tight, binding, ill-fitting bra cannot adequately perform the appropriate cleansing process, which results in toxin accumulation within the breast.
According to Ralph L. Reed, PhD, there has been a 125-fold increase in breast cancer incidence between women who wore non-constricting bras and those who wore ill-fitting bras. Wearing a tight, constrictive bra over 12 hours daily conferred a 113-fold increase in breast cancer incidence! Bras apply pressure to the breasts, especially to the lymphatic system.
So what can you do to change that? Simply find a bra that fits you perfectly.
This process is very straightforward but requires the help of ‘a bra expert’.
Such ‘experts’, are in local shops or work in major department stores in the lingerie department. So your first step to finding the right bra is to see one of these ‘bra experts’. They will take your measurements, first under your rib cage and all around your back and then across your breast. One tells what your bra size is (34, 36, 38 etc.) and the other tells your cup size (A, B, C, D etc.)
Now that you know this they will usually recommend a style for your body type based on your needs. During your session, tell this person all about your basic wardrobe. Are you looking for a bra to wear under a tee shirt or a knit, one for sports or the gym, or a special occasion look? Or do you need to establish a basic bra wardrobe?
Believe me, one hour spent with one of these experts will not only save you money in the long run (by avoiding having a drawer full of ill-fitting bras you can no longer wear), but you will be saved the daily agonies of wearing bras that hurt, are too tight, dig into your shoulders or are just plain torture!
Once you have established your size and needs, then follow these simple suggestions for a long and comfortable relationship with your bras.
I would like you to take the bras you have right now and try them on to do a simple ‘bra test’.
I. How to put on a bra: Bend forward, put the bra on, and fasten. Look at the fit and make sure that the cup holds your entire breast. If you are spilling out, it is too small. If you have “overhang" it is too small.
II. Next, take your right hand and smooth the skin of the left breast into the cup. Do the same on the other side. Stand up straight and see how the straps fit and feel. They should be comfortable without feeling like a vice. Adjust as needed until perfect. Now, look straight ahead into a mirror and make certain that each nipple is in the center of each cup.
III. Adjust the back of the bra so it lies smoothly between your shoulder blades.
Take a deep breathe, how does it feel?
A word about brand names: every bra manufacturer is different and each bra must be tried on, You might be a size 34C in one brand but a 34D in another. And there may be some brands you can’t wear at all.
BRA DO’S AND DON’TS
-- Do get measured again every time you lose or gain weight, after a pregnancy, or if you are on hormone replacement therapy.
-- Don’t ever buy a bra without trying it on and stay away from the sale rack. Unless there is a brand and style there that you wear, pulling one off the rack because it is marked down is not a bargain. Chances are it will have a long and happy life in your lingerie drawer.
-- Do buy an under wire style if you are full breasted and need firmer support.
-- Do buy a minimizer if you want to have a large breast appear smaller.
-- Do try one of the new soft cup bras that offer construction for a smaller breast. (Soft cup means sans under wire.)
-- Do throw away any and all bras that hurt you or are uncomfortable no matter how much you paid for them.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER
-- Ask a salesperson to measure you but let your eye and your body be the ultimate test.
-- A bra shouldn’t ride up, dig into your back, or slip off your shoulders.
-- When trying on a bra in a store, take several, in various sizes, into the fitting room. The difference between a 34 and 36 might be one hook.
-- For the best fit, your bra should be fastened with the middle hook.
-- Reevaluate your bra wardrobe at the beginning of every season.
-- If you find a bra that you love, by all means buy more than one.
-- Never put a bra in the dryer.
With all the lingerie available today, bras that fit need not be dowdy. Have fun but choose your bras wisely. For more information about breast cancer prevention visit: http://www.breastcancer.org/
Judi Lynn Lake has kept up with leading edge business trends throughout her varied and successful career. She had already had her ‘15 minutes of fame’ over and over again before starting her family. Judi and her family now reside in South Carolina but, having been born and raised on Long Island, NY, it is clearly evident that she will always be a "New Yorker." Today, she successfully runs her own advertising agency which handles everything from logos, branding and package design while she continues to work closely with self-published authors from design to promotion.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
