Breast 101 Health: Happy Mother's Day!

Photography by Zoe Schaeffer on Unsplash.

Breast Health 101: Parabens, Underwires, Lifestyle, and the C-Word

Survive and thrive by taking back control over your life, your health, and your boobs!

Breast health is a topic we can all relate to, whether or not we’ve been personally affected by breast cancer. One in eight women develops the disease at some point during their lives. That’s shocking. A few genetic factors outside our control, such as age and gender, put some people at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. However, there are plenty of other factors that we do have a say about and can manage. That’s a good thing! These range from diet to our choice of beauty products, some of these you may be familiar with while others might surprise you.

Photography by Hessam Hojati on Unsplash

DIET

There’s mounting research that eating only vegetables and no meat reduces your risks of developing cancer. Adopting a whole foods plant-based diet may be the best step you can take to improving your breast health! Not only can plant foods assist with weight control (obesity is one of the biggest risk factors), but veggies protect cells from damage, and, unlike animal-derived foods, they contain no growth hormones to stimulate tumors.

Registered dietitian and cancer specialist, Tamar Rothenburg, says: 'Breast cancer is scary, and we can choose to nourish ourselves with a wide array of plant foods, along with joyful movement, and self-kindness. There are over 10,000 cancer-fighting phytochemicals, and they’re only found in plant foods. For example, just adding in a half-cup of beans a day reduces breast cancer risk by 5 per cent. Physical activity and foods filled with powerful nutrients are a dynamic duo to reduce risk. Throw in self-kindness, and you now have a wonderful path to living your best life’.

Photography by Valeria Zoncoll on Unsplash.

Photography by Alexander Dummer on Unsplash.

BRAS

Ah, the underwire bra vs. wire-free debate: Ladies, one can’t say bras = breast cancer, but there is evidence that the pressure from underwires and the metal in them could have adverse effects on the breasts. When the material around underwires becomes thin this can cause the metal to irritate the skin and painfully dig in. Many women avoid underwires for myriad reasons unrelated to health, such as comfort and wanting a more natural look and feel.

Fabulous fashion items offering bra-free support include BJ's PJs Bettina and Justine tops, Adele or Kylie dresses. The low-maintenance designs feature no fussy clips; they’re fully washable and offer gentle support in bed. Not only do they keep the girls lifted, but they’re made from super soft organic four-way stretch cotton, which is super comfortable for daily wear, hospital stays, and new mothers.

Remember that choosing natural over synthetic materials is always a good idea regarding breast health. The reason for this is that synthetic and non-organic fabrics add to your toxic load. Did you know that textile factory workers have to wear face masks? They dip fabrics in formaldehyde! This is to give fabrics certain qualities, but, essentially, it is coating them in a carcinogenic, toxic chemical. Formaldehyde can be super harmful.

CHEMICALS

In addition to choosing natural fabrics, are you watching your daily exposure to other chemicals such as parabens? Artificial preservatives and toxic compounds appear in most manufactured beauty products, pharmaceuticals, and food. Eek! These can be ingested or absorbed through the skin, meaning the concentration in our bodies builds up. Research shows that parabens mimic estrogen, disturbing the endocrine system and may cause early puberty and even contribute to breast cancer.

It’s best to limit your exposure, where possible, so look for natural, organic alternatives to big brands. Lenka Pagan , a wonderful health coach, nutritional therapist and yoga teacher, has plenty to say on the matter: ‘Thousands of products on the market contain aluminum (linked to breast cancer), triclosan (biological toxin easily absorbed through the skin) and artificial fragrances, colors and preservatives.’

In light of this, she recommends using natural deodorants such as crystal, stone, roll-on or cream varieties. Choose wisely and look for varieties that are free of aluminum salts, parabens, BPAs, petrochemicals or plastic packaging. We personally adore the Axilla Deodorant Paste by Black Chicken Remedies.

When it comes to soaps in the home, Lenka recommends ditching nasty antibacterial soap in favor of natural and organic bars. Why? She says: ‘In recent years the the FDA said triclosan and triclocarban, DA said triclosan and triclocarban, which are found in antibacterial soaps sold in supermarkets, are harmful. And they can cause rashes, irritation, itchiness, soreness and even dry cracked hands.’ These chemicals are now banned in the U.S., but not in the UK and Australia! Oh, dear!

It’s all pretty scary, but did you know that natural organic soaps have healing properties? Lenka says: ‘They only contain natural ingredients and that can greatly contribute to the treatment of eczema, acne and other skin conditions.’ Try Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Bar Soap.

Take back control over your life and your health by following our guide below.

What to do in abundance:

Be physically active. Obesity increases your chances of breast cancer, especially with age.
Eat dark, green, leafy vegetables, such as kale and broccoli; fruits, especially berries and peaches; beans; pulses; and whole grains. Try to incorporate all 9 tree nuts into your diet as each one offers its own nutrition powerhouse. Can you name them all? (Almond, Brazil nut, Cashew, Chestnut, Hazelnut, Macadamia, Pecan, Pistachio, and Walnut)
Switch to natural beauty such as paraben-free deodorants and organic soap bars.
Wear natural, organic fabric.
Try wire-free bras or ditch bras in favor of supportive clothing.
Breastfeed your babies until they’re at least 1 year old, if you can, as it protects against breast cancer.

Things that are a no-no:

Drink too much. The more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer.
Smoking, obviously.
Eating too much meat, especially red and processed meat. Animal protein-heavy meals are cancer-risk factors. It’s best avoided.
Too much exposure to BPA, plastics, lab-made textiles and materials. As if we needed another reason to go to Zero Waste in 2020!
Wearing underwire bras all the time. There is some anecdotal evidence that tight bras and underwires can cause adverse effects to your health. It might be worth switching to non-wired alternatives (at least for the comfort)
A lot of hormone therapy, especially over a long period of time. Combination hormone therapy (HRT) for more than three to five years increases the risk of breast cancer.
Excessive exposure to radiation and environmental pollution. Get medical-imaging CT tests only when absolutely necessary!

All of BJ’s PJs tops and dresses are made from natural cotton and offer wire-free breast support. They are great for home comfort, yoga, post-surgery, maternity wear, and breastfeeding. They focus on sustainability, quality, and empowering women to look good and still feel comfortable. Check out our selection here.

p.s. the 9 tree nuts are: Almond, Brazil nut, Cashew, Chestnut, Hazelnut, Macadamia, Pecan, Pistachio, and Walnut.

Namaste!