FitSugar

Is Your Underwire Bra a Breast Cancer Risk?

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:00:51 -0700

Teaching at a yoga studio means I meet a lot of free-spirited folks. One student told me she stopped wearing underwire bras because she heard they can lead to breast cancer. This idea has been circling around that wearing a bra all day compresses the lymphatic system of the breast, resulting in accumulation of toxins that cause breast cancer. Just about every woman I know wears a bra, and most opt for the ones with supportive underwires, so are we all at risk?

To find out read more.

Here are some reassuring words straight from the American Cancer Society.

"We do not know of any epidemiologic studies published in scientific journals that suggest bras directly contribute to breast cancer risk or that lymphatic compression by bras might cause breast cancer. "

Another fact to chew on. If wearing an over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder was linked to an increased risk in breast cancer, statistics would have shown a drop in breast cancer diagnoses in the 60s when most women were burning their bras and going braless. But stats didn't drop.

So wear your push-ups, underwires, demi cups, and sports bras without fear, especially if not wearing a bra is not an option for your girls.

I Don't Buy It: $59 Brassage Bra Prevents Breast Cancer

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0700

We all wish there was a cure for breast cancer since almost 200,000 woman are diagnosed with it each year. Wouldn't it be great if the cure was as easy as getting dressed in the morning? That's the notion behind the Brassage - a bra that massages your lymph nodes while you wear it. It's based on the patented LETflow Technology, a design by chiropractor Dr. Jayson Sher, which involves bumpy side panels on the bra that massage the lymph nodes. This "enhances the body's natural breast cleansing flow" and releases toxins, thereby making the breast tissue healthy. Christina Erteszek (daughter of famous lingerie designer Olga) loved the idea so much that she started manufacturing the Brassage. She claims it's not a cure-all for breast cancer, but it "helps relieve possible infection and disease." Hmm. While we all wish this bra was the answer, there's absolutely no medical research to back up the fact that massaging toxins out of our breasts will prevent breast cancer.

To see the video interview from Good Morning America questioning the claims made by the Brassage read more.

It's wrong to suggest to women that something could help prevent such a serious and life-threatening condition such as breast cancer. Thankfully though, now that some light has been shed on the Brassage and it's non-medical claims, Intimate Health has stopped manufacturing it.

Does Wearing a Bra Cause Breast Cancer?

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0700

I know it seems crazy, but there's a rumor buzzing around that wearing a bra regularly can cause breast cancer, and that underwire bras are the worst culprits. Some folks worry that wearing a bra all day compresses the lymphatic system of the breast, resulting in accumulation of toxins that cause breast cancer. Just about every woman I know wears a bra, so are we all at risk? It doesn't make sense because men can get breast cancer too, and they don't wear bras. At least I don't think so.

Here are some comforting words straight from the American Cancer Society: "We do not know of any epidemiologic studies published in scientific journals that suggest bras directly contribute to breast cancer risk or that lymphatic compression by bras might cause breast cancer. "

So there you have it. Good thing too because the idea of going bra-less all the time doesn't sound too comfortable to me. Could you imagine running without a bra? I'm a huge fan of supporting whatever you got, and I'm psyched to pass on the info that wearing any kind of bra doesn't increase your risk of breast cancer.

Source

Fit Find Faves: Great Gear

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:45:00 -0700

I was checking out the recent Fit Finds and Sugar readers have bookmarked all sorts of cool wearable gear to help you become a healthy, happy you.

Looking for a little support? asco00 bookmarked a great sports bra, and andieself found some cute capris. Bonus: They are on sale!!!

I am always on the hunt for running socks, the pair bookmarked by who says they are the best. Play tennis in style wearing this classy dress found by montaglookalike. Or run in style wearing Nike shorts bookmarked by SU3.

Check out what other Sugar users are bookmarking as Fit Finds. Chances are high you will find something to satisfy the happy, healthy you. If you want to lean more about bookmarking in the Sugar pages, read my buddy geeksugar's excellent tutorial.

If you find anything out there on the web that helps you stay happy and healthy, do bookmark it and share it with us.

Do Bras Cause Breast Cancer?

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 04:00:00 -0800

So recently I heard an astonishing statement from someone in my yoga class. "Wearing a bra causes breast cancer. And under-wires are the worst."

What? This can't be true. Every woman I know wears a bra. And what about men who get breast cancer? I'm sure they don't wear bras. As soon as I got home, I searched for some facts to back this up.

I did find a lot of info "claiming" the same statement, but none of these sites could back it up with science.

I was happy to find this tidbit from the Canadian Cancer Society that said, "At this time, there is no reliable, scientific evidence that shows a link between wearing a bra and developing breast cancer."

Want to know what else I found? Then read more

CancerHelp UK agreed and said:

No, there is no scientific evidence to prove this. There are a number of rumors that have suggested that bras cause breast cancer by obstructing the lymphatic system. The emphasis has generally been on under-wired bras. These sources claim that bras squash the fine tubes of the lymphatic system. The idea is that this stops the normal drainage of the breast tissues, causing toxins to gather in the breast and resulting in cancer. You would need to wear a bra that was painfully and unbearably tight to have any effect on your lymphatic system.

Oh good. I didn't really like the idea of blowing free in the breeze. So go ahead and support 'em if you got 'em.

Fight Heart Disease with a Red NuMetrex Sports Bra

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 02:30:00 -0800

I've told you how much I love NuMetrex's fabulous heart rate monitoring sports bras, but I just found another reason to love them even more.

In honor of American Heart Month, they've designed a limited edition red NuMetrex bra ($49.50). A donation of $5.00 from the sale of each bra will go to the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women program. Buy it directly from the NuMetrex site.

So go ahead and get yourself one, it's now a matter of the heart.

Gear Review: Moving Comfort Alexis Sports Bra

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0700

After continually running out of sports bras midweek, because doing laundry just hasn't been my thing lately, I decided to invest in some more support. I went with a sports bra from Moving Comfort since I liked their spin shorts; I opted for the Alexis bra ($36) and couldn't be more pleased. Wearing a bra that shares a name with a friend of mine is a little odd, but both are quite supportive.

Not being that well-endowed, I always thought I didn't need to worry about quality support, but as gravity works its timely magic, I have begun appreciate a solid sports bra; the Alexis fits the bill. The bra is super supportive, comfy, and designed for high-impact workouts. I felt as if my chest barely moved while I ran intervals at the track. The bra is cut just a little high in the chest so the striped pattern showed when I unzipped the top of my long-sleeved outer layer. For me this was a good thing; my budding fashionista daughter noticed it and complimented me on my look.

To read about how the bra is constructed, read more.
On the outside, it looks like a regular sports bra, but on the inside there are two seam-free padded cups, which really cut down on the "smooshed" uni-boob feeling. I think separate cups create a better support system. It is nicely vented in the back and at the base of the bra, which is helpful for sweaty workouts.

The bra washes up well and can be dried on a low temperature setting. You can pick one up directly from Moving Comfort.

Gear Review: X-Training Aerosilver Flex Sports Bra by Danskin

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:00:00 -0800

Mixing underwire with sports bras sounds completely incongruous to me. They just don't go together. This is, however, a new trend in supportive wear for active gals. I wanted to try one out, and Danskin was kind enough to send me its new Aerosilver Flex Sports Bra ($48) for a literal test run.

The bra certainly provides support and reminds me of a 1950s bra updated with a sporty racerback. When I wear it I feel more like I am on the set of Mad Men than running on a treadmill. The bra combines dynamic support with a titanium underwire and compression with molded soft foam cups. The effect feels nothing like the smooshed feel of a regular ol' compression sports bra; this one is actually comfortable. It is made of wicking fabric to maintain dryness and prevent the chaffing. The back of the bra is mesh for added breathability. But I think the most effective cooling element is the thin mesh vent just above the underwire, which not only allows air to flow in to cool you down but it is decorative as well. Unlike most compression bras, the Aerosilver racer back has three closure settings and you can't feel the hardware when you run.

For more details and to view the bra from the back, just read more.
I know the bra is bit expensive, but it holds up well in the laundry and should last a long time. While the bra may cost almost $50, I would say a comfortable, supportive sports bra that makes you look like a woman is priceless. You can find this bra on Danskin's website.

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A Wicking Bra

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 17:30:00 -0700

In my earlier post on bacne (acne on the back) I suggested wearing a sports bra that was good at wicking away the sweat from the body. Well here's my new favorite bra that is wicked awesome at wicking - the Trilogy Bra by Title Nine Sports.

Fabricated from three different types of fabrics, hence the name, engineered to wick the sweat away from your skin. The back and straps of this pull-over bra are made of mesh to provide maximum breathability. The body of the bra is wicking polyester that is lined (this is the part I love - a sports bra with lining, who knew!!!??!!!) with power nylon mesh. While that sounds like it might be uncomfortable or itchy, it is not. The lining keeps the girls and the cleavage dry (another place sweat can pool and create a breakouts). Plus I find the bra quite supportive.

It comes in brown (aka Cocoa), as well as green (aka Herbal Garden) and blue (Moon Stone). The poetry of the color names just cracks me up. My Trilogy Bra is green.

Order one directly from Title Nine's website. Happy cool, wicked, supported running to ya.

Get Your Butt in Gear: Polar Heart Bra

FitSugar — Fri, 25 May 2007 02:00:00 -0700

If you haven't already noticed, I am a bit obsessed with fitness gear. I love my heart rate monitor so much, but when I get overly sweaty, it does have the tendency to slip down my torso.

Several companies have caught on and made sports bras with heart rate monitors built into them, but Polar has created the Heart Rate Bra ($34.95), a bra that enables you to slip the transmitter belt into it when you want. You can also take the transmitter out when you don't want to use it, making this bra very versatile. The sports bra itself is made from Dry Wear technology that wicks moisture away from your body and the contoured shoulder strap with a deep T-back makes it a comfortable fit too. If you've ever suffered from your transmitter rubbing your skin the wrong way (ouch), then you may benefit from this bra as well. You can buy it from Amazon.com. Buyers beware: Transmitters are not included with the bra purchase.