5 Tips For Protecting Your TaTas
Today is the first day of October, and while some gals may be thinking of the best Halloween costume to emphasize their tatas, I’ve got a more productive task for you.
This month, why not make some healthy changes to protect your tatas?
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month — perfect time to buff up on your bust knowledge and learn about breast cancer prevention.
Did you know that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime? For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than any other cancer other than lung cancer. Those are some scary facts.
If you do not have a genetic predisposition to developing breast cancer though, there are some things you can do to minimize your risk of developing the disease.
5 Ways to Protect Your Tatas
1. Teetotal for your tatas.
Alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for developing breast cancer. Some studies say drinking even a moderate amount can increase a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer by 33%.
Protect yourself by consuming as little alcohol as possible. A recent review of the literature on alcohol consumption and breast cancer suggests that women aim for ≤ 1 drink per day or stop drinking all together to eliminate the risk.
2. Limit your exposure to hormone disrupting chemicals like parabens and phthalates.
These chemicals are found in common beauty products like makeup, moisturizers, nail polish, hair spray and many more. They can throw off your body’s hormonal balance by inhibiting or mimicking the effects of estrogen, and potentially turning on “hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer cells.”
Search for your favorite beauty products on EWG’s Skin Deep website to see their hazard rating >>
3. Get your sweat on.
If you’re reading this blog, I’m guessing you’re already interested in exercise. Still we can all use another reason to get moving.
A recent study found that women who exercise even lightly (walking 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours per week) have a 17% reduced chance of developing breast cancer.
4. Eat your fruits and veggies.
Again, preventing breast cancer is just one of many reasons to fuel your body properly but a recent Harvard study showed that women with high levels of carotenoids (found in leafy greens, carrots and fruit) had a 19% lower risk of developing breast cancer than women with lower levels.
5. Get your breast density tested.
Density is determined by the ratio of breast tissue to fat. Women with “dense breasts” are up to 6 times as likely to develop breast cancer. Dense breasts also make it harder to see tumors in a mammogram.
While there’s nothing you can do to change the density of your breasts, knowing it can help your doctor determine the best tests to use for screening.
I hope you found these breast cancer prevention tips helpful and that you’ll keep them in mind this October.
If you want more information, The Cancer Institute actually has a quick assessment you can take to determine your risk of developing breast cancer.
Take the short questionnaire here >>
Linda @ Fit Fed and Happy says:
My tatas are nonexistent and…
I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO CALLED THEM TATAS!!
Whitney English says:
You’re not alone :) But it’s not about the size, we all have to be safe!
Karen says:
Tatas, Love it Whitney! Thanks for that link for the makeup check…I literally just ordered some new bronzer and went straight to that site to check in! :) Great post!
Whitney English says:
Nice. Glad it helped! I’ll be reevaluating mine as well now that I have this tool to check.
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West says:
Great tips! I definitely exercise enough and get enough veggies … but I don’t want to give up my wine on the weekends!
Whitney English says:
I know – I was not pleased to learn about the moderate consumption risk. I had always abided by the rule of “one glass of a red wine a night for heart health.” Looks like I’m going to have to rethink that one!
Dale Janee says:
Thank you so much for sharing this Whitney, it’s so educational. I knew a few but had no idea about the density one or the alcohol.
xoDale
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner says:
Great info and great to spread the word. Doing all of the above and getting yearly mammograms.
natalie @hellodayblog says:
Thank you for the tips. Oh, the wine! Why the wine?!
Whitney English says:
Haha, my thoughts exactly!
jill conyers says:
Everyone should tweet this!
All of the above and the wonderful experience of an annual mammogram.
Whitney English says:
Thanks Jill!
Lynda@fitnessmomwinecountry says:
This is a great post and the info is spot on. Living in wine country, I tend to enjoy wine but really try to keep it to a few times a week {and that is even a lot}. Exercise, eating right, all of the above Whitney for sure. I have my mamogram next week actually and to be honest, I am always very nervous every year. I know it must be done, but I am amazed at just how scared I get. Sharing this post :)
Whitney English says:
Good luck next week! It sounds like you’re doing everything right to protect yourself!
Laura @FitMamaLove says:
Good info and it’s something I have to be aware of since it runs in my family. I love the EWG for checking health and beauty products!
Arman @ thebigmansworld says:
This is such an important post, Whit.
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment says:
Great article, Whitney! This is so important. Thanks for sharing!
connor says:
Informative and very helpful article. I have bookmarked it for future references. Thanks for sharing such an valuable article.