6 Everyday Habits That Make Your Boobs Sag
Because the world we live in is a cruel one, it's true that with time, all breasts will sag. [...]
Because the world we live in is a cruel one, it's true that with time, all breasts will sag. Things like childbirth, breastfeeding and simply aging can all cause droopy boobies, mainly because all three of those things contribute to the loss of elasticity of collagen, the connective tissue beneath the skin. Genetics can also play a role, which means your mom's set can tell you what yours will probably look like in a few years.
What's more is that a recent study found that breast tissue ages two to three years more quickly than the rest of your body (because of course it does), so if there's anything we can do to prevent them from sagging sooner rather than later, you can bet we're all ears.
As it turns out, there are a few common everyday habits you can avoid in order to preserve the firmness of your breasts; check them out!
Yo-yo dieting
Fluctuating between those pesky 5-10 pounds you can't seem to keep off for good won't affect your boobs, but continually losing and gaining 30 or more pounds from crash dieting can cause them to lose their elasticity. Every time you gain and lose weight, breast tissue becomes more slack. Think of it like a pair of tights or leggings you stretch out and shrink back up in the wash time and time again.
(Following a crash diet is generally bad for you anway; stick to a healthy diet full of whole foods and all your macronutrients — including carbs!)
prevnextSmoking
As if you need another reason to quit (or never try) smoking, here's another: it messes with your skin. Not only does it weaken the elastin protein in your skin, but it also decreases the blood supply your skin receives.
"Any amount of smoking weakens and ages skin by decreasing the blood supply to the skin surface," Michael Edwards, M.D., a breast surgeon and president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, told Women's Health.
prevnextWearing the wrong bra
Next time you're at the mall, stop into a retail store and ask to get your bra professionally fitted. You could have been wearing the wrong bra size your entire life without knowing. It could be compromising your elasticity, cutting off or restricting your circulation, and even weakening the muscles around your boobs.
No matter if it's the push-up bra you wore on date night, your go-to T-shirt bra or the sports bra you change into at the gym, you want to be 100 percent sure your girls are getting the support they deserve.
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prevnextHigh intensity workouts
Say it ain't so! While this field requires more research, some experts say the back-and-forth motion from running and other similar high intensity or high impact workouts can break down the elasticity in your breasts. Before you swear off the gym, remember that this is where a good sports bra comes in handy — because the pros of exercise greatly outweigh this con.
prevnextSkipping the sunscreen
As if the thought of skin cancer wasn't enough to scare you into wearing your sunscreen every day, here's another reason to lather up at the beach: The sun's UV rays can stretch out your collagen and damage the skin on your breasts, just as it can on your face and cause wrinkles.
prevnextSlumping in your seat
Bad posture can lead to a number of health complications, but it also contributes to saggier breasts. Don't let gravity get them down! Keep your shoulders back and breasts up; be proud of your girls and they won't be as quick to betray you. You'll also find that you have less muscle aches and pains once you get in the habit of correcting your posture more often.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
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