By – Josephine Agbonkhese

Taking care of your breasts is as important as taking care of any other part of your body. It goes beyond regular mammograms. In fact, caring for the breast should be an essential part of any woman’s health and beauty routine. 

This is because anyone with mammaries is vulnerable to ailments ranging from the more mild, like dry nipples and the slow sag that accompanies aging, to the more severe and scary, like cancer.

There are many ways to care for your breasts to prevent or postpone some of those concerns and to monitor for those things that could be dangerous. Here are a few tips

1. Wear right-fitting bra:

When buying a bra, make sure it is neither too tight nor too loose but fits perfectly. If you don’t give your breasts proper support with a fitting bra, their delicate tissues will start to stretch and descend sooner than you expect. Get measured for your bras at least once a year as bra size can fluctuate due to weight loss or gain. Also, your sports bra should fit properly.

2. Get Vitamin D:

The so-called sunshine vitamin may play a role in breast cancer prevention. Researchers have already linked low levels of vitamin D with an increased risk of breast cancer.

You can get vitamin D through sun exposure, but because that can cause skin cancer, experts suggest absorbing your dose through foods and supplements. Vitamin-D-rich foods include fatty fish such as salmon, egg yolks, cheese, and milk.

3. Do A Regular Breast Self-Examination:

The last but most important tip to take care of your breast is to do a regular breast self-examination. Do it every month after your period and not during or before your period. This is because the breasts are lumpy and sore before periods, which can lead to misdiagnosis. Also, never use your fingers to examine; use a flat hand or palm for proper results.

4. Avoid Breast Enhancement Creams:

Not many women are aware of the fact that the breasts size and shape change with age, right from the time you hit puberty to when you get pregnant and undergo menopause. The estrogen in these creams can cause the breast tissue to retain water, making them seem larger at first. Yet, adding estrogen to your system can increase stroke risks and is linked to cancers in the uterus and breasts.

5. Keep breasts clean:

Just like you clean your eyes and ears while taking a bath, it is important to clean your breasts as well. When taking a bath, make sure you wash the area between and under the breasts, which tend to perspire and increase the risk of infections; dry afterward.

6. Reduce alcohol consumption:

Alcohol consumption is a well-known risk factor for breast cancer. Even regularly consuming two drinks a night can up your risk. Alcohol increases estrogen levels in your body, which may contribute to hormone-receptor positive breast cancer.