According to Ayurveda,
the precursor for breast imbalances is the accumulation of ama, or toxins, in
the breast tissue, which, over time become lodged and stagnated. The following
are guidelines for reducing toxins and supporting healthy breasts every
day.
1. Listen to your body.
Learn to connect intuitively to the
signs it may be telling you.
2. Understand your unique
constitution (mind/body type), and cultivate a lifestyle that is appropriate
for your needs.
This includes eating the right diet,
getting enough sleep, stress management,
maintaining a balanced daily routine.
3. Avoid wearing underwire bras.
Although they provide support,
underwire bras constrict the flow of lymphatic fluids and hinder the free flow
of energy,
or qi, encouraging stagnation around the breasts.
4. Avoid antiperspirants.
The lymph area around the armpits
provides an exit route for unwanted toxins. Antiperspirants, however, prevent
toxins from leaving the skin, causing them to hang out and lodge themselves in
other areas, such as around the breasts. Look for aluminum-free deodorant
instead.
5. Avoid caffeine.
It’s not easy, but avoiding or
reducing coffee consumption can greatly reduce your breast cancer risk. Coffee
is often heavily sprayed with chemicals and pesticides, which are naturally
estrogenic. Add that to the fact that coffee’s dehydrating nature is abysmal
for the reproductive system, and it might make you think twice about ordering
that next latte!
6. Avoid foods that can create
toxins (ama) in the body.
These include processed foods,
leftovers, canned foods, packaged foods, frozen foods, and items grown with
chemicals, pesticides, or GMOs.
7. Eat organic and local, seasonal
food when you can.
The best diet for the health of your
body, mind, breasts, and planet is a clean, organic one.
Free from pesticides and estrogenic chemicals, eating organically will nourish
your breasts from the inside out.
8. Favor a toxin-reducing
high-fiber, plant-based diet.
Incorporate a variety of
anti-cancer, immune-boosting foods into your daily repertoire, including: whole
grains, quinoa, legumes, lentils, broccoli, brussels sprouts, dark leafy
greens, cabbage, papaya, pineapple, cooked apples, prunes, pears, figs and
purple cabbage.
9. Reduce animal products and
saturated fats.
Excess dietary fat and cholesterol
have been linked with breast cancer, not to mention the excess hormones and
toxins polluted in meat and dairy that is not organic.
10. Include foods that are light,
dry, and warming in your daily meals.
These qualities are easily
digestible, nourishing, and cleansing. Soups, lentil dhals, sautéed mustard
greens with ginger, flatbreads, and quinoa with black beans are all good
examples.
11. Include supportive herbs and
spices to nourish your breasts.
Dandelion, fennel, fenugreek, and
shatavari help to prevent toxin buildup around the breast tissue.
12. Eat soy in moderation.
Soy gets a bad rap, but when eaten
in “whole,” easily digestible forms, it has the capacity for lowering the risk
of breast cancer because it can prevent the breast tissue from bonding with
extra estrogens. Moderation is key, though. Look for soy in fermented products,
which are energetically warming, such as tofu, tempeh, and miso, and avoid soy
isolate, which is found in soy protein powders and hidden in protein bars.
13. Massage your breasts daily.
Because our breasts are mainly
composed of fat tissue, they don’t have the same amount of blood flow
circulating as other parts of the body. As a result, the breast tissue can
become stagnated and dense … a breeding ground for toxins. Gently massaging
your breasts daily with warm castor or sesame oils will help mobilize your
lymphatic system, toxins, fats, and excess hormones, and give your breasts a
daily dose of love.
14. Dry brush.
One of the most effective ways to
increase circulation, flush out toxins, and stimulate the lymphatic system is
to gently dry brush your breasts and area around the armpit, before showering,
towards the heart.
15. Exercise regularly.
Moderate exercise helps to balance
your hormones, build immunity, and cleanse your body of accumulated ama or
toxins. Focusing on movements that build upper body strength (think plank and
push-up position) will help to increase blow flow to the breasts.
16. Breathe deeply.
Breathing deeply and fully relaxes
tension in the body and increases the energy flow between each cell, organ,
muscle, and tissue in our body, including our breasts
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