By Jamie Agee |
If you don’t have them, chances are you know someone who does—breast implants are rapidly becoming the preferred alternative in a woman’s quest for the “perfect body.” For ladies who aren’t ready to take the silicone plunge, there are plenty of creams and pills on the market that promise to do the trick. October is National Breast Awareness Month and while breast health is at the forefront of our minds, it is equally important for women to maintain a healthy body image all year round.
Breasts naturally come in all shapes and sizes, but have you ever stopped to wonder why large, perky, round and firm seem to be the defining characteristics of beauty and perfection? It’s an image obsessively portrayed in today’s society and a trend that shows no signs of slowing down. Women are increasingly turning to surgical procedures, spending thousands of dollars and putting their health at risk—all for an unnatural boost in self-esteem. Not only is breast augmentation the number one surgical procedure performed on women between the ages of 19 and 34, but the number of breast augmentations performed in the
U.S. has tripled in the last eight years. With numbers like these, some would say it’s more important than ever to get back to the basics and focus on the foundations of a healthy body and mind.
Acknowledging your natural beauty and accepting yourself for who you are might seem easier said than done, but there are several natural, healthy and affordable alternatives to achieving an elevated level of confidence inside and out.
• Expand your concept of beauty. Think of people you think are beautiful. Try to identify what makes them that way. Are their bodies perfect? Realize there is beauty without perfection.
• Work on your self-esteem. Identify your special characteristics and why they make you a good person. Maybe you are patient with children or are someone who makes others laugh. There is something that makes you a wonderful person. Find it, focus on it and celebrate it!
• Do things that make you happy. Whether it’s going for a walk with friends, re-reading your favorite book or painting a watercolor, doing things that make you happy helps to boost your self-esteem.
• Realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and individualistic. Thankfully, we’re all different. It’s our unique characteristics that make this world an interesting and beautiful place. Celebrate your individuality!
Feeling healthy is part of feeling beautiful. Keep your breasts in top-notch shape with monthly self-breast exams. Laying down or standing up, raise your arm and place your hand behind your head. Using the three middle fingers of your opposite hand, massage your breast feeling for any lumps or abnormalities. Repeat on the other side.
If you have concerns about breast health and are looking for alternatives, consider medical thermography, a non-invasive, FDA-approved infrared thermal breast screening.
References:
1. Alternative Medicine, About.com http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/3/a/Herbal_Breast.htm
2. Dr. Drew, The obsession with breasts and body image http://www.drdrew.com/Topics/article.asp?id=1318
For more information, contact ThermaDiagnostics at (775) 356-0200 or (775) 826-1200.
Follow Us